Nolton and Roch
Encyclopedia
Nolton and Roch is a community
in the Hundred of Roose
, Pembrokeshire
, Wales
. The community consists essentially of the parish
es of Nolton and Roch. The western part of the community is in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
. Its population (2001) was 746.
Nolton 51°49′17"N 5°5′47"W is a village and parish on the coast of St Brides Bay, 9 km west of Haverfordwest
. The name was originally old-tun and the dedication of the church to St Madoc suggests that the place was a pre-existing Welsh settlement appropriated by English immigrants around the time of the Norman conquest.
Census population of Nolton parish 186 (1801): 245 (1851): 160 (1901): 108 (1951): 176 (1981)
% Welsh speakers 14 (1891): 5 (1931): 8 (1971)
Roch 51°50′56"N 5°4′40"W is a village and parish 3.5 km northeast of Nolton and 9 km northwest of Haverfordwest. The name is a rare example of a purely Norman French name: it was la Roche in 1271, and means "the rock". The Welsh name has the same meaning. The village stands on a prominent ridge of Precambrian
rhyolite
. Roch Castle
stands on top of the most prominent outcrop of this, and is visible for miles around. The church of St Mary is 100 m southeast of the castle.
Census population of Roch parish 538 (1801): 763 (1851): 471 (1901): 377 (1951): 684 (1981)
% Welsh speakers 21 (1891): 22 (1931): 16 (1971)
The 8 km coastline of the community consists of picturesque cliffs and dunes, and is followed by the Pembrokeshire Coast Path
. At the north end is the 3 km long Newgale
beach, which is popular for bathing and surfing. The whole coast is underlain with coal measures and was a centre of industry from medieval times until 1905. Nolton Haven, on the border between the two parishes, was a port from which the local anthracite was shipped. The area is now a magnet for holidaymakers and second-homers.
The community is part of "Little England beyond Wales
". The Pembrokeshire linguistic boundary
runs along the northern edge of the community, and is particularly prominent here: the community has been predominantly English-speaking for 900 years, but the adjoining parishes of Brawdy
and Hayscastle to the north were more Welsh-speaking.
Community (Wales)
A community is a division of land in Wales that forms the lowest-tier of local government in Wales. Welsh communities are analogous to civil parishes in England....
in the Hundred of Roose
Roose (hundred)
The Hundred of Roose was a hundred in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It was formed by the Act of Union of 1536 and was essentially identical to the pre-Norman cantref of Rhos. It derives its Welsh name from its position nearly surrounded by water, bounded east by the tidal Western Cleddau, south by Milford...
, Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire is a county in the south west of Wales. It borders Carmarthenshire to the east and Ceredigion to the north east. The county town is Haverfordwest where Pembrokeshire County Council is headquartered....
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. The community consists essentially of the parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
es of Nolton and Roch. The western part of the community is in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is a national park along the Pembrokeshire coast in West Wales.It was established as a National Park in 1952, and is the only one in the United Kingdom to have been designated primarily because of its spectacular coastline...
. Its population (2001) was 746.
Nolton 51°49′17"N 5°5′47"W is a village and parish on the coast of St Brides Bay, 9 km west of Haverfordwest
Haverfordwest
Haverfordwest is the county town of Pembrokeshire, Wales and serves as the County's principal commercial and administrative centre. Haverfordwest is the most populous urban area in Pembrokeshire, with a population of 13,367 in 2001; though its community boundaries make it the second most populous...
. The name was originally old-tun and the dedication of the church to St Madoc suggests that the place was a pre-existing Welsh settlement appropriated by English immigrants around the time of the Norman conquest.
Census population of Nolton parish 186 (1801): 245 (1851): 160 (1901): 108 (1951): 176 (1981)
% Welsh speakers 14 (1891): 5 (1931): 8 (1971)
Roch 51°50′56"N 5°4′40"W is a village and parish 3.5 km northeast of Nolton and 9 km northwest of Haverfordwest. The name is a rare example of a purely Norman French name: it was la Roche in 1271, and means "the rock". The Welsh name has the same meaning. The village stands on a prominent ridge of Precambrian
Precambrian
The Precambrian is the name which describes the large span of time in Earth's history before the current Phanerozoic Eon, and is a Supereon divided into several eons of the geologic time scale...
rhyolite
Rhyolite
This page is about a volcanic rock. For the ghost town see Rhyolite, Nevada, and for the satellite system, see Rhyolite/Aquacade.Rhyolite is an igneous, volcanic rock, of felsic composition . It may have any texture from glassy to aphanitic to porphyritic...
. Roch Castle
Roch Castle
Roch Castle is a 13th century castle, located near Haverfordwest, Wales.Built by Norman knight Adam de Rupe in the second half of the 12th century, probably on the site of an earlier wooden structure...
stands on top of the most prominent outcrop of this, and is visible for miles around. The church of St Mary is 100 m southeast of the castle.
Census population of Roch parish 538 (1801): 763 (1851): 471 (1901): 377 (1951): 684 (1981)
% Welsh speakers 21 (1891): 22 (1931): 16 (1971)
The 8 km coastline of the community consists of picturesque cliffs and dunes, and is followed by the Pembrokeshire Coast Path
Pembrokeshire Coast Path
The Pembrokeshire Coast Path is a National Trail in southwest Wales. It was established in 1970, and is 186 miles long, mostly at cliff-top level, with 35,000 feet of ascent and descent. The northern end is at Poppit Sands, near St...
. At the north end is the 3 km long Newgale
Newgale, Pembrokeshire
Newgale is a village with a three mile stretch of beach in the parish of Roch, Pembrokeshire, West Wales.Newgale is one of over 40 Welsh 'Blue Flag' beaches, which means it has the top certification for quality, cleanliness and facilities....
beach, which is popular for bathing and surfing. The whole coast is underlain with coal measures and was a centre of industry from medieval times until 1905. Nolton Haven, on the border between the two parishes, was a port from which the local anthracite was shipped. The area is now a magnet for holidaymakers and second-homers.
The community is part of "Little England beyond Wales
Little England beyond Wales
Little England beyond Wales is a name applied to an area of southern Pembrokeshire and southwestern Carmarthenshire in Wales, which has been English in language and culture for many centuries despite its remoteness from the English border...
". The Pembrokeshire linguistic boundary
Landsker Line
The Landsker Line is a term commonly used for the language boundary between the Welsh-speaking and English-speaking areas in southwest Wales. The English-speaking areas, known as Little England beyond Wales, are notable for having been English linguistically and culturally for many centuries...
runs along the northern edge of the community, and is particularly prominent here: the community has been predominantly English-speaking for 900 years, but the adjoining parishes of Brawdy
Brawdy
Brawdy is a village and parish in Pembrokeshire, South West Wales.- Location :Brawdy is situated at the northeast corner of St Brides Bay. The southern half of the parish is in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park...
and Hayscastle to the north were more Welsh-speaking.