Penfro was one of the seven cantrefi of Dyfed

Kingdom of Dyfed

The Kingdom of Dyfed is one of several Welsh petty kingdoms that emerged in 5th-century post-Roman Britain in south-west Wales, based on the former Irish tribal lands of the Déisi from c 350 until it was subsumed into Deheubarth in 920. In Latin, the country of the Déisi was Demetae, eventually to...

. It subsequently became part of Deheubarth in around 950. It consisted of the long peninsular part of Dyfed south of the Eastern Cleddau

River Cleddau

The River Cleddau consists of the Eastern and Western Cleddau rivers in Pembrokeshire, west Wales. They unite to form the Daugleddau estuary, which forms the important harbour of Milford Haven....

 and the Daugleddau estuary, and bordered on its landward side by Cantref Gwarthaf

Cantref Gwarthaf (Dyfed)

thumb|250 px|right|Location of the Cantref GwarthafCantref Gwarthaf was the largest of the seven cantrefi of Dyfed. It subsequently became part of Deheubarth in around 950. It consisted of the southeastern part of Dyfed containing most of the basin of the River Tâf.The name means "upper-most...

. The name derives from Pen ("end", literally "head") and "fro" ("populated area"), and it means essentially "Land's end". Its area was about 361 km².

It was divided into two commotes: Cwmwd Penfro in the southwest and Cwmwd Coedrath in the northeast, as shown in the map. The eastern part of Cwmwd Penfro was sometimes called Cwmwd Maenorbier, and the northern part of Cwmwd Coedrath was sometimes called Cwmwd Arberth, but both these were post-Norman lordships, and were probably not genuine commotes. Its civil headquarters were at Pembroke

Pembroke, Pembrokeshire

Pembroke is an historic settlement and former county town of Pembrokeshire in west Wales. The town and the county derive their name from that of the cantref of Penfro: Pen = "head" or "end", and bro = "region", "country", "land", and so it means essentially "Land's End".-History:The main point of...

: Rhoscrowther

Rhoscrowther

Rhoscrowther is a village and former civil parish in Pembrokeshire, Wales, west of Pembroke, near the south shore of Milford Haven. It is part of the community of Hundleton....

 or Penally

Penally

Penally is a coastal village near Tenby in Pembrokeshire, Wales. The village is known for its Celtic Cross, Penally Abbey, with neighbouring St.Deiniol's Well, and Penally Training Camp .Served by Penally railway station Penally is a coastal village near Tenby in Pembrokeshire, Wales. The...

 might have been its ecclesiastical centre.

The cantref was made part of the Norman

Normans

The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...

 March

Welsh Marches

The Welsh Marches is a term which, in modern usage, denotes an imprecisely defined area along and around the border between England and Wales in the United Kingdom. The precise meaning of the term has varied at different periods...

 in the 12th century, and many castles were built, including those of Carew

Carew Castle

Carew Castle is a castle in the civil parish of Carew in the Welsh county of Pembrokeshire. The famous Carew family take their name from the place, and still own the castle, although it is leased to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, which administers the site.-Construction:The present castle,...

, Manorbier

Manorbier Castle

Manorbier Castle is a Norman castle located in the village of Manorbier, five miles south-west of Tenby, West Wales.-Construction:Manorbier is a rectangular enclosure castle, curtain walls, and round and square towers. Its tower gateway was protected by a great door and portcullis as well as roof...

, Narberth

Narberth Castle

Narberth castle is a ruined Norman fortress in the town of Narberth, West Wales. It was first mentioned in 1116 and forms part of the Landsker Line.-Origins:...

, Pembroke

Pembroke Castle

Pembroke Castle is a medieval castle in Pembroke, West Wales. Standing beside the River Cleddau, it underwent major restoration work in the early 20th century. The castle was the original seat of the Earldom of Pembroke....

 and Tenby

Tenby Castle

The ruins of Tenby Castle stand on a headland west of the town of Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales. The remaining structure stems from the 13th century but there are mentions of the castle dating back to 1153...

. The area became English-speaking, as it continues today, except in the northern part of Narberth

Narberth, Pembrokeshire

Narberth is a town in Pembrokeshire, Wales. . It was founded around a Welsh court, but later became a Norman stronghold on the Landsker Line. It became the headquarters of the hundred of Narberth. It was once a marcher borough...

 parish.

At the time of the 1535 Acts of Union, the cantref was split between two newly-formed hundreds, when Cwmwd Penfro became Castlemartin Hundred

Castlemartin (hundred)

Castlemartin was a hundred in Pembrokeshire, Wales. Initially created by the Marcher Lords of Pembroke in the 14th century from the western part of the pre-Norman cantref of Penfro, it was confirmed by the Act of Union of 1536...

 and Cwmwd Coedrath was merged into Narberth Hundred

Narberth (hundred)

thumb|200px|right|Pembrokeshire showing Narberth HundredThe Hundred of Narberth was a hundred in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It was formed by the Act of Union of 1536 from parts of the pre-Norman cantrefs of Penfro and Cantref Gwarthaf...

.