Wolf's Castle
Encyclopedia
Wolfscastle also spelt Wolf's Castle, is a village in Pembrokeshire
, between Haverfordwest
and Fishguard
, in southwest Wales
.
and the Anghof rivers, in the parish of St Dogwell's.
The A40 road
, the London
to Fishguard trunk route, passes through Wolfscastle and provides the main transport route to and from the village, with a regular bus service connecting with the major towns of the area.
A railway line from Clarbeston Road
to Fishguard Harbour
carries two Swansea–Fishguard boat trains in each direction daily through Ford. At one time, there was a station named near Ford for both passengers and the loading of milk from local farms, but this is no longer in existence, having closed in 1964 after the Beeching
cuts.
, the first utiliser of the Evans Gambit
in chess.
The castle formed part of the series of defences constructed by the Normans
after 1093 known as the Landsker Line
, providing a general boundary between the English-speaking south and the Welsh-speaking north.
A Romano-British
villa was excavated by the antiquarian Richard Fenton
, hinting that Roman influence extended further west than had previously been thought. It has been subjected to a recent investigation to ascertain its exact location.
The railway was opened through to Letterston Junction from Clarbeston Road in 1906, negating the use of the Maenclochog Railway from Clynderwen
to Fishguard via Rosebush
.
(or the Anglicised version, Glendower) was born according to local folklore in 1353. (Most historical sources quote him as being born c. 1359). This was mainly because the area was home to members of the family of Glyndwr's mother.
Another legend of the area claims that a local medium, Sarah Bevan, prophesied the arrival of the railway after experiencing a vision in the 18th century. The vision was described as a line of carts moving through the centre of Treffgarne gorge at high speed, with the frontmost cart on fire, heralding the coming of the as yet uninvented steam locomotive on rails.
and a public house
, the Wolfe Inn. Agriculture involves dairy, sheep and beef
farming, and several farms can be found within the village and its environs.
Previous economic assets included slate
quarrying near Sealyham, roadstone quarrying in Treffgarne gorge and a village post office
, all of which have ceased operating. Also, the running of the halt merited the employment of staff.
, known as Pen-y-Bont, stands near the river in Ford. Several churches are to be found in the area – St Margaret
's in Wolfscastle itself, St Michael's in Treffgarne, and St Dogwell's. A community council meets monthly in the village. Every summer the Wolfscastle Festival week is held and the community council sponsors the village's annual entry in the Wales in Bloom competition. In 2005 the village won the Small Village Trophy and was runner-up in 2006. A small, twin-classroom County Primary school, built in 1834, completes the community aspect of the village.
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....
, between 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...
and Fishguard
Fishguard
Fishguard is a coastal town in Pembrokeshire, south-west Wales, with a population of 3,300 . The community of Fishguard and Goodwick had a population of 5043 at the 2001 census....
, in southwest 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...
.
Geography and transport links
Wolfscastle comprises two small villages; Wolfscastle proper, at the top of a hill, and Ford, situated in the river valley below. The remains of a motte and bailey castle lie in the upper village, a strategic location determined by its situation at the northern end of Treffgarne gorge. The village lies at the confluence of the Western CleddauCleddau
Cleddau may refer to:*River Cleddau, a river in Pembrokeshire, Wales.**Cleddau Estuary/Daugleddau, at the mouth of the River Cleddau*Cleddau Bridge, crossing over the Cleddau Estuary...
and the Anghof rivers, in the parish of St Dogwell's.
The A40 road
A40 road
The A40 is a major trunk road connecting London to Fishguard, Wales and officially called The London to Fishguard Trunk Road in all legal documents and Acts...
, the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to Fishguard trunk route, passes through Wolfscastle and provides the main transport route to and from the village, with a regular bus service connecting with the major towns of the area.
A railway line from Clarbeston Road
Clarbeston Road railway station
Clarbeston Road railway station serves villages such as Clarbeston Road, Clarbeston, Wiston, Walton East and Crundale in Pembrokeshire, Wales....
to Fishguard Harbour
Fishguard Harbour railway station
Fishguard Harbour railway station serves the port of Fishguard Harbour, Wales. It is the terminus of one of the branches of the West Wales Line from Swansea.-Ownership:...
carries two Swansea–Fishguard boat trains in each direction daily through Ford. At one time, there was a station named near Ford for both passengers and the loading of milk from local farms, but this is no longer in existence, having closed in 1964 after the Beeching
Beeching Axe
The Beeching Axe or the Beeching Cuts are informal names for the British Government's attempt in the 1960s to reduce the cost of running British Railways, the nationalised railway system in the United Kingdom. The name is that of the main author of The Reshaping of British Railways, Dr Richard...
cuts.
History
Musland Farm was once the residence of Captain William Davies EvansWilliam Davies Evans
Captain William Davies Evans was a seafearer and inventor, though he is best known today as a chess player. He is buried at the Belgian port of Ostend.- Early life :...
, the first utiliser of the Evans Gambit
Evans Gambit
The Evans Gambit is a chess opening characterised by the moves:The gambit is named after the Welsh sea Captain William Davies Evans, the first player known to have employed it. The first game with the opening is considered to be Evans - McDonnell, London 1827, although in that game a slightly...
in chess.
The castle formed part of the series of defences constructed by the Normans
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...
after 1093 known as the Landsker Line
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...
, providing a general boundary between the English-speaking south and the Welsh-speaking north.
A Romano-British
Romano-British
Romano-British culture describes the culture that arose in Britain under the Roman Empire following the Roman conquest of AD 43 and the creation of the province of Britannia. It arose as a fusion of the imported Roman culture with that of the indigenous Britons, a people of Celtic language and...
villa was excavated by the antiquarian Richard Fenton
Richard Fenton
-Life:Fenton was born at St. David's, Pembrokeshire, received his education in the cathedral school there, and at an early age obtained a situation in London in the custom house...
, hinting that Roman influence extended further west than had previously been thought. It has been subjected to a recent investigation to ascertain its exact location.
The railway was opened through to Letterston Junction from Clarbeston Road in 1906, negating the use of the Maenclochog Railway from Clynderwen
Clynderwen
Clynderwen is a rural village in Pembrokeshire, Wales. The village is known as a camping destination and is popular for self-catering holidays...
to Fishguard via Rosebush
Rosebush, Pembrokeshire
Rosebush is a small village in Pembrokeshire, West Wales. It lies at the south of the Preseli Hills, about one mile northwest of the village of Maenclochog.- Amenities :...
.
Folklore
Wolfscastle's claim to fame is that it is allegedly the place where the last wild wolf in Wales was slain. Nearby, east of Treffgarne gorge lies the hamlet of Little Treffgarne, where the Welsh national hero, Owain GlyndŵrOwain Glyndwr
Owain Glyndŵr , or Owain Glyn Dŵr, anglicised by William Shakespeare as Owen Glendower , was a Welsh ruler and the last native Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales...
(or the Anglicised version, Glendower) was born according to local folklore in 1353. (Most historical sources quote him as being born c. 1359). This was mainly because the area was home to members of the family of Glyndwr's mother.
Another legend of the area claims that a local medium, Sarah Bevan, prophesied the arrival of the railway after experiencing a vision in the 18th century. The vision was described as a line of carts moving through the centre of Treffgarne gorge at high speed, with the frontmost cart on fire, heralding the coming of the as yet uninvented steam locomotive on rails.
Economy
Mainly agricultural due to its rural location, the village does boast both the Wolfscastle Country HotelHotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
and a public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
, the Wolfe Inn. Agriculture involves dairy, sheep and beef
Beef
Beef is the culinary name for meat from bovines, especially domestic cattle. Beef can be harvested from cows, bulls, heifers or steers. It is one of the principal meats used in the cuisine of the Middle East , Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Europe and the United States, and is also important in...
farming, and several farms can be found within the village and its environs.
Previous economic assets included slate
Slate
Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism. The result is a foliated rock in which the foliation may not correspond to the original sedimentary layering...
quarrying near Sealyham, roadstone quarrying in Treffgarne gorge and a village post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
, all of which have ceased operating. Also, the running of the halt merited the employment of staff.
Community
A Welsh Independent chapelChapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
, known as Pen-y-Bont, stands near the river in Ford. Several churches are to be found in the area – St Margaret
Margaret the Virgin
Margaret the Virgin, also known as Margaret of Antioch , virgin and martyr, is celebrated as a saint by the Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches on July 20; and on July 17 in the Orthodox Church. Her historical existence has been questioned; she was declared apocryphal by Pope Gelasius I in 494,...
's in Wolfscastle itself, St Michael's in Treffgarne, and St Dogwell's. A community council meets monthly in the village. Every summer the Wolfscastle Festival week is held and the community council sponsors the village's annual entry in the Wales in Bloom competition. In 2005 the village won the Small Village Trophy and was runner-up in 2006. A small, twin-classroom County Primary school, built in 1834, completes the community aspect of the village.