Historic Interest
Pembrokeshire (and Saundersfoot) is steeped in History with many interesting places of historic interest.
St Catherine's Island is the small island just off the Castle Beach in Tenby which can be reached at low tide but is sadly now not accessible to visitors - it lies derelict and has done since the 1970's when it was used as a zoo for a short time. The original chapel (dedicated to St Catherine - hence the name) was many centuries old but this was replaced by the Normans by a castle (Dinbych meaning fortress thus explaining the name Dinbych - y - Pysgod meaning little fortress of the fishes). During the Napoleonic Wars work began on a fortification to defend the county with work finishing after two years in 1870 although guns were never fired In 1907 the Island was sold privately for £500 to the wealthy Windsor - Richards family, who were involved in the South Wales Iron and Steel Industry. The elegance of their occupation is well remembered, with the main hall carpeted with animal skins, glass trophy cabinets, Tapestries, and many Stag heads and hunting trophies bedecking the ...
The 32ft by 8ft mural in Market Hall, Tenby was painted by local artist Eric Bradforth after he moved his family to the Tenby area in the 1950's. The painting displays events and details from Tenbys long history, including the building of the walls and railways and the various individuals whose influence on the town still remains.
The magnificent sculptured 14ft Carew cross is a royal memorial to Maredudd, who, in 1033, with his brother Hywel, became joint ruler of the early medieval kingdom of Deheubarth, now south-west Wales. Two years later Maredudd was killed and so they are able to date this stone with unusual precision. The stone's original position is uncertain. It was moved to its present setting last century, slightly back from its 19th century position on an outcrop which projected into the road. The cross is formed of two sections with a wheel-head and a separate shaft. The shaft is decorated with intricate plaitwork patterns and remains one of the most elaborate early Christian monuments in Wales. Well worth a visit being 1000 years old! It is roadside in the village of Carew, 7 miles from Saundersfoot.