Sanctuary:

The pre-Norman church was a "clas" - a monastic establishment and a mother church. It had rights of sanctuary (noddfa). Possibly the two crosses from Bryngwyn, which are now on display in Cardiff , marked the boundary sanctuary.

(click here for a printable map of the associated walk)

Normans :

The Norman invasion of Cemais took place about 1100, Robert fitz Martin making his headquarters at Nevern. Around 1115 he granted to the congregation of Tiron in northern France , the clas at St. Dogmaels and established a priory there. In 1120 the priory was given abbey status.

Possessions and influence of the Abbey:

St. Dogmaels acquired status as the mother house of the priories of Caldey, Pill (Milford Haven) and Glascarreg (in Southern Ireland) and also held property in north Pembrokeshire and Devon .

The grant to the monks included the Fishery of St. Dogmaels. The San (Seine) fishing technique is believed to have been introduced by the monks. Tradition holds that the Carreg-y-Fendith (Blessing Stone) on the Netpool is where the Abbot blessed the fisherman before they set out on their fishing season. The stone, also called Carreg Ateb (Echo Stone), was re-discovered in the 1960s.

There has been much recent interest in St. Dogmaels apples, possibly survivors from the horticulture of the monks. Currently three varieties are well known in St. Dogmaels: Afal Pren Caled, Afal Pren Glas and Afal Pig Aderyn.

A Famous Visit:

One Spring evening in 1188 Archbishop Baldwin of Canterbury and Giraldus Cambrensis (Gerald of Wales), with a large cavalcade carrying banners decorated with white crosses, approached St. Dogmaels. They spent the night at the Abbey, entertained by the Abbot and Lord Rhys of Deheubarth and Cardigan Castle .

The following day they preached the Cross at Cardigan, recruiting soldiers for a crusade to the Holy Land .

End of the Monastic Era:

In the reign of Henry VIII the Abbey was dissolved; the local properties were leased and subsequently sold to John Bradshaw of Prestigne. His mansion house may have been where the vicarage now stands.

Continuity:

The Abbey ruins are thought to be within the boundary of the ancient clas. The old parish church, which stood just north of the present church hall, was replace by another on the site of today's church, possibly after the dissolution of the abbey.

St. Thomas ' Church, the vicarage and the Coach House were built around the middle of the 19 th century. Today they are listed buildings. A new church porch was dedicated in 1925 and the churchyard greatly extended.

Maritime Tradition:

The waterway was the main source of employment for the village of St. Dogmaels . Herring fishing was very important from the Middle Ages to the mid 18 th century and continued until 1914, salted herrings being exported to Ireland and Spain .

In summer, salmon fishing took place using Seine nets. Circa 1884 there were 21 fishing boats operating. Numbered stones were drawn at the Netpool before each tide to establish the order which the pools were to be fished. There were a number of well-known salmon pools, but because of silting, most have virtually disappeared. There are four licences now available but only one boat actually fishing. It was early in the 20 th century that the last Seine fishing boats were built in St. Dogmaels.

The Netpool Green used to be covered with 'standards' - wooden posts connected by crossbars - to facilitate the repairing and the drying after barking and cleaning of fishing nets., A few remain where the path descends to the Pinog.

The Pinog and Glanteifion strand were busy ship building areas. Amongst the St. Dogmaels - built ships of the 18 th and 19 th centuries were the Providence, Swallow, Joan, Ecton, Aleona, Anne and Mary, Margaret and Anne, Farmer's Lass, Peggy, Effort, Ann Jones, Eugenie, Frolic and Eleanor, some of these being smacks and others schooners.

There was also trading. Folk memory recalls the ketch Eliza Ann landing a cargo of culm (a fuel: anthracite small coal mixed with clay) for the landlady of the White Hart which she resold from the pub. In August 1917 the Eliza Ann was sunk south-east of the Lizard Lighthouse by gunfire from a German submarine.

House names of the village include places visited and ships in which men had served. Tragedy at sea is reflected in the burial grounds. A fishing tragedy in 1789 claimed the lives of 27 men and boys from the village. The local legend of Pergrin;s Mermaid, which has recently been commemorated beside the Glanteifion Slipway, was associated with this. A fisherman called Pergrin, was, so the legend goes, warned against danger by the mermaid. In this way his life was saved.

The Custom House was in Cardigan. The Watch House, next to the Ferry Inn, was built for the coastguards to keep watch on ships arriving at the port.

The first lifeboat, provided in 1949 from local subscriptions, was managed by a local committee. It was stationed at Traeth Bach, Poppit and crewed by fishermen of St. Dogmaels under coxswain Captain George Bowen. Further lifeboats followed including the John Stuart 1865 to 1884, the Lizzy and Charles Leigh Clare 1884 to 1905 and the Elizabeth Austin 1905 to 1932. Since 1971 there have been inshore lifeboats. The current lifeboats are an Atlantic 75 and a 'D' class. Donald Davies, a local historian, reports 189 lives were saved by lifeboat crews between 1849 and 1990. The RNLI Lifeboat Station is at Poppit and next door is the Surf Lifesaving Club.

Names:

The name St. Dogmaels is associated with the Welsh saint Dogfael. How then does one explain the equally persistent Llandudoch (locally pronounced Llan'doch)?

Were Dogfael and Tudoch two different saints? Or do both names refer to the same saint or founder, with 'mael' (prince) and 'tud' (land or people of) being added to Dog/doch as in Dog mael and Tud doch?

It is clear that the place was very important in the pre-Norman period. For example, in 988 the Vikings ravaged Llanbadarn, St. Davids, Llantwit Major, Llancarfan and Llandudoch: all important places in the pre-Norman church.

Inscribed Stones:

The early Christian crosses and memorials testify to the significance of St. Dogmaels' religious heritage. Three stones are displayed in the church and two in the National Museum in Cardiff . It is planned that the remainder will be displayed in the Coach House next to the Abbey.

The most famous and earliest is the Sagranus stone (in the church), reading in ogam: SAGRAGNI MAQI CUNATAMI, and in Latin: SAGRANI FILI/CVNOTAMI, and meaning (The stone) of Sagranus, son of Cunotamus. Identified by V E Nash-Williams as 5 th or early 6 th century AD, the time when Irish settlers were to be found in much of modern Pembrokeshire, it has proved most important to scholars as a key to understanding ogam writing.

Nononformity:

There have been Baptists here since 1706 when preaching started at a house called Rhosgerdd. In 1745 Blaenwaun (first) chapel was built on a site of old Rhosgerdd. A new chapel was built in 1795-6. There were then 237 members drawn from 14 parishes.

It was felt that a Baptist chapel was needed in the village and Ty'r Bont was built in 1813. This was succeeded by Bethsaida which was opened in 1838.

In the meantime Blaenwaun was re-built in 1885-6. By 1899 it had 579 members. Penuel Cemais and Gerazim are daughter churches.

The first Independent chapel was Capel Degwel. A cottage known as Ffynnon Degwel was purchased by the Rev. Daniel Davies (minister of Capel Mair, Cardigan) and this had been converted into a chapel by 1828. The vestry was built in 1935.

Capel Seion Calvinistic Methodist Chapel, completed in 1838, was closed towards the end of the 20 th century and is now two houses.

Soan Baptist Chapel at Cippyn, founded in 1798 by Evan Owen of Manian Fawr on land at Trecwn, was abandoned in 1848 when Gerzim Baptist Chapel was built at Esgyr nearby.

Schools:

A Methodist Chapel built about 1790 was later used as a day school by the National Society. Although a church school, it was known locally as 'Ysgol y Capel'. Closed in the 1950s, the building is now church hall.

The present school opened as The British School on 21 June 1869 . It was built on Parc y Bedo, the stones coming from a quarry on Penrallt Farm.

Mills:

In 1537 there were two unoccupied mills which had belonged to the Abbey. One was re-built and was referred to as a 'new water corn grist mill' in 1619. It is believed that part of this is incorporated in today's mill, Y Felin.

Y Felin was restored to full working order in recent years by Michael Hall and is open to the public. It is a Grade II* listed building.

In a taxation list of 1291, there is mention of a fulling mill (part of the cloth making process) as well as three corn mills in the vill of St Dogmaels and associated lands. Woollen cloth was produced here until the early 20 th century.

Inns and Public Houses:

Amongst former inns there were the Cardigan Bay Inn (on Longdown Bank) the Sailor's Return, the Noyadd Arms, the Rose and Crown, the Mariners, the Sloop, the Corner House, the Treffynnon Arms and the Royal Exchange. Some are now houses.

The present day inns are the White Hrt, the Teifi Inn, the Ferry Inn and the Webley Hotel. Unofficial inns in the past were known as 'tafarnau smwglin'

Albro Castle :

This remarkable building, now a private house, was the Cardigan Union Workhouse built following the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834.

St. Dogmaels Millennium Tapestry:

Worked by a group in the village, it currently hangs in the memorial Hall but there are plans to display it in the Coach House. Some 15 pictures highlight village history.

Hanes Llan'doch:

The Hanes Llan'doch (History of St. Dogmaels) initiative is a charity launched in the autumn of 2000 to create a visitor centre (the Coach House project) as a gateway for the Norman Abbey, the village and the surrounding countryside.

Royal Naval Reserve Artillery Battery :

A training battery on the waterfront between Glanteifion and the Webley Hotel was manned by local Royal Naval Reserves. It was disbanded in 1906.

Wildlife:

A variety of habitats: estuary, beach, cliffs, sand dunes, reed marsh, valleys and a plateau, ensures a rich mix of species.

Cwm Degwel is an excellent example of a glacial ravine, where species include ransoms, primroses, wild daffodils and bluebells, unusual lichen, mosses and liverworts.

The plateau is populated by skylarks and yellow hammers, whilst at Cemais Head there are choughs, ravens and peregrine falcons. At Poppit, situated within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park , habitats include sand dunes and salt and reed marsh. Part is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Species along the estuary occasionally include little egret, slavonian grebe, osprey, otters and seals.

Country Code:

Enjoy the countryside and respect its life and work:

• Guard against all risk of fire:
• Fasten all gates:
• Keep your dogs under close control:
• Keep to the public paths across farmland:
• Use gates and stiles to cross fences, hedges and walls:
• Leave livestock, crops and machinery alone:
• Take your litter home:
• Help to keep all water clean:
• Protect wildlife, plants and trees:
• Take special care on country roads:
• Make no unnecessary noise.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

You can pick this and other pamphlets up at any of your local Tourist Information Centres. And remember, Pembrokeshire Tourist Information Centres aren't just for tourists! There is a wealth of information for everyone. Click here to find the one nearest you.

The Pembrokeshire Local Action Network for Enterprise and Development (PLANED) has been established to improve the social and economic wellbeing of the people and enhance the environment of Pembrokeshire. Funding is provided by the European Union Objective 1 (EAGGF), the Welsh Assembly Government through the Local Regeneration Fund and the Welsh Development Agency through the Rural Recovery Plan.

Text researched and written by members of the St. Dogmaels Heritage & Culture Group in conjunction with the Cambria Archaeology.

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Update information on St.Dogmaels site
written by John Mansfield, January 13, 2009

Dear Sir/Madam

The information on your site is very interesting but not accessible under the search for "St.Dogmaels" only under Llandudoch. Visitors may not know this name or search for it.

Could you possible amend this and also add the website www.welshabbey.org . This is the new website for Hanes Llandoch and provided infomation for visitors and extended history of the abbey site and area.

I am a trustee of Hanes Llandoch and responsible for the website. I have included My Pembrokeshire on our website and would hope you could recipricate.

Best wishes

John Mansfield

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