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Pembrokeshire  Wales

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In 1887, John Bartholomew's Gazetteer of the British Isles described Pembrokeshire like this:

Pembrokeshire, a maritime co. of South Wales, washed by the sea on all sides excepting the NE. and E., where it is bounded respectively by Cardiganshire and Carmarthenshire; greatest length, N. to S., about 30 miles; greatest breadth, E. to W., about 25 miles; area, 391,181 ac., pop. 91,824. The coast line, which on the S. ...


is rugged and inhospitable, shows several indentations of more or less importance to mariners; they include St Bride's Bay and Milford. Haven in the S., and Newport and Fishguard Bays in the N. Inland the surface of the co. displays a succession of green hills, with fertile valleys intervening. Among the Preseley Hills the highest elevation (1764 ft.) is reached. The chief rivers are the Teifi, which separates the co. from Cardiganshire in the NE., the East Cleddau, and the West Cleddau. Considerable variety characterises the soil; in the S. it is very productive, and in the NW. it is excellently suited for barley growing; but in the hilly and coal districts it is very poor. Owing to the violence of the SW. wind there is comparatively little timber, excepting in sheltered spots. Oats, barley, and potatoes are the chief crops, all being raised under very careful farming. (For agricultural statistics, see Appendix.) Coal, lead, iron, and slate are the only minerals of the co. having a commercial value. From the number of English-speaking people in Pembrokeshire (chiefly through the settlement of a colony of Flemings, who adopted the English tongue), the co. has been called "Little England beyond Wales." It comprises 7 hundreds, 153 pars, with part of 1 other, the Pembroke District of Parliamentary Boroughs (Pembroke, Milford, Tenby, Wiston, Haverfordwest, Fishguard, and Narberth - 1 member), and the mun. bors. of Haverfordwest, Pembroke, and Tenby. The co. returns 1 member to Parliament.

Pembrokeshire through time

Click here for graphs and data of how Pembrokeshire has changed over two centuries. For statistics for historical units named after Pembrokeshire go to Units and Statistics.

Pembrokeshire -- but you should check this covers the area you are interested in.

How to reference this page:

GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, History of Pembrokeshire | Map and description for the county, A Vision of Britain through Time.

URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/17278

Date accessed: 28th March 2024


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