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Published: July 27th 2023
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Wednesday 26 July 2023, day 10 of pembrokeshire coastal walk.
Alltrails app: 3 hour 14 minutes walking.
7.41 miles. 449 feet elevation gain. ( Gary showed 840)
Garmin forerunner 25: 3 hours 16 minutes walking 7.41 miles. 511 feet elevation gain.
We left our lodging in Marloes about 0930 and walked past the Runwayskiln where we had lunch yesterday. This was the first mile. Continuing along this track road in about 2/3 of a mile more we joined the pembrokeshire coastal path heading toward Martin's Haven where we had taken the boat to Skomer Island to see the Puffin's.
To say the weather was abysmal is an understatement. As we reached the coast the wind seemed to be 40-50 mph and the rain soaked through our raincoats.
At the third mile we came to the Lodge above the boat landing for Skomers Island. Many folks were braving the elements to go see these amazing little birds.
We had about 4.5 more miles to reach St Brides. Based on an estimated 10:00 am departure we had called yesterday estimating a 1430 arrival. We pressed on up and down the path along the coast, not able to
see much because of the inclement weather. At the point I believed we were 30 minutes from St Brides and St Bridget's churched I called Jones Coastal Taxi to say it looked like our arrival would be at a quarter to 1 not 2:30. They said pickup would be at 1300. We arrived at exactly 1245 and had 5 minutes to explore the church and then our taxi was there.
It was a 25 minute drive to the Roche Castle BNB. It is a beautifully modernized BNB. Our rooms would not be ready until 3 pm so we waited in the sun room but no sun and no heat. The rains continued to come down.
Tonight we have a taxi to Solva and dinner at the Cambrian Inn.
St Bridget's Church has an estimated date of 1141. Some of the history is here.
HERITAGE HIGHLIGHTS: 13th century Sir John le Botiler grave slab
St Bridget, St Bride's Major
St Bridget's is a 12th-century Norman church, with a 16th-century preaching cross, a 13th-century grave slab of a knight, a 16th-century memorial to the Butler family, and a late 17th-century Wyndham memorial.
HISTORY
The first record of
a church here dates to 1141 when Maurice de Londonia gave 'the church of St Bridget' to St Peter's church in Gloucester (later to become Gloucester cathedral). We can assume, then, that the church was already in existence, probably for some time before the grant.
The location chosen by the builders of St Bridget's is interesting; it stands on a small hill near the ancient Soldiers Way, used by the Romans and then by the Norman invaders as a link to nearby Ogmore Castle.
One of the historic highlights of St Bridget's is an incised grave slab to Sir John le Botiler of Dunraven, who died in 1285. The slab was originally set atop the stone coffin you can see by the south wall of the sanctuary. Botiler's feet rest on a wyvern, and he bears typical late 13th-century armour. Look for the two cups on his helmet, representing the Norman origins of his name, 'cup-bearer', or 'butler'.
There is another medieval slab in the sanctuary, probably meant to commemorate an unnamed priest.
Another historic monument is a 16th century memorial to John (d. 1540) and Jane Butler, with their children shown as 'weepers' on the
tomb base. Near the Butler monument is a beautifully carved 17th century memorial to John Wyndham (d. 1697) and his wife Jane (d. 1698).
In the churchyard stands a 16th-century preaching cross, atop a stepped plinth. The cross was damaged by Cromwell's soldiers, and the steps are worn from the combination of pilgrim's kneeling to pray, and by farm workers using the stone to sharpen their sickles.
There is a poignant tale attached to a grove of trees on the Bridgend road, as you enter St Brides Major. In 1815 the vicar of St Bridget's was the brother-in-law of Sir Thomas Picton. Picton stayed at the vicarage and took his last communion in St Bridget's church before leaving on military duty under the Duke of Wellington. He fought and died at the Battle of Waterloo, and the trees were planted as a memorial.
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Celeste
non-member comment
Interesting
The history was so interesting. As for the weather, with the unrelenting heat, I would enjoy your weather for at least one day :-) Send the rain here!!