Penffordd
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![]() Penffordd | |
Location within
Pembrokeshire | |
OS grid reference | SN0722 |
Community | |
Principal area | |
Country | Wales |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | Clunderwen |
Police | Dyfed-Powys |
Fire | Mid and West Wales |
Ambulance | Welsh |
Penffordd or Pen-ffordd is a small village in the community of New Moat, Pembrokeshire, Wales, in the parish of Bletherston. It lies approximately 10.8 miles (17.4 km) northeast of Haverfordwest. [1]
The descriptive name translates into English as top of the road, and is on a small hill at 100 m elevation. [2]
According to pre-1850 parish maps there was an inn in the village. [3] The Cross Inn was run by Ann Phillips in 1908, when an unfortunate accident occurred outside; a labourer, Thomas Murphy, whom witnesses said was sober, boasted that he could lift a log estimated at 2cwt (100 kg), but fell and fractured his skull, dying later that night. [4]
Penffordd was in 1895 described thus: “This quiet, out-of-the-way village seems to be intent on keeping pace with the times” in a press report on a meeting of Penffordd Literary Society in the chapel, presided over by the Rev D Richards and attended by “a very large number” of people. The report concluded:
The manner in which the Penfford [sic] people spend their spare hours is certainly commendable and worthy of being copied by more highly privileged places. The school children did their parts in a highly creditable manner. [5]
A report of the same society's annual meeting in 1899 was equally praising, noting that the school was fortunate to have "such a go-ahead superintendent", Mr B. F. Williams, and giving the highest praise to the Ladies Choir. [6]
Penffordd is in the parish ( Church in Wales) of Bletherston. [3]
Penffordd Calvinist Methodist Chapel was built in 1861 and restored in 1913. The minister in 1893 was the Reverend David Richards. [7] The Rev. Benjamin Jones was minister of Penffordd and Gwastad in the early 1900s. [8] The chapel was still used for worship in 2000, [9] but subsequently became home to a leather-working enterprise.
In 1885, about 57 children were attending Pen-ffordd Primary School, which had opened in 1866. [10] In December 1888, in “very unfavourable weather”, the school hosted the first meeting of the Haverfordwest Habitation of the Primrose League. [11] The school closed in 2001 with pupils numbering 17. [12] The school log books and admission register, 1898–2001, are held at the National Archives. [13]
Nearby Sheepwalk Nurseries are home to Pembrokeshire Cider and Perry Company. [14] Pembrokeshire Leatherwork is based in the former chapel. [15]
Rugby union international Brian Williams (1962-2007) was born in Penffordd. [16]