St Dogmaels, Pembrokeshire
Historical Description
Dogmaels, Dogmells, or Dogmels, St, a village and a parish in Pembrokeshire, 1 mile from Cardigan, with a post, money order, and telegraph office under Cardigan. The village is pleasantly situated on the banks of the river Teivy, and is intersected by a small rivulet, across which, and serving as a footbridge, was a Roman monumental stone about 5¼ feet in length, bearing the inscription " Acrani Fili. Cvnotami;" it has, however, been removed, and is now placed in the corner of a wall near the church. The surrounding scenery is pleasant, and in some instances picturesque, while the view embracing the course of the river Teivy from its influx into the sea, with the town of Cardigan and its ancient bridge, is exceedingly interesting. A salmon fishery is advantageously carried on during the summer, and a herring fishery in the autumn and winter affords employment to such of the inhabitants as are not engaged in agricultural pursuits. Acreage of the civil parish, 6285 of land and 284 of tidal water and foreshore; population, 2220; of the ecclesiastical, 2516. St Dogmaels is of considerable antiquity. and was connected with some events of importance during the earlier periods of the history of the Principality. In 987 the Danes, who had effected a landing on this part of the coast, after ravaging and laying waste the surrounding country, plundered. and burnt the church. In the reign of William Rufus, Llewelyn and Einon, sons of Cadivor ab Collwyn, and Einon ab Collwyn, their uncle, formed a conspiracy against Rhys ab Tewdwr, prince of South Wales, and having prevailed upon Grufydd ab Meredydd, another nobleman of that country, to join them, advanced with their united forces to St Dogmaels, where Rhys resided, hoping to attack him by surprise. But Rhys was fully prepared for the encounter, and a severe and well-contested battle took place near the village, in which, after much slaughter on both sides, tho confederates were totally defeated. Llewelyn and Einon were both killed, and Grufydd ab Meredydd was taken prisoner and beheaded as a traitor to his country. Einon ab Collwyn fled for refuge to lestyn ab Gwrgan, lord of Morganwg, who was at that time at enmity with Rhys, and suggesting to him the fatal expedient of having recourse to Norman auxiliaries, introduced into that part of the country a power which afterwards deprived lestyn of his dominions, and distributed them among their knights. A monastery of the order of Tyrone was begun here by Martin de Tours, who forcibly obtained possession of the district of Kemmes in the reign of William the Conqueror, but was completed by his son, Robert Fitz-Martin, in the reign of Henry I., and dedicated to St Mary; its revenue at the dissolution was estimated at £96, when it was granted to John Bradshaw, who lies buried beneath the chancel. Of this family was Bradshaw who presided at the trial of Charles I. The buildings, which were in the Early English architecture, appear to have been substantial and on a considerable scale; the remains consist of part of the choir, transept of the church, and the refectory. The living is a discharged vicarage, with those of Llantood and Monington annexed, in the archdeaconry of Cardigan and diocese of St David's. The church is dedicated to St Thomas. The Sunday school is said to be the oldest in the Principality. There are Congregational, Baptist, and Calvinistic Methodist chapels.
Land and Property
The Return of Owners of Land in 1873 for Pembrokeshire is available to browse.
Newspapers and Periodicals
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