FBM Holidays, West Wales

Iron Man Wales

2011-09-21T08:44:00.000-07:00

Well what a weekend last weekend was, Iron Man Wales surpassed everyone’s expectations and Matthew Evans has to be congratulated on his triumph in bringing this to Pembrokeshire. I live in Tenby and on the Saturday I was down on the North Beach with my grandchildren, 10 year old Amber and 8 year old Charlie who were taking part in Iron Kids Wales. The excitement was palpable and I think everybody was surprised at how many kids wished to take part. In fact they had to have separate heats in all the age groups because of the numbers. Charlie was first, and exerted himself coming 4th in his heat. He was delighted and can’t wait for next year when he has promised to do even better. Amber ran and swam her heart out, but did admit when she finished that she might not do it again. The marshals were tremendous and all credit to them. There was even an Iron Man professional at the end of each heat handing out the medals to the delighted children. What was fantastic was the way in which the spectators cheered and encouraged the children along the course and a great time was had by all. Sunday was spectacular with the Iron Man proper taking place, all day throughout Tenby you could hear the roars of encouragement to the athletes taking part. My family and I wandered round Tenby with Charlie taking great enjoyment from leaning over the barriers for the athletes to “Hi five” as they ran past. Later we had a perfect view of the finishing line on The Esplanade and watched the leaders taking their just acclaim as they ran down the finishing line. From the start this was a perfect opportunity for Pembrokeshire to show the world how beautiful this part of Wales is and how well we can stage multinational events. FBM Holidays were full for the weekend and I had the opportunity to speak to athletes from all parts of the globe as well as Britain who spoke highly of the event and how spectacular the coastline and scenery is in Pembrokeshire. So if you want to be a part of next Years Iron Man, don’t delay and book your self-catering accommodation with the premier agency in West Wales – FBM Holidays.

Summer Holidays in Pembrokeshire

2011-05-20T06:39:00.000-07:00

When you think of Pembrokeshire, you immediately think of Tenby and Saundersfoot. But stop - and allow me to introduce some other towns and villages within a 20 mile radius of Tenby that you may not have heard of before.
Penally lies a couple of miles from Tenby and has spectacular views over Tenby's golf course and South Beach, facing towards Caldey Island. The Parish church is well worth a visit and it is rumoured that St Teilo, a contemporary of St David was born here.
Kilgetty and Begelly are intertwined villages about 5 miles from Tenby. St Mary's church in Begelly has the highest tower in the county. Folly farm is a hop skip and a jump away from Begelly and proves to be one of Pembrokeshires premier attractions having won numerous awards. There is a history of coal mining in the area.
Stepaside is very close to Kilgetty and has in Pleasant Valley the ruins of the iron works in a good state of preservation which can be walked around.
Manorbier has a fabulous castle open to the public and is privately owned. This has great views of the beach and surfing is prevalent here.
Narberth is situated about 8 miles from Tenby and is a fantastic example of a small market village. With a large number of exclusive shops available, the shopping is not to be missed. Narberth also has the ruins of a castle on its doorstep.
Haverfordwest is the county town of Pembrokeshire and is around 20 miles from Tenby. Again it possesses good shopping and the ruins of a castle in the middle of the town.
Freshwater East about 8 Miles from Tenby has a spectacular beach and being on the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path, has many good walks.
Lamphey nearby to Freshwater East has the ruins of the Bishops Palace, a retreat for the clergy from St Davids with fishponds, fruit orchards and vegetable gardens to sweeping parklands for them to enjoy.
Castlemartin is home to the MOD and especially tank training grounds. There are viewing spots around for you to watch the tanks performing battle situations.
Whilst the above are only a few of the towns and villages around, there are many many more for you to visit, such as St Florence, Marltwy, Landshipping, Lawrenny, Llawahaden, Templeton, Carew, Little Haven, Broadhaven and loads more. They all have their own salient features and as Pembrokeshire is full of history spanning stone age dolmens and henges to World War 2 history and beyond coupled with some of the best beaches in Britain and spectacular scenery that is a must for any holidaymaker. Pembrokeshire has it all in buckets and spades. FBM Holidays - the premier self-catering agency in West Wales have properties to rent all over Pembrokeshire, so you are never far from the beach or an inland scenic area. With all the attractions and theme parks also available, why holiday anywhere else? Go to FBM Holidays and take advantage of our special offers for this summer and enjoy a Welsh holiday.

Some Theme Parks in Pembrokeshire

2011-04-29T07:13:00.000-07:00

Well ,with the weather so good in this part of the country why not come to Pembrokeshire and visit the many theme parks on offer. There is something for everybody - no matter how old or young you are.

Oakwood has the world famous Megafobia, an exciting wooden roller coaster as well as Speed where you hold tight and get ready for 2000 feet of fast, furious fun. You’ll climb, plunge, roll, twist, turn and loop on super fast orange rails at speeds of up to 95kph. Take the plunge and let Drenched carry you 100 feet up into the air, then drop you at up to 88mph into the pool below. Think that’s as wet as you can get? Try handling the 45 foot splash wave on the bridge! You might have seen a house fly. Even a horse fly. But has anyone seen you fly? Go for it on Vertigo, the skydiver-designed extreme flight experience. There is family fun for all with the treetops coaster, plane crazy, bobsleigh and a pirate ship to name but a few. Small children aren't left out with such attractions as play town rides, bunny rabbit rides, wacky factory and lost kingdom. You don't have to leave the park at all with eateries,changing rooms and all the fun of the park available.

Folly Farm Adventure Park and Zoo, the top paid-for visitor attraction in Wales and winner of the Best Family Day Out in Pembrokeshire. Located near Tenby in the beautiful Pembrokeshire countryside, Folly Farm offers affordable fun days out for the whole family. With six fun-filled amusement and activity zones, some of which are undercover, there is something for everyone to enjoy. So, when you are looking for fun things to do for all the family, whatever the weather, look no further than Folly Farm. Come and see the Jolly Farm animals or ride on the fairground rides in the indoor Funfair. Enjoy the outdoor Adventure Parks and Carousel Woods indoor Adventure Playground. Visit Follywood Country Park and our very own Zoo, which is home to the only giraffes in Wales. A family day out at Folly Farm is fantastic value for money and there is no need to worry about your energy levels as there are plenty of restaurants and food outlets for to pit stop and re-fuel your family.

Manor House Wildlife Park has something for everybody...If you've only got a couple of hours make a beeline for the walkthroughs... We haven't just given our collection a freer lifestyle - we throw you in with them! Start with the Lemur Walkthrough, it's the next best thing to seeing lemurs in the wild in Madagascar. They'll come right up to you. Then head off for the Wallaby Walkthrough - you'll be amazed at how close you can get.The wallabies are friendly - bring your camera, you'll get some wonderful images.If you have a little more time get the kids going on the Wildlife Trail - it's fun and it'll give them an appetite, while you head off to picnic areas to set up the barbie... Don't forget the sausages! - there's nothing like a family meal all together, in the fresh air. Then hang out with Steve and Lisa in The Valley of the Apes. And get fresh will Tommy the Tapir and his new mate Rio.If it's a date you might try the Manor House Cafe - New kitchens, new chef, new menu - the ideal way to start a new romance!

The Dinosaur Park Tenby, Lots to see and do! The family fun lasts all day, including Astra Slide, 18-hole Adventure and Frisbee golf, 4x 4 off-roaders circuit, Super Jumper Trampolines, Diggers, Jungle Climb, Pedal Trucking, Disco boats, Motorised Tractors, Orbiter Cars, Big Game Hunting and more. Dig for your own fossil, identify it and take it home with you. Purpose-built Indoor Adventure Playground for toddlers and bigger kids. Soft play Den- super slides, bif-bash bags, ball pits, crawl tubes and deck climbs. Perfect for Playden and Ride n’Bounce Birthday Parties from £6.50 per child. Check out our Activity Centre Undercover in our dinosaur skeleton building, inter-active and low tech fun and education – something for everyone from toddlers to grannies. Learn and enjoy. Plus Dinosaur Restaurant, Sun Terrace Kiosk and Gift Shop.NEW FOR 2011! The Amazing Bubble Ride Heaps of fun on water in the giant roll ball!

Heatherton World of Activities near Tenby in Pembrokeshire South Wales is open all year and it's one of Wales’ favourite 'All Weather Attractions' with many activities under cover. New April 2011 Craft Shack Cafe plus for the 3 to 10 year olds Water Peddlerz and Driving School. Heatherton country sports theme park caters for all age groups and abilities. So whether you want a relaxing or sports filled activity fun day out, or an adrenalin-fuelled, extreme adventure day, Heatherton has it all as well as special packages for groups and team building events that give you exclusive use of facilities in school term time. Admission to the theme park is free, we operate a credit pass system or pay as you play. This provides unique tailored days for families, individuals, groups and organisations. Adrenalin activities include Paintball, The Tree Tops Trail and Go-Karting, so get physical in our paintball combat zones or swing high up in the trees on our Tree Tops Trail and feel the adrenalin buzz. Relaxing activities include a 2 acre Coarse Fishing lake, where you use your own fishing equipmentand fishing licence a 4 rink Indoor Bowls Centre and an 18-Hole Golf Course. Sports activities include Archery, Baseball, Laser Clays, Golf Driving Range and Pistol Shooting. Why not challenge your friends, colleagues or family? Fun activities include Water Walkers, Adventure Golf, Pembrokeshire Raceway, Bumper Boats, Maize Maze, Indoor Play Area, Giant Puzzle Zone, Sand Pit Diggers, Outdoor Inflatable Zone, Trampolines, Free Outdoor Playzone and Master Blaster. New Play Zone April 2011 Water Peddlerz, Craft Shack Cafe plus Electric Car driving school.

These are just five of the many theme parks available in Pembrokeshire and FBM Holidays have carefully selected self catering properties near each park ready and waiting for you and your family to enjoy a fantastic holiday in Pembrokeshire - so don't delay - book today!

Caldey Island

2011-04-08T06:46:00.000-07:00

One place to visit whilst you are in Pembrokeshire is the monastic island of Caldey, situated about three and a half miles off the coast from Tenby. The island is home to a small village, but is best known for its monastery. Boats run regularly from Tenby Harbour or Castle Beach during the summer season. Why should you visit Caldey? This spectacular island has had religious connotations since the Sixth century when a Celtic monastery was founded on the island, and a Benedictine foundation existed from 1136 until the dissolution of the monasteries in 1536. An Anglican Benedictine community, led by Dom Aelred Carlyle, came in 1906 and built the current abbey. They were received into the Roman Catholic Church in 1913, but left Caldey in 1925 due to financial difficulties and moved to Prinknash Abbey. The Cistercians, who now occupy the abbey, came in 1929 from Scourmont Abbey in Belgium. You can see a sixth century Ogham cross, a Norman chapel, a twelth century church, the lighthouse, built in 1828 and of course the twentieth century monastery. The word "Caldey" comes from the viking name "Keld-Eye" meaning "cold island", but I can assure you that if it's sunny in Tenby, it's glorious on Caldey. There is a spiritual retreat throughout the year, but the principal income for the monks is tourism, with the monks making their own delicous chocolate and also perfume (Their lavender perfume is said to be "simply the best lavender soliflore on earth" by the perfume critic Luca Turin) and aftershave to sell during the Summer months. Caldey is a small island only 1-1/2mile by 1 mile. The monastery and ancient churches combine with the sea air and quiet, beautiful surroungings to create a unique atmosphere of timeless peace. The Lighthouse has spectacular views of the Pembrokeshire coast and beyond from the back of the island and Tenby's beaches are panoramically displayed from the front of the island. This area is well worth a visit and FBM Holidays (the premier self-catering agency in West Wales) are ideally placed to offer you holiday accommodation overlooking this unique Monastery Island. As I write this today, the sun is shining and I'm looking out towards this beautiful restful island, so why not join us here in Pembrokeshire and enjoy the timeless tranquility of Caldey.

Easter Walks in Pembrokeshire

2011-04-01T06:12:00.000-07:00

Why not take advantage of the superb walks along the Coastal path of Pembrokeshire this Easter. Stretching from Amroth in the south and around the coast to St Dogmaels in the North, this 186 mile path offers a multitude of varied scenery and walks to suit all ages and abilities. In its entirety the Coast Path represents a formidable physical challenge - its 35,000 feet of ascent and descent is said to be equivalent to climbing Everest — yet it can also be enjoyed in shorter sections, with the small coastal villages strung out along its length offering different hospitality and outlooks. With Pembrokeshire having been settled since Neolithic times, yet completely unspoiled and sparsely populated in places to the hustle and bustle of towns such as Tenby and Saundersfoot where there is so much entertainment. The walks are usually covered from St Dogmaels to Amroth and the stiles and gates have numbers on with number one being near Pen Cemaes. There are a number of ways that you can pass through the towns but the official route is signed with white acorn signs stuck on a brown background, (Rather inconspicuous)green and yellow acorn waymarks, stuck high up onto lamposts and street furniture. You will need to check your map carefully to make sure you leave the town on a road that leads onto the path. The Pembrokeshire Coast Path has something to offer all the year round and many people prefer to walk when it's cooler in spring or autumn, or even on exhilarating winter days. The best time depends very much on you, your interests (see below) and whether you enjoy the busy holiday season or would prefer to come during the quieter months. In summer it can be difficult to find accommodation especially for single nights, so you are advised to book well in advance. The official guidebook recommends a twelve day route (at around 15 miles each day). This is quite a challenging pace day after day, it is worth planning for at least some 10 mile days or spreading the walk over a series of visits. There are many sections that make a good circular or 'there and back' walk. You can make use of the walker buses to walk one way and get the bus back. Elsewhere on the National Park website there are around 200 circular walks with free downloadable maps. Many of these routes are based on the Coast Path. So why go abroad during these uncertain times when you can come to an unspoilt part of Britain and be sure of a warm welcome? FBM Holidays, the premier self-catering agency in West Wales, have many holiday properties along the coastal path just right for you to enjoy a special holiday.

Spring into Summer

2011-03-25T09:47:00.000-07:00

What a glorious week we've had in West Wales, the sun has been shining and although the nights have been nippy, it's great to see that Spring has sprung. I can't think of a more overlooked area for holidays than West Wales, there is so much to do and see. We have it all, seas to swim, surf and in fact, any watersport you care to name can be found in West Wales. Historic places throughout the area, from prehistoric sites to imposing castles, with a history of Norman, Flemish and English occupation, just think, the Tudor dynasty started in Pembroke Castle. Theme parks galore to suit every pocket and age, from Folly Farm to Oakwood theme park and everything in between. Inland lakes and mountain ranges, rivers where coracles are still used in fishing. What hobby do you have? Horseriding? Fishing? Coasteering? Sailing? Diving? Cycling? West Wales has it all together with a most agreeable climate. What are you waiting for, if you're looking for a holiday at home, come to West Wales with FBM Holidays , the premier self-catering holiday accommodation agency in West Wales.

What's Happening in Pembrokeshire?

2011-03-18T03:37:00.000-07:00

Sunday 11th September 2011 at 7am sees the inaugural Iron Man Competition. This running, biking, cycling competion attracts huge numbers of international as well as home competitors and is a spectacle not to be missed. The swim course is starting from Tenby's beautiful South Beach with ample room for spectators. This is a fabulous setting with the flat beach and the monastic Caldey Island just offshore. The running course consists of 4 loops and starts just outside the historic town walls of Tenby and continues through the picturesque village of Penally before ending on The Esplanade, Tenby overlooking The South Beach. The cycling route takes you through some of Pembrokeshire's most scenic villages and towns and consists of a 2 loop course of 180 kms. Do you fancy taking part? look here - http://www.tri247.com/article_7608.html.

Or why not take a leaf out of my book and leisurely wander round the courses and marvel at the complexities of the courses giving thanks that you're not competing and of course, if you're looking for somewhere to stay, FBM Holidays at http://www.fbmholidays.co.uk have the perfect self catering accommodation throughout Pembrokeshire just for you. So see you in September.

MyPersonal History of Pembrokeshireshire (Part 10)

2010-09-17T07:53:00.001-07:00

Hello everybody, after my Summer holidays in Pembrokeshire with my grandchildren, I'm back. I've had a great time with them, from catching fish and crabs from Tenby's beachpools to thrills at Oakwood Theme Park and much much more, it's been a great Summer.
This week I'm departing from my normal blogs to tell you all about THE BIG RED SWIM. This is the Boxing Day swim (www.tenbyboxingdayswim.co.uk) for charity from Tenby's North Beach. This year is the 40th anniversary, but the history goes back 100 years and I'll quote verbatim from The Tenby Times: -
The 100-year-old origins of Tenbyâ€™s Boxing Day Swim

Tenby Boxing Day Swim has snowballed into Tenbyâ€™s main Christmas attraction,â€ claims the TSSA website, www.tenbyboxingdayswim.co.uk â€œWith around 600 swimmers and thousands of onlookers each year, this fantastic spectacle is not to be missed. With everyone swimming for charity, and the majority in fancy dress, Boxing Day in Tenby is a surefire way to carry on the fun at Christmas. A roaring bonfire greets the emerging swimmers and every one of them receives a medal for their bravery.
â€œStarted by Tenby Sea Swimming Association, (TSSA), the Osborne family has been associated with the spectacle from the beginning and Chris Osborne, chairman of TSSA, has seen the event take place in every weather condition, from brilliant sunshine to freezing wind- chill. And he said that each year, the organisers never fail to be amazed by its growing success and popularity.â€

100 YEARS ago: tragedy is the springboard

This year, Tenby Boxing Day Swim celebrates its 40th anniversary with the â€˜Big Red Swimâ€™, but its family origins date back 100 years.
In 1910, Arthur Dickinson, Quaker, lay preacher, artist and keen all- year-round swimmer, brought his family from Yorkshire to live in Ruabon House, South Parade, where he and his wife ran an art and fancy goods shop. Family legend has it that he was the first person to swim to Caldey, and today his great-grandchildren help to continue the concept he initiated.
It all started when some children drowned from the beach. Arthur Dickinson was particularly upset and decided to give swimming lessons to anyone interested.
He made a harness to support the child who was being taught to swim.
â€œSeveral well known people, including Sydney Hughes, son of T. P.
(Harrods of Tenby) and Seth Williams, archetypal village bobby, told me they had learnt to swim with the apparatus,â€ said his grandson Alun Morgan in a letter to the Observer earlier this year.
in and under

Alunâ€™s father, Ossie Morgan, son-in-law of Arthur Dickinson, became an assistant master at Tenby Council in 1918. Following his appointment as headmaster in the 1920s, he decided to carry on the family tradition of teaching youngsters to swim.
One such youngster, the late Dennis Hullah, reminisced: â€œWho among Mr.
Morganâ€™s hundreds of pupils, will ever forget the mad dash into the sea on the challenge â€˜first in and under for a pencilâ€™? He did not believe in trembling on the brink, but he was wise enough to know that childhood fear could be overcome in the excitement of competition. I have no doubt that Mr. Morgan would be able to work his magic with youngsters today, but his inducement might have to be more than a humble pencil!
Former Observer editor, the late Arthur Ormond, described Ossie Morgan as â€œan ideal headmasterâ€¦ an excellent teacher, firm yet kind. He taught thousands of children to swim and was proud of the fact that many of them went on to win life-saving awards.â€
Alun Morgan relates:
â€œOn glorious, sunny summer days, an announcement was made at the end of the morning lessons - â€˜Swimming today, bring costumes and towels to school this afternoon.â€™ There were no school dinners in those days; everyone went home for lunch. Swimming was particularly popular as it meant that school finished half-an-hour early at 3.30 pm.
â€œEveryone traipsed down on to the North Beach, boys to the Goscar side of Sunny Cove, girls to the other side. When everyone was ready, small ones to the front, big ones behind, a starting pistol was fired and a lemming-like charge to the sea occurred - first one in and under was awarded a lead pencil.
â€œTwo or three staff for a whole school in the surf - think of Health and Safety nowadays! It was then up to the senior pupils to teach the non-swimmers.

Running in the family

â€œWhen my father retired, this tradition died away, until his offspring decided to get non-swimmers swimming. We four, Idris, Gly Osborne, Ray Lowe and I (plus spouses) formed the Tenby Sea Swimming Association, sponsoring and accommodating some instructors from Atlantic College during the summer, finishing with a modest swimming gala.â€
The scheme was made possible through the generosity of many benefactors. Swimming lessons had started in June, 1970, with four instructors - John Granger, Sharon Powers, Beverly Anne Knight and Peter Froggatt. By the time of the gala that August about 750 courses of swimming instruction had been given to children and adults.
When the Swimming Pool opened, there was a better environment, warm and calm water for swimming instruction. The association was about to disband when Tenbyâ€™s enterprising publicity officer, John Evans, suggested a sponsored Boxing Day Swim to put Tenby on the map and raise money for charity. A much larger committee was formed - John Evans, Tom Hughes, Tony Markes, Doug Harris, Bobby King, Denzil Thomas, Rosemary John and others and so, 39 years ago, the first Boxing Day Swim took place. Alun Morgan recallsâ€¦ â€¦the first swim.

â€œThe Town Band, under Eileen Hodgson, offered to appear, the RNLI, under coxswain Josh Richards, launched the lifeboat, the Sea Cadets built the bonfire, yachts sailed from the Tenby Sailing Club, under Blake Shaw, and the much-loved Sandy Buttle from Pembroke Dock brought his canoe class. The commandant at Brawdy fulfilled his obligatory once-a-year exercise walking on water, albeit supported by a helicopter.
â€œMedals were awarded to all swimmers and Brass Monkey awards went to the sponsored groups. The fancy dress competition was arranged, sweatshirts with the TSSA logo were distributed to committee members, some dignitary or other was invited to judge the fancy dress and then, at the appointed hour, all swimmers were lined up. A mass rush to the sea signalled by a maroon followed.â€
So why not spend Christmas in Tenby with FBM Holidays (www.fbmholidays.co.uk) and get yourself sponsored and raise money for your favourite charity and get rid of the Xmas bloat by taking part in THE BIG RED SWIM. DS.

My Personal History of Pembrokeshire (part 9)

2010-07-23T07:15:00.001-07:00

Hello again, this week the "Landsker Line". This is reputedly, the imaginary line that separated the Welsh speaking community from the non-Welsh speakers in South West Wales, and stretched from St Brides Bay in the West to Laugharne in the East with villages and towns such as St Clears, Lampeter Velfrey, Narberth, Llawahaden, Wiston, Great Rudbaxton, Wolfescastle, Hayscastle and Roch all within the vicinity of this line. The English-speaking areas, known as Little England beyond Wales, are notable for having been English linguistically and culturally for many centuries despite being far from the border with England. During the 11th and 12th centuries both invaders and defenders built more than fifty castles during a complex period of conflict, effectively to consolidate the line. The southernmost was Laugharne; others included Wiston, Camrose, Narberth, and Roch. These are often referred to as "frontier castles" but they were in fact set back a considerable distance from the frontier itself. In the heart of the Normanised colony, the two great fortresses were at Pembroke and Haverfordwest. There were other fortresses within the colony as well, including Manorbier, Carew and Tenby. The Landsker line has changed position many times, first moving north into the foothills of Mynydd Preseli during the military campaigns of the Early Middle Ages, and then moving southwards again in more peaceful times, as the English colonists found that farming and feudalism were difficult to maintain on exposed hillsides. As mentioned above, the frontier moved between 1600 and today. Historic data on personal names also shows that it also moved between 1200 and 1600. There were attempts to set up a number of Norman/English â€œplanned villagesâ€ (e.g. Letterston and New Moat) north of the current frontier in the medieval period. These subsequently failed, and were re-occupied by Welsh speakers in the post Black Death period. In more modern times, the enclosure of commons allowed a substantial southward spread of Welsh speakers, particularly in Carmarthenshire. These are quite rare examples of Welsh-speaking areas expanding at the expense of English-speaking areas; in the central part of Pembrokeshire the shift of the Landsker southwards between 1600 and 1900 was in excess of 10 km. Now many people think that the word "Landsker" is a Viking word, but it is in fact of Anglo-Saxon origin and means "a permanent, visible boundary between two tracts of land, and may be a natural feature (e.g. a river) or an artificial feature (e.g. a hedge or a line of marker stones)." The castles and features along this line are worth visiting as well as the areas to the South and North of the Landsker, FBM Holidays (www.fbmholidays.co.uk) have many self catering properties within easy reach of all the Castles and villages mentioned, so whatever your nationality, give both you and your children a history lesson and discover the rich historical heritage here in West Wales. DS

My Personal History of Pembrokeshire (part 8)..

2010-07-18T02:13:00.001-07:00

The next part in this occasional series is St Marys Church in Tenby, which is apt, as this year the church celebrates its 800th birthday. Reputedly the largest parish church in Wales, St Marys is located in the centre of the town of Tenby in Pembrokeshire, Wales. The church is in the Diocese of Saint David's within the Church in Wales, and members of the Anglican Communion.
There is believed to have been a church on the site since Norman times, but most of what remains dates from the 13th century building and subsequent additions in the 14th and 15th centuries. The 13th century chancel has a 'wagon' roof and the panelled ceiling has 75 bosses carved with a variety of foliage designs, grotesques, fishes and a mermaid. St. Thomas' Chapel was added in the mid-15th century, and the St. Nicholas Chapel was added in c. 1485. The spire was also a 15th century addition. Inside the church is a 15th century font and a 15th century bell with the letters 'Sancta Anna'. The tower is positioned to one side of the chancel and dates from the late 13th century. The first floor served as a chapel, and still has a stone altar and piscina (a shallow basin placed near the altar of a church, used for washing the communion vessel) in place. The church contains several memorials, including the tombs of Thomas and John White, both Mayors of Tenby in the fifteenth century. Thomas White was famous for hiding a young Henry Tudor from King Richard III. in a cellar, under â€œBootsâ€ and to this day Tenby schoolchildren are given the chance to enter this cellar and traverse the secret passage that leads from "Boots" to the church. There is also a wall tablet in memory of Robert Recorde, (See my earlier blogs), who introduced the equals sign ( = ) to mathematical calculation. During the first civil war, Tenby was besieged by Cromwells' Roundheads and musket ball holes can still be seen in the church to this day. The gardens of remembrance to to the rear of the church are a magnificent oasis of calm in the bustling centre of Tenby and are overflowing with roses during the Summer. Words alone cannot describe the beauty of this church and FBM Holidays, www.fbmholidays.co.uk, have accommodation in the centre of Tenby for you to enjoy this historic building at your leisure. DS

My Personal History of Pembrokeshire (part 8)

2010-07-02T05:58:00.001-07:00

This week, Bosherston Lily Ponds. Believe it or not these are artificial and were created between 1780 and 1860 by The Earls of Cawdor out of three limestone valleys that used to have surface water that drained naturally into the sea. The Earls of Cawdor hired a canal engineer by the name of James Cockshutt who managed to overcome the problems of the water draining through the limestone. They only did this to show off their mansion. You may ask what a Scottish Earl was doing in Pembrokeshire and one version I have heard of was that he won the lands in a card game. How true this is, I have no idea, however there are a multitude of "Cawdor" links around Pembrokeshire with various public houses etc named after them. Of course, nowadays, there would be an almighty protest about someone damming up valleys for their own use and gratification. What is evident now is that Bosherston Lily Ponds is an area of outstanding beauty and teems with wildlife such as otters, dragonflies, fish (fishing is permitted with licence) water birds and bats etc. This area is now administered by The National Trust and when the lilies are out, is an outstanding sight. There are walks around the ponds with access to Broad Haven beach and other coastal paths. One nice legend about the original water filled valleys is that this was where the Lady of the Lake gave Arthur his magical sword Excalibur. Sir Gawain one of the knights of the round table is also rumoured to have resided in the hermitage at St Govans Head, only a mile away from the Lily Ponds. As many parts of Britain claim to be associated with King Arthur, this claim may be slightly fanciful, but who am I to decry these rumours. Whatever you think, Bosherston Lily Ponds are magnificent and should you wish to visit this beautiful part of Pembrokeshire and find out more about the possible links to King Arthur, FBM Holidays (www.fbmholidays.co.uk) have the ideal self catering accommodation for you to explore this truly wonderful part of Wales. DS.

My Personal History of Pembrokeshire (Part 7)

2010-06-11T05:45:00.001-07:00

This week, the last invasion of Britain, now I imagine most of you are thinking, 1066 and all that, well I'm afraid you're wrong. The last invasion of Britain was actually in February 1797 and the place was Fishguard, Pembrokeshire and the invaders were French! The brief campaign, which took place between 22 February and 24 February 1797, was the most recent effort by a foreign force that was able to land on Britain, and thus is often referred to as the "last invasion of Britain". The invasion was the plan of General Lazare Hoche, who had devised a three-pronged attack on Britain in support of Irish Republicans under Wolfe Tone. Two forces would land in Britain as a diversionary effort, while the main body would land in Ireland. However, poor weather and indiscipline halted two of the forces, although the third, aimed at landing in Wales and marching on Bristol, went ahead. The invasion force consisted of 1,400 troops from the La Legion Noire (The Black Legion) under the command of Irish American Colonel William Tate, 800 of whom were irregulars. Transported on four French warships under the command of Commodore Jean-Joseph Castagnier, Tate's forces landed at Carregwastad Head near Fishguard on 22 February, after a failed attempt to enter Fishguard harbour itself, when on Wednesday, February 22, the French warships sailed into Fishguard Bay, to be greeted by cannon fire from the local fort. Unbeknown to the French, the cannon was being fired as an alarm to the local townsfolk, nervously the ships withdrew and sailed on until they reached a small sandy beach near the village of Llanwnda. Men, arms and gunpowder were unloaded and by 2 am on the morning of Thursday, February 23rd, the last invasion of Britain was completed. The ships returned to France with a special despatch being sent to the Directory in Paris informing them of the successful landing. However, upon landing, discipline broke down amongst the irregulars, many of whom deserted to loot nearby settlements. The remaining troops were met by a quickly assembled group of around 500 British reservists, militia and sailors under the command of John Campbell, 1st Baron Cawdor. After brief clashes with the local civilian population and Lord Cawdor's forces on 23 February, Tate was forced into an unconditional surrender by 24 February. Strange that the surrender agreement drawn up by Tate's officers referred to the British coming at them "with troops of the line to the number of several thousand." No such troops were anywhere near Fishguard, however, hundreds of local Welsh women dressed in their traditional scarlet tunics and tall black felt hats had come to witness any fighting between the French and the local men of the militia. Is it possible that at a distance, and after a glass or two, those women could have been mistaken for British army Redcoats? A local heroine, 47-year-old Jemima Nicholas was the wife of a Fishguard cobbler. When she heard of the invasion, she marched out to Llanwnda, pitchfork in hand and rounded up 12 Frenchmen. She brought them into town and promptly left to look for some more. Later, the British captured two of the expedition's vessels, a frigate and a corvette. Despite all this, Castagnier managed to return to France. So this was the last invasion of Britain (although you might think that the above was more of a shambles than an actual invasion.)
Today, Fishguard is a convenient point for the ferry to Ireland and the surrounding areas are an ideal holiday destination with the glorious coastline and Pembrokeshire National Park all around. You can also view "The Last Invasion Tapestry" in Fishguard town hall which has been favourably compared to "The Bayeux Tapestry" of 1066. To enjoy your family holiday in this corner of West Wales, visit the premier self-catering agency in West Wales and view the special offers available at FBM Holidays, http://ping.fm/YRcm8 DS

A Personal History of Pembrokeshire (part 6)

2010-05-21T05:49:00.000-07:00

This week, Manorbier, This lovely little village on the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path has a fascinating history. The most popular attraction is Manorbier Castle, originally a wooden keep defended by a palisade and earthworks, built on land granted to Odo de Barri, a Norman knight, at the end of the 11th century. However it was Odo's son, William de Barri, who began work on the stone fortification in the early part of the 12th century, the great hall, built in the 1140s, today remains the “oldest stone building surviving at any castle in west Wales”. It is not just a remarkable building in the way its stone still stands intact, but it is also an interesting room to visit in the castle. Dotted around the castle, sections of the 12th century wall-painting have survived and provide us with a fascinating insight into medieval artwork. and the Chapel, which was built around 1260, has elaborate vaulting and plaster-work. Some of the original medieval frescoes can still be seen.
In 1146 Gerald of Wales, the great twelfth century scholar known as Geraldus Cambrensis, was born at the castle and it is through Gerald that we know most of the history of the village ...and indeed the medieval history of Wales. As the fourth son of William de Barri, he was related on his mothers's side, to the legendary Welsh princess Nest verch Rhys. Gerald wrote of his birthplace: “In all the broad lands of Wales, Manorbier is the most pleasant place by far.”

In the castle's history, it was surprisingly only attacked twice; both were minor skirmishes. In 1327, Richard de Barri assaulted Manorbier in a family dispute over ownership. Then 300 years later during the English Civil War, the castle was seized in 1645 by Parliamentarian forces. It was then slighted to prevent further use by the Royalists.
Through the 17th and 18th centuries Manorbier was allowed to decay. However in 1880, the castle was partially restored by J.R.Cobb, (a tenant of the Phillipps who owned the castle), who carried out repairs on the buildings and walls.
Manorbier Castle is now privately owned by Lady Dunsany (a Philipps descendant) and is open to the public during normal hours. A fine gift shop is located on the site, inside the renovated guardroom adjacent to the great gatehouse.

Manorbier was also a popular haunt of the Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw and author Virginia Woolf.

The castle was used as Cair Paravel by the BBC in an adaption of The Chronicles of Narnia filmed in 1988.
The 2003 film, I Capture the Castle, was shot entirely on location at the castle.

Manorbier’s second most popular attraction is its delightful beach. Sheltered by two cliffs on either side of its wide golden sands, the beach is also overlooked by the castle and the 12th century Norman church. It is a sandy beach with pebbles along the banks. Children will love playing in the rock pools spotting starfish and crabs, whilst parents laze on the sand beside the shore! If you are feeling brave enough to test the warm Welsh waters don't forget your surf board as Manorbier beach can be very popular with surfers during the summer months.

Pembrokeshire Coastal Path: If you need a break away from the sand and sea, you can take a delightful walk along the cliff tops, which offer excellent views of not just the beach, but also the Castle, Church and Pembrokeshire countryside. Indeed the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path cuts through Manorbier on its way eastward to Tenby, or winding westward along the scenic route to the secluded Swanlake Bay.

The King’s Quoit: Close to Manorbier alongside the coastal path you will find The King’s Quoit, a striking stone cromlech (a prehistoric megalithic structure), which dates from around 3000BC. It is a beautiful spot to enjoy a picnic during the summer months. In fact FBM Holidays probably have the holiday cottage for you to enjoy all of the scenic sights around Manorbier and have special offers available right now. Don’t delay, book today at www.fbmholidays.co.uk DS

A Personal History of Pembrokeshire (part 5)

2010-05-07T09:04:00.001-07:00

Today Mathematics, did you know that Robert Recorde, known as the founder of modern mathematics, was born in Tenby in 1510. He introduced the = sign. Not much I know, but apparently it opened the way for all modern maths. He was a boy genius and went to Oxford University when he was 15 years old and was made a fellow of All Souls College in 1531. He took up medicine as a profession and went to the University of Cambridge to take the degree of M.D. in 1545. He afterwards returned to Oxford, where he publicly taught mathematics, as he had done prior to going to Cambridge. It appears that he afterwards went to London, and acted as physician to King Edward VI and to Queen Mary, to whom some of his books are dedicated. He was also controller of the Royal Mint and served as "Comptroller of Mines and Monies" in Ireland. After being sued for defamation by a political enemy, he was arrested for debt and died in the King's Bench Prison, Southwark, in 1558, one year after introducing the = sign. Now, more than ever, it's time to do your sums and come to Pembrokeshire on holiday. FBM Holidays, http://www.fbmholidays.co.uk/special-offers/, have some unrepeatable special offers with up to 30% off weekly holidays. So come to Pembrokeshire where there is more history than you realise, just waiting for you to discover. DS

Chapter 4 of my personal history of Pembrokeshire.

2010-04-30T09:04:00.001-07:00

Hello again, I'm sorry I didn't blog last week, however vtoday I think I'll talk about Pembroke Castle and the start of the Tudor dynasty. Henry 7th was born here in 1457 and in 1461 when Edward 4th came to the throne Henry's guardian was William Herbert who was given Pembroke Castle by Edward. By 1483, his mother, despite being married to a Yorkist (Lord Stanley), was actively promoting Henry as an alternative to Richard III. At Rennes Cathedral on Christmas Day 1483, Henry pledged to marry Edward IV's eldest daughter, Elizabeth of York, who was also Edward's heir since the presumed death of her brothers, the Princes in the Tower. Henry then received the homage of his supporters. With money and supplies borrowed from his host Francis II, Duke of Brittany, Henry tried to land in England, but his conspiracy unravelled, resulting in the execution of his primary co-conspirator, the Duke of Buckingham. Richard III attempted to extradite Henry from Brittany, but Henry escaped to France. He was welcomed by the French, who readily supplied him with troops and equipment for a second invasion. Having gained the support of the Woodvilles, in-laws of the late Edward IV, he sailed with a small French and Scottish force. Henry landed in Mill Bay, Pembrokeshire, close to his birthplace. He marched towards England accompanied by his uncle Jasper and the Earl of Oxford. Wales was traditionally a Lancastrian stronghold, and Henry owed the support he gathered to his Welsh birth and ancestry, being directly descended, through his father, from Rhys ap Gruffydd. He amassed an army of around 5,000 soldiers. Henry was aware that his best chance to seize the throne was to engage Richard quickly and defeat him immediately, as Richard had reinforcements in Nottingham and Leicester. Richard only needed to avoid being killed in order to keep his throne. Though outnumbered, Henry's Lancastrian forces decisively defeated Richard's Yorkist army at the Battle of Bosworth Field on 22 August 1485. Several of Richard's key allies, such as the Earl of Northumberland and William and Thomas Stanley, crucially switched sides or left the battlefield. Richard III's death at Bosworth Field effectively ended the Wars of the Roses, although it was not the last battle Henry had to fight.
Why not stay with FBM Holidays, (http://ping.fm/UA7p3) and visit Pembroke Castle which is still majestically dominating the market town of Pembroke.

Chapter 3 of a personal history of Pembrokeshire

2010-04-16T07:50:00.001-07:00

Back again, this week I'm clear across the county at Crymych, where last weekend I watched my grandson, who plays touch rugby for Tenby under 7s, defeat Crymych under 7s. It was a good game enjoyed by all. My grandson, Charlie is looking forward to next year when he'll be learning how to tackle. Why I mentioned this was because as we were driving home, we passed the Preseli Mountains, and of course I thought about the legend of Stonehenge in which Merlin the Magician is reputed to have flown the stones 240 miles from The Preselis to Stonehenge, where, in about 2,000 BC, the first stone circle was set up, but abandoned before completion. The bluestones weigh up to 4 tons each and about 80 stones were used, this is a nice story but I'm not sure I'm a believer. There are two main theories for the Bluestones appearing at Stonehenge and the first speculates that the stones were dragged by roller and sledge from the inland mountains to the headwaters of Milford Haven. There they were loaded onto rafts, barges or boats and sailed along the south coast of Wales, then up the Rivers Avon and Frome to a point near present-day Frome in Somerset. From this point, so the theory goes, the stones were hauled overland, again, to a place near Warminster in Wiltshire, approximately 6 miles away. From there, it's back into the pool for a slow float down the River Wylye to Salisbury, then up the Salisbury Avon to West Amesbury, leaving only a short 2 mile drag from West Amesbury to the Stonehenge site. The second is rather more mundane, in that it is suggested that the Bluestones were deposited in Wiltshire by glacial action, during the ice age. Whatever theory you favour is up to you, but why not come and see the Preseli Mountains for yourself and stay in one of FBM Holidays, http://ping.fm/7ZvCQ, carefully selected properties and not only walk the mountains, but explore the burial chambers, Dolmens and standing stones. See you next week. DS

2010-04-13T04:48:00.001-07:00

How is everyone this afternoon?, quick quiz- can anyone name the horse that walks around Tenby Town square?.

Chapter 2 of my personal history of Pembrokeshire

2010-04-10T06:32:00.001-07:00

Sorry for the delay of this blog - my grandchildren are on half-term and we've taken advantage of the beautiful weather in Pembrokeshire and have been out and about. One place we visited was Manor House Leisure Park in St Florence, it's now run by Anna Ryder-Richardson who is turning it into a natural wild life refuge. It's a fabulous place to take children, with a walk through Lemur enclosure and of course, Steve the Gibbon and his mate Lisa amongst others. However to get back to the history of Pembrokeshire, Manor House started in the 17th century when land was bought in St Florence by a Robert Williams and the house was known by the name of Ivy Towers in around 1771. St Florence itself is famous for it's Flemish chimneys and was probably taken over by the Normans who encouraged the English to move there with a view to move out the Welsh. In the 12th century, St Florence was occupied by a mixture of Normans. Flemings, and Anglo Saxons, which is why, in common with most of Pembrokeshire, the place names and even family names are anglicised. St Florent was a Saint from the Loire Valley and gave his name to the village and church (parts of which date from the 11th century). Today, it's a lovely floral village and if you look closely you can still see the iron rings that were used to tie up the ships that sailed up the Ritec Valley at high tide. As well as Manor House, http://ping.fm/TNBrG, you can also find Heatherton http://ping.fm/wD2j8 where a variety of activities such as golfing, paintballing, archery and bumper boats to name but a few can be found. If you're looking for self-catering accommodation, FBM Holidays http://ping.fm/r0Xyz is your first choice for the best that West Wales can offer. See you next week.

Easter Monday.

2010-04-05T06:43:00.001-07:00

Some of us are working today, the good thing is I've got a great view on to the South Beach in Tenby. Quite a few windsurfers out as it is a bit breezy today, not raining though.

A personal history of Pembrokeshire

2010-04-01T04:58:00.001-07:00

I'm sat at my desk looking out on The South Beach in Tenby and thinking to myself, how many people out there have any idea of the history of Pembrokeshire and the surrounding counties? Did you know the founder of modern mathematics, Robert Recorde, came from Pembrokeshire? How many of you know that the Tudor dynasty started in Pembroke Castle? Did you know that the Buestones of Stonehenge came from the Preseli Hills? Although I'm not a native of Pembrokeshire, "commonly known as little England beyond Wales and that's another story", you will have to go a long way to find an area in Britain that has so much to offer from rural to coastal. so I have decided to write every week about some aspect of this area from my personal viewpoint. I'm not a historian, and the information won't be in chronological order, but hopefully you will gain a flavour of this remarkable area and perhaps want to come and see for yourself what it's all about. Of course I have a vested interest in all this as I work for http://ping.fm/xNuPL and I hope you will use our services to holiday in this part of the country. See you next week!

Spring is on the way

2010-03-14T07:04:00.001-07:00

Here we are , Mothering Sunday in glorious Tenby. The sun is shining and the town is waking up after a long winter. You must come and see all the attractions that West Wales has to offer. Book your holiday or short break with FBM Holidays in our selected properties throughout West Wales. From coast to country, FBM Holidays has the property for you. Don't delay, book today.

2010-02-24T07:30:00.001-08:00

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2010-02-10T02:49:00.001-08:00

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2010-01-29T05:21:00.001-08:00

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