Exploring with Erica

03/09/2026

03/09/2026

Set in the peaceful landscape above the Gwaun Valley, near Fishguard, is the little church of St David at Llanllawer. Although the building we see today dates from 1860, it stands on the site of a much older medieval church, and the history of this remarkable place goes back considerably further.

The church was completely rebuilt in 1860 by the architect Robert Jewell Withers. The old church had fallen into a terrible state and was described at the time as “dilapidated and almost roofless”. Remarkably, the new building was constructed on the same site, preserving a connection with the ancient place of worship that had stood there for centuries.

What makes Llanllawer particularly special are the ancient carved stones associated with the church. Four medieval cross stones survive — two forming the entrance gateposts and two incorporated into the church. There is also an ancient stone stoup inside the church, fed by a natural spring.

Nearby is Ffynnon Gapan, the Llanllawer Holy Well, an old spring which was traditionally believed to have healing properties, particularly for ailments of the eyes. Archaeological evidence suggests that the churchyard was once part of a much larger circular enclosure, adding to the belief that this may have been a sacred Christian site for well over a thousand years.

Today the church is sadly disused and in a state of decay, but its quiet setting and long history make it a fascinating place to discover. Standing here, surrounded by the Pembrokeshire landscape, it is easy to wonder about all those who have visited this ancient site over the centuries.

02/09/2026

I’ve recently been researching a small, now sadly ruined building at the Parrog in Newport, Pembrokeshire, which is locally referred to as the Coastal Mortuary.

The building forms part of the historic Parrog harbour and limekiln complex. Historic records held by RCAHMW/Coflein show that one of the small stone buildings beside the limekiln was marked on historic Ordnance Survey maps as a Life Saving Apparatus Shed and was later used as a mortuary.

The Parrog was once a busy working harbour, with fishing and trading vessels, warehouses and limekilns. Given its exposed position on Cardigan Bay, shipwrecks and drownings were sadly part of coastal life.

The Life Saving Apparatus Shed housed equipment used to rescue people from vessels in difficulty, including rockets, lines and a breeches buoy. There are records of the equipment being used locally, including a 1906 rescue attempt involving a grounded schooner, and a practice drill held at the Parrog in 1907.

Interestingly, the building may not originally have been constructed as a mortuary. Evidence suggests it may first have been used as a store connected with the harbour and limekiln before becoming associated with the life-saving apparatus and later the mortuary.

The buildings are now Grade II listed as Stores adjacent to Kiln Cottage and the lime kiln (Cadw List Entry 84411).

I’ve included some photographs of the Coastal Mortuary at Saltburn-by-the-Sea to give an example of what a coastal mortuary could look like and some context for the type of building we are looking for. I’ve also included photos of Kiln Cottage and another building next to it. Could this be these be the buildings I’m looking for? There’s also an old photo I found in a book which is said to be the ruins of the mortuary.

Does anyone have any old photographs of the Coastal Mortuary at the Parrog in Newport?

Photographs of the building itself, or even the surrounding harbour where it can be seen in the background, would be fascinating. I’d also love to hear from anyone with family memories, old documents, newspaper cuttings or stories connected with it.

It would be wonderful to uncover a little more of the history of this fascinating building and its place in Newport’s maritime past.

Please feel free to share this post with anyone who might have photographs or information.

01/09/2026

Yesterday I finally ticked something off my list that I’ve been meaning to do for years — a visit to the beautiful Cresselly House for its annual Country Fayre.

There was such a lovely atmosphere throughout the day, with classic cars, food and drink stalls, the dog show and plenty to see and enjoy. It was the kind of afternoon where you could simply wander around, take everything in and enjoy the setting.

But for me, one of the real highlights was having the opportunity to look inside the house itself, with a tour conducted by the owner. It was a privilege to hear some of its history and see parts of the house that you wouldn’t normally get to experience.

Cresselly House has a fascinating story. The Cresselly estate belonged to the Bartlett family from the 16th century before passing to the Allen family in the early 18th century. The present Georgian house was built in 1769 by Captain John Bartlett Allen, replacing an earlier house which stood closer to the coal workings. The local coal industry was an important source of income for the estate, with coal being transported from nearby Cresswell Quay.

The house itself is Grade II* listed, while the surrounding park and gardens are also recognised for their historic importance. The landscape around the house has evolved over the centuries, including substantial changes during the 19th century.

An added bonus was the large log store near the house which used to be a roller skating rink! The floor was made of maple and had underfloor heating and the whole village watched the Queen’s coronation on a small television in there.

It was lovely to see such a historic place being brought to life by an event that felt so rooted in the local community — and particularly special to finally visit somewhere that had been on my list for so long.

31/08/2026

St Nicholas’ Church in Monkton, Pembroke, has a history stretching back more than 900 years. A Benedictine priory was founded here in 1098 by Arnulf de Montgomery, a Norman lord, and monks from Séez Abbey in Normandy were brought to Monkton. The priory gave the area its name, with “Monkton” meaning a settlement associated with monks.

The priory stood close to Pembroke Castle and was also near the route taken by pilgrims travelling to St Davids. The monks provided religious services and are believed to have offered accommodation to visitors and pilgrims. Monkton Old Hall, close to the church, is traditionally thought to have been the priory’s guest house.

During the Middle Ages, the priory remained an important religious establishment. In 1414, foreign religious houses were suppressed, and in 1443 Monkton was transferred to St Albans Abbey. The priory was eventually dissolved during the reign of Henry VIII in the 1530s. Although the monastery disappeared, the church survived as the local parish church.

The present building contains parts from several periods, including Norman and medieval stonework. The church has a medieval chancel, tower, porch and other features, as well as historic tombs and monuments. Some of the surrounding priory buildings have disappeared, although archaeological remains are believed to survive beneath the ground.

The church underwent a major Victorian restoration in the late 19th century, which repaired and altered parts of the medieval building while preserving much of its ancient fabric. Later additions include stained glass, an organ and other Victorian features.

St Nicholas’ is particularly special because it brings together so many layers of Pembrokeshire’s history — Norman rule, medieval monastic life, pilgrimage, the Reformation, the Civil War and Victorian restoration. Its position opposite Pembroke Castle makes the whole area an exceptionally important historic landscape.

Today, the church remains a place of worship and is an important surviving part of Monkton’s medieval heritage.

29/08/2026

If you’ve wandered around Pembroke, you may have come across The Chapel Emporium on East Back.

The building itself has an interesting past. As the name suggests, it was originally a chapel, long before it became the emporium we know today. Unfortunately, information about its early history is surprisingly difficult to find, so there are still some gaps in the story.

By at least 2010, it was being used as Chapel Antiques, selling antique furniture, pine, architectural pieces, crafts and other interesting finds.

Today, The Chapel Emporium continues that tradition, with a great mixture of antiques, vintage items, furniture, clothing, jewellery, crafts and plenty of things you probably wouldn’t expect to find!

It’s always interesting to see how old buildings in Pembroke have been reused over the years, while still retaining something of their original character.

Does anyone remember the chapel when it was still in use, or know anything about its history? I’d love to hear your memories❤️

28/08/2026

A lovely evening wander around Stackpole, taking in some of the quieter corners and little details along the way. From the old eight-arch bridge to the views from the hidden bridge, there was plenty to stop and admire as the light started to fade.

I also came across some of Stackpole’s more unusual sights — the wicker people, the old concrete bench with its World War II graffiti, and the small but rather touching grave of Bogie the dog. A walk full of history, stories and unexpected little discoveries, which made for a lovely way to spend an evening.

28/08/2026

These unusual graves arranged in a circle are actually gravestones that were moved here from the old Upper Park Street Cemetery. In 2004, Pembroke Dock Town Council recorded plans for the stones to be relocated to Llanion Cemetery and arranged in the form of a “druids circle”.

Llanion Cemetery itself dates back to 1869 and contains a large number of war graves, including Commonwealth servicemen from both World Wars, as well as graves connected with the former RAF flying-boat base at Pembroke Dock.

It’s a really unusual part of the cemetery, and one I’d never noticed before. A small reminder of just how much history can be found around Pembroke Dock.

28/08/2026

I’ve never seen graves set out like this before

28/08/2026

Llanon Cottage Museum, in Llanon, Ceredigion, is a small but fascinating historic cottage that offers an insight into everyday life in rural Wales.

The cottage is a Grade II listed building*, recognised for its special historic and architectural interest. Dating from the early 19th century, it retains many traditional features, including a cobbled central passage, traditional fireplaces and a crogloft — a small sleeping loft accessed by a ladder.

One of the cottage’s most unusual features is its roof. Beneath the later corrugated covering survives a continuous straw-rope under-thatch, an exceptionally rare survival.

The cottage remained in use as a home until the 1950s, after which it was used as a carpenter’s workshop. It was later acquired by Ceredigion Museum and restored, helping to preserve an important example of a modest Welsh rural dwelling.

Inside, the cottage has been furnished to reflect its earlier domestic use, giving visitors an idea of how families lived and worked in a traditional Welsh cottage.