Monkton
Monkton was once a small, closely knit community. Part of Pembroke, yet separate from it, Monkton people were proud of their independence. Its little cottages like the one below were arranged in streets - Long Mains, Cross Mains and Short Mains and the village boasted many shops. You did not, I am told, have to go into town - everything was there. Sadly. these little cottages were bulldozed out of existence in the 60s (age of great destruction) and a large council estate was built over it all.
Photographs of old Monkton have been hard to find - this one, by kind permission of Vera John, was taken in 1917 and is a rarity. It depicts her grandmother's cottage in Short Mains. Click on the picture to find out more.
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Some History and Interesting Features
In 1098 Arnulph de Montgomery founded the Benedictine Priory at Monkton on a much earlier Christian site. The new Priory was the daughter house of the abbey of Seez in Normandy. It occupies land overlooking the north side of the Castle and beneath it was a quay and slipways.
Monkton retains some interesting and fine mediaval remains. But its story starts some 10,000 years ago in a cave in the limestone ridge bordering the Pembroke River. This cave called Catshole or Priory Farm cave was excavated in 1908 and found to stretch over 120 feet into the limestone rock, Finds include human and animal remains, flints and a rare bronze age hoard which can be seen the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff.
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The Priory Church
The Priory survived until the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII. It fell into disrepair and was restored in the 1880s.
Cromwell is supposed to have set up a battery in the churchyard firing canon at the castle in the siege of Pembroke 1648
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The Priory
The only remains of the Priory buildings, other than what was incorporated into the Priory Church, are limited to some freestanding arches and a gable wall. The Priory Farmhouse is thought to have been the Prior's Mansion. It is in the form of a 14th or 15 th century manor or tower house with later additions.
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The Dovecote
In the fields a short distance west of the Farmhouse is a mediaeval dovecote, recently renovated.
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Monkton Old hall
This Mediaeval buiding has been restored by the Landmark Trust and is let as holiday accomodation. It has a notable vaulted crypt. At the back of the building is a Flemish Chimney.
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We need old photographs of Monkton - if you have any which we could copy, please contact us.
Royal visit of Edward VII
View from the Church Tower overlooking Monkton Bridge and Quay
Monkton Priory from the Castle