- Caldey Island
Location map|United Kingdom
label =
lat = 51.64
long = -4.69
caption = Map showing the location of Caldey Island within the United Kingdom.
float = right
background = white
width = 200Caldey Island (called in Welsh, "Ynys Bŷr", after an early abbot) lies south of
Tenby inPembrokeshire ,Wales .The
island is home to a small village, but is best known for itsmonastery . Caldey Island is separated from the mainland by the Caldey Sound which is 1km to 2km wide between Caldey Island and the coast of Pembrokeshire. A ferry service fromTenby crosses the sound during spring and summer.Limestone was quarried here in the 19th century and taken to local lime kilns, some even going as far afield as the
Annery kiln on the Torridge in North Devon.A Celtic monastery was founded on the island in the sixth century, and a
Benedictine foundation existed from 1136 until 1536, and again from 1906. The present monastery is Reformed Cistercian.Attractions on Caldey include a Norman chapel, a
twelfth century church, the sixth centuryOgham cross, thetwentieth century "Caldey Abbey" taken over byTrappists of the Belgian Chimay Abbey from theBenedictine s who moved toPrinknash Abbey .Caldey Lighthouse was built in 1828.Boats sail to the island from Tenby during the summer months. The principal income for the island is tourism, with perfume and chocolate production providing winter incomes. The island also provides a spiritual retreat throughout the year.
There is a private
guesthouse on the island as well as a fire engine, and ambulance and a Coastguard team.The island's name 'Caldey' comes from the
Viking name Keld-Eye meaning "cold island".External links
* [http://www.caldey-island.co.uk/ Official Caldey Island website]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_west/4420831.stm The monks installed a television set] as a 'one-off' to watch the funeral ofPope John Paul II
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