Wolf's Castle

infobox UK place
country = Wales
welsh_name=Casblaidd
constituency_welsh_assembly=
map_type=
official_name=Wolf's Castle
latitude= 51.726974
longitude=-5.034903
unitary_wales=Pembrokeshire
lieutenancy_wales=Dyfed
constituency_westminster=Preseli Pembrokeshire
post_town=HAVERFORDWEST
postcode_district =SA62
postcode_area=SA
dial_code= 01437
os_grid_reference= SM957267
population= (2001 census)

Wolfscastle ( _cy. Casblaidd) also spelt Wolf's Castle, is a village in Pembrokeshire, between Haverfordwest and Fishguard, in southwest Wales.

Geography and transport links

Wolfscastle comprises two small villages; Wolfscastle proper, at the top of a hill, and Ford, situated in the river valley below. The remains of a motte and bailey castle lie in the upper village, a strategic location determined by its situation at the northern end of Treffgarne gorge. The village lies at the confluence of the Western Cleddau and the Anghof rivers, in the parish of St Dogwell's.

The A40 road, the London to Fishguard trunk route, passes through Wolfscastle and provides the main transport route to and from the village, with a regular bus service connecting with the major towns of the area.

A railway line from Clarbeston Road to Fishguard Harbour carries two Swansea–Fishguard boat trains in each direction daily through Ford. At one time, there was a platform at Ford for the loading of milk from local farms, but this is no longer in existence, having closed in 1964 after the Beeching Cuts.

[http://lostlines.fotopic.net/p34824221.html Click here to view the remains of Wolfs Castle Halt halt]

History

Musland Farm was once the residence of Captain William Davies Evans, the first utiliser of the Evans Gambit in Chess [http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessplayer?pid=78744] .

The castle formed part of the series of defences constructed by the Normans after 1093 known as the Landsker Line, providing a general boundary between the English-speaking south and the Welsh-speaking north.

A Romano-British villa was excavated by noted antiquarian Richard Fenton, hinting that Roman influnce extended further west than had previously been thought. It has been subjected to a recent investigation to ascertain its exact location.

The railway was opened through to Letterston Junction from Clarbeston Road in 1906, negating the use of the Maenclochog Railway from Clynderwen to Fishguard via Rosebush.

Folklore

Wolfcastle's claim to fame is that it is allegedly the place where the last wild wolf in the British Isles was slain. Nearby, east of Treffgarne gorge lies the hamlet of Little Treffgarne, where the Welsh national hero, Owain Glyndŵr (or the Anglicised version, Glendower) was born according to local folklore in 1353. [http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=jweber&id=I08744] (Most historical sources quote him as being born c.1359). This was mainly because the area was home to members of the family of Glyndwr's mother.

Another legend of the area claims that a local medium, Sarah Bevan, prophecised the arrival of the railway after experiencing a vision in the 18th century. The vision was described as a line of carts moving through the centre of Treffgarne gorge at high speed, with the frontmost cart on fire, heralding the coming of the as yet uninvented steam locomotive on rails.

Economy

Mainly agricultural due to its rural location, the village does boast both the Wolfscastle Country Hotel and a public house, the Wolfe Inn. There currently is a local village post office. Agriculture involves both sheep and beef farming, and several farms can be found within the village and its environs.

Previous economic assets included slate quarrying near Sealyham, and roadstone quarrying in Treffgarne gorge, both of which have long since ceased operating. Also, the running of the halt merited the employment of staff.

Community

A chapel is located in Ford near the river, known in Welsh as Pen-y-Bont. Several churches are to be found in the area with St. Margaret's; St Michael's in Treffgarne and St. Dogwell's. A community council also meets in the village currently headed by the local Minister. Every summer the Wolfscastle Festival week is held and the community council sponsors the annual entry into the Wales in Bloom competition. In 2006, the village came 2nd in the Small Village Trophy [http://www.walesinbloom.org.uk/results-e.html] , whilst winning in 2005. A small, twin-classroomed County Primary school built in 1834 completes the community aspect of the village.

The village has a website at [http://www.wolfscastle.org.uk http://www.wolfscastle.org.uk] as does the neighbouring village of Treffgarne at [http://www.treffgarne.org.uk http://www.treffgarne.org.uk]

External links

*oscoor gbx|SM956265
* [http://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=2674544 www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Wolf's Castle and surrounding area]