Maenclochog

Maenclochog
Welsh: Maenclochog
Maenclochog
 Maenclochog shown within Pembrokeshire
Population 731 (2011)[1]
OS grid referenceSN0834127337
Principal areaPembrokeshire
Ceremonial countyDyfed
CountryWales
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post town MAENCLOCHOG
Postcode district SA66
Dialling code 01437
Police Dyfed-Powys
Fire Mid and West Wales
Ambulance Welsh
EU Parliament Wales
UK ParliamentPreseli Pembrokeshire
List of places
UK
Wales
Pembrokeshire

Coordinates: 51°54′41″N 4°47′16″W / 51.911499°N 4.7879°W / 51.911499; -4.7879

Maenclochog is a village and community in Pembrokeshire, south-west Wales. It is also an electoral ward comprising an area that brings together the villages of Llanycefn, Maenclochog and Rosebush. The electoral ward had a population at the 2011 census of 3,104.[2]

Maenclochog lies south of the Preseli Hills, about one mile southeast of the village of Rosebush on the B4313 Narberth to Fishguard road.

Origin of the name

The origin of the name Maenclochog is unclear. It appears to be made up of two Welsh words, maen ("stone") and clochog ("bells"). A local tale reports that there were stones near Ffynnon Fair, ("Mary's Well"), to the south of the village, which rang like bells when struck, but these were blown to bits by treasure-hunters, under the mistaken belief that they concealed a golden treasure. This may represent nothing more than folk etymology. An alternative proposal is that the second part of the name comes from the Irish word, clochog, meaning a craggy place. This theory is supported by the fact that there was Irish migration to Pembrokeshire in the early Middle Ages, as attested to by the Ogham stones found in the locality and elsewhere, and certainly the name suits the topography of the area.[3]

History

There is evidence of prehistoric occupation in the vicinity of the present village.[4]

Researchers have found what are believed to be the remains of a 13th-century castle at Maenclochog.[5] The village was served by The Maenclochog Railway formally known as the Narberth Road and Maenclochog Railway which ran from Clynderwyn on the Great Western Railway via Maenclochog to Rosebush. The tunnel just outside Maenclochog achieved fame during the war when it was used as a testing site for bombs by Barnes Wallis, creator of the 'bouncing bomb'.[6]

Following the Second World War an attempt by the War Office to take over 16,000 acres of the Preselau slopes, as a permanent military training ground, was thwarted by a strong campaign led by local ministers of religion and headteachers. The acquisition would have meant a loss of farming livelihood and Maenclochog may have become a garrison village.[7]

Community

The village has a local committee to discuss village affairs. There are two general stores and two petrol stations with an MOT service. In the centre of the village is St.Mary's church, the park and the green on a small road island. In the village there are many businesses that include two electrical wholesalers and an art gallery. There is a school and a carpenter's situated about 50 metres northwest of the church. Opposite the green is a pub, The Globe.[8]

Education

Ysgol Gymunedol Maenclochog[9] is a Welsh speaking primary school built in 1878 that has roughly 100 pupils ranging from 3 to 11. The current head of the school is Mrs S Clarke who has had her post since 2010.[10] The school welcomes English speaking pupils and sends them usually once a week to a language learning centre in Crymych. The school uniform is navy blue and black.

Anglican Church

In the centre of the village green is Anglican (Church in Wales) church of St Mary, of mediaeval origins but substantially restored in the 19th century. The architecture was fully described when the church was Grade II listed in 1971.[11]

References

  1. ↑ "Community population 2011". Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  2. ↑ "Ward population 2011". Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  3. ↑ Naws am Le/Sense of Place: PLANED leaflet 2010
  4. ↑ "Dyfed Archaeological Trust". Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  5. ↑ "Castle wall find at car park dig". bbc.co.uk. 2007-09-25. Retrieved 2007-09-28.
  6. ↑ Forgotten Relics
  7. ↑ Wyn, Hefin (2008). Battle of the Preselau. ISBN 978-0-9549931-3-9.(editions in Welsh and English)
  8. ↑ "Pembrokeshire County Council: Visit Pembrokeshire". Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  9. ↑ "Ysgol Gymunedol Maenclochog". Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  10. ↑ "Estyn report 2012". Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  11. ↑ "British Listed Buildings". Retrieved 26 March 2015.

External links

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