Castlemorris ( cy, Casmorys; also known as ''Castle Morris'' or ''Castle Maurice'') is a small village in the parish and community of

Mathry Mathry (Welsh: Mathri) is a village, community and parish in Pembrokeshire, Wales. The hilltop village is southwest of Fishguard, close to the A487 road between Fishguard and St David's. History Mathry (formerly Mathrey or Merthyr) was in the ...

, Pembrokeshire, Wales, south of the

Western Cleddau The River Cleddau ( cy, Afon Cleddau) consists of the Eastern and Western Cleddau rivers in Pembrokeshire, west Wales. They unite to form the Daugleddau estuary and the important harbour of Milford Haven. The name of the combined estuary – ...

river, on the B4331 road between Mathry and

Letterston Letterston ( cy, Treletert) is a parish and local government community in north Pembrokeshire, Wales. Situated on the A40, Haverfordwest is to the south and Fishguard Fishguard ( cy, Abergwaun, meaning "Mouth of the River Gwaun") is a c ...

. It has a population of roughly 150 people.

History

The Welsh manor (maenor) of Castle Morris lay within the ancient Cantref of Pebediog (later the Hundred of

Dewisland 250px, The cantref of Pebidiog in ancient Dyfed The Hundred of Dewisland (often written "Dewsland") was a hundred in northwest Pembrokeshire, Wales. Formerly the pre- Norman cantref of Pebidiog, it included the city and the peninsula of St Davids ...

). The manor was granted to

Maurice FitzGerald, Lord of Lanstephan Maurice FitzGerald, Lord of Maynooth, Naas, and Llanstephan (born: almost certainly not at Windsor Castle, more likely Carew in Wales c.1105 – September c.1176 Wexford, Ireland. He was a medieval Anglo-Norman baron and a major figure in the N ...

by his brother

David FitzGerald David FitzGerald (sometimes David Fitz Gerald or David fitz Gerald; 1106 – 8 May 1176) was a medieval Bishop of St David's in Wales. Early life FitzGerald was the son of Gerald of Windsor and Nest, daughter of Rhys ap Tewdwr, and was p ...

, then the second Norman approved bishop of St David's, Castle Morris may have acquired its name (Castell Maurice) in the 12th century from Maurice FitzGerald, but it may be a far more ancient relic of the pre-Norman Welsh name - Castell Marlais - Marlais then being the name of the reach of the Western Cleddau river which flows immediately below the village. In 1302 Sir John Wogan, chancellor of St David's, secured a grant of the manor of Castle Morris for the bishop of St David's. To the northeast of the village crossroads is the Grade II-listed farmhouse of Pencnwc, a substantial early and late 19th century building that was formerly part of the Bishop of St Davids' estate, leased by Abraham Leach in 1843, and occupied by William Evans. The farm occupies the site of a former timber castle with stone foundations, of which there are no longer any visible remains. There was a village shop in 1902. From 1906 George Evans was the village smith. In 1910 the village shop, smithy, cottages and 43 acres of land were put up for auction, but bidding only reached £1,900 and the lot was withdrawn. The village had a post office in 1916.

Notable people

Brian Morris (1930-2001), poet, critic and Professor of Literature, took the title Baron Morris of Castle Morris when made a life peer in 1990.

Today

The building that housed the former shop and post office is now ''Gwesty Bach'', the village pub.

References

External links

Historical information and sources (Mathry parish) on GENUKIPre-1850 parish map - Map 58Historical information at Welsh Newspapers online
{{authority control Villages in Pembrokeshire