Granston

The Welsh name of the hamlet, Treopert, suggests an association with a Robert, possibly Robert FitzMartin of Cemais. In 1292 the village was referred to (Latin) as "Villa Grandi", and in 1535 as "Grandiston" (Grand's Farm), possibly a reference to a French name, Grand.{{cite work|author=Mills, A. D.|title=A Dictionary of British Place Names|publisher=Oxford University Press|date=2011|isbn=9780199609086|url=http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780199609086.001.0001/acref-9780199609086-e-6161?rskey=Jx9IH9&result=1|url-access=subscription|accessdate=15 May 2015}}

Prehistoric remains were noted in the parish in 1920.

The earliest church records of the parish are from 1291 and 1326. The parish was attached to the crown after the Dissolution. There was an Episcopal court at Granston.

The size of the parish is {{convert|1639|acre|km2}}.{{cite web|title=A Vision of Britain: Granston|url= http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/3442|accessdate=23 April 2015}}

There are a number of listed buildings in the parish{{cite web|title=British listed buildings: Pencaer|url= http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/wales/pembrokeshire/pencaer|accessdate=23 April 2015}} and, following the change from civil parishes to communities, Granston became part of the community of Pencaer.

Granston parish in 1833 had a population of 195.{{cite web|title=GENUKI: Granston|url= http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/PEM/Granston/|accessdate=23 April 2015}}

The population in 1872 was 156 people occupying 31 houses.

Analysis of the 1881 census found that the four most frequently-occurring surnames in the parish (67 of 175 inhabitants) were Davies, Evans, Thomas and Williams.{{cite web|title=British surnames: Granston|url= http://www.britishsurnames.co.uk/1881census/pembrokeshire-sir-benfro/granston|accessdate=23 April 2015}}

File:Open Air Baptismal Pool, Llangloffan - geograph.org.uk - 1733384.jpg

The parish was annexed to that of Mathry and the church dedicated to St Catherine (sometimes recorded as Katherine), one of only three mediaeval churches in Wales to be dedicated to the saint.{{cite work|author=Cartwright, Jane|title= Feminine Sanctity and Spirituality in Medieval Wales|page=158|publisher=University of Wales|date=2008|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=5mlSxlL6eIEC&q=Granston%2C+Pembrokeshire&pg=PA158|isbn= 9780708319994|accessdate=23 April 2015}} When the church was visited by the Royal Commission in 1920 it was found to have been constructed in 1877 with no evidence of the mediaeval structure save an octagonal font probably from the 14th century.{{cite work|title= Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales|page=101|date=1925|publisher=HMSO|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=qcOwIMflx7AC&q=Granston|accessdate=23 April 2015}} However, the diocesan description notes that the foundations are mediaeval.{{cite web|title=North Dewisland Benefice: Granston|url= http://www.northdewislandchurches.org.uk/granston.php|accessdate=23 April 2015}}

The parish includes the hamlet of Llangloffan,{{cite web|title=GENUKI parish maps|url= http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/PEM/Newport/ParishMap.html|accessdate=23 April 2015}} where there is a Baptist chapel. The original chapel was built in 1706, restored in 1749 and 1791 and rebuilt in 1862.{{cite web|title=Welsh Religious Buildings Trust: Llangloffan Welsh Baptist Church|url=http://www.welshchapels.org/search/nprn/11204|accessdate=23 April 2015}} There is no baptismal pool at the chapel, baptisms being performed at a specially constructed site in the Western Cleddau at Pont Llangloffan, south of the hamlet.{{citation needed|date=April 2015}} Llangloffan is the name of a Welsh hymn melody (composer unknown).{{cite web|title=Hymnary: Llangloffan|url=http://www.hymnary.org/tune/llangloffan_welsh|accessdate=23 April 2015}}

Archives for both churches are kept by Dyfed Family History Society.{{cite web|title=Dyfed FHS: Granston|url= http://www.dyfedfhs.org.uk/resources/PEM/gran|accessdate=23 April 2015}}

File:Felin Tregwynt Mill - geograph.org.uk - 221597.jpg

Granston includes the estate of Tregwynt, whose papers are held by the Pembrokeshire Record Office.{{cite web|title=Pembrokeshire Record Office: Harries Family of Priskilly, Heathfield and Tregwynt Papers|url= http://www.archiveswales.org.uk/anw/get_collection.php?inst_id=32&coll_id=76307&expand=|accessdate=23 April 2015}} In the 14th century Sir William Horton of Tregwynt married the heiress to Candleston Castle.{{cite book|author=Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments in Wales|title=An Inventory of the Ancient Monuments in Glamorgan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mhnYtVAUhQEC&pg=PA408|accessdate=23 April 2015|date=30 April 2000|publisher=RCAHMW|isbn=978-1-871184-22-8|page=409}} The Tregwynt Hoard, from the Civil War, was found at Tregwynt Mansion in 1996. The present Grade II*-listed manor house and extensions date from the 18th century.{{cite web|title=British listed buildings: Tregwynt|url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/wa-12996-tregwynt-tregwynt-granston-treopert-penca|accessdate=23 April 2015}}{{National Historic Assets of Wales|num=12296 |desc=Tregwynt |grade=II* |access-date=25 July 2019 }}{{National Historic Assets of Wales|num=12997 |desc=North Wing & Low Farm Range to W.of Tregwynt |grade=II* |access-date=25 July 2019 }}

Tregwynt mill (Melin Tregwynt) dates back to the 17th century when it served the surrounding area's sheep farming. It is still in operation, employing about 30 people,{{cite web|title=Tregwynt Woollen Mill|url=http://www.melintregwynt.co.uk/about-us/|accessdate=23 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150419061546/http://www.melintregwynt.co.uk/about-us/|archive-date=19 April 2015|url-status=dead}}

and in 2012 celebrated 100 years as a family business, now weaving for a global market.{{cite news|publisher=Wales online|date=22 September 2012|title=100 years of Welsh weavers Melin Tregwynt|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/welsh-homes/100-years-welsh-weavers-melin-2024457|accessdate=23 April 2015}} The mill featured in a BBC2 Wales Made in Wales episode in December 2012.{{cite web|title=Made in Wales - Melin Tregwynt (video clip)|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01282yf|accessdate=23 April 2015}}

Llangloffan hamlet is south of Granston. Close by the source of the Western Cleddau river, the {{convert|40|ha|acre}} Llangloffan Fen{{cite web|title=Pembrokeshire Rivers Trust: Llangloffan Fen|url=http://www.pembsrt.org/cleddau-trail-map/western/w02-llangloffan-fen/|accessdate=23 April 2015}}{{cite web|title=The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales: Llangloffan Fen|url=http://www.welshwildlife.org/llangloffan-fen/|accessdate=23 April 2015}} includes a {{convert|15.1|ha|acre}} National Nature Reserve{{cite web|title=Countryside Council for Wales: Corsydd Llangloffan|url=http://www.ccgc.gov.uk/landscape--wildlife/protecting-our-landscape/special-landscapes--sites/protected-landscapes/national-nature-reserves/corsydd-llangloffan.aspx|accessdate=23 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518084756/http://www.ccgc.gov.uk/landscape--wildlife/protecting-our-landscape/special-landscapes--sites/protected-landscapes/national-nature-reserves/corsydd-llangloffan.aspx|archive-date=18 May 2015|url-status=dead}} and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).{{cite news|publisher=PLANED|date=2011|title=Fen-tastic reserve pulls in the wildlife|url=http://content.yudu.com/Library/A1v0y5/PLANEDNewsWinter2011/resources/5.htm|accessdate=23 April 2015}} Llangloffan lends its name to a range of Welsh farmhouse cheeses; the brand was acquired by Carmarthenshire Cheese Company in 2006.

{{reflist|2}}

• Coggins, Julie. The History of Tregwynt Woollen Mill. Journal of the Pembrokeshire Historical Society 21 (2012): 28-34
• Coggins, Julie. Weaving a legacy: The history of Tregwynt Woollen Mill, 100 years old in 2012. Pembrokeshire Life September 2011: 20-21

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Category:Villages in Pembrokeshire