Saundersfoot

File:St Issells church, Saundersfoot (geograph 2607213).jpg

Saundersfoot was known in medieval Wales as Llanussyllt, and after the Norman conquest as St. Issels (sometimes Issells), both after the parish church dedicated to the Welsh saint Issel. It appeared as St. Tissels on a 1578 parish map of Pembrokeshire.{{cite web|title=Penbrok comitat|publisher=British Library|url=https://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/unvbrit/p/zoomify83390.html}} Its bishop or abbot was considered one of the seven principal clerics of Dyfed under medieval Welsh law.Wade-Evans, Arthur. Medieval Welsh Law, p. 263. It was a substantial parish in 1833 with 1,226 inhabitants.{{cite web|title=GENUKI: St Issells|url=https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/PEM/StIssells|access-date=2 May 2019}} John Marius Wilson described the village and parish as St Issells in his 1870–72 Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales.{{cite web|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/place_page.jsp?p_id=8789|title=History of St Issells in Pembrokeshire: Map and description|access-date=8 February 2016}} The church lies in a dell to the north of Saundersfoot and is a grade II* listed building.{{cite web| url = http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/wa-6093-st-issell-s-church-saundersfoot|title= St.Issell's Church, Saundersfoot|publisher= British Listed Buildings|access-date = 29 December 2013}}

Permission to build the harbour was granted by Parliament in 1829 to the Saundersfoot Railway and Harbour Company{{Cite web|url=http://www.ports.org.uk/port.asp?id=245|title=Ports.org.uk / Saundersfoot|website=www.ports.org.uk}} for the export of anthracite coal from the many mines in the area, although coal was exported from the beach for centuries before this.{{cite book |last1=Price |first1=Martin Connop |title=Industrial Saundersfoot |date=1982 |publisher=Gomer Press |location=Llandysul, Dyfed |isbn=0 85088 866 2 |pages=17-21}} The village grew up to serve the port which by 1837 had five jetties handling coal and iron ore and subsequently pig iron and firebricks from local sources. The course of the tramway from Bonville's Court mine bisects the village and ends at the jetty. The tramway from Stepaside forms the sea front. The industry finally faded away in the early years of the twentieth century, so that today, the harbour accommodates private moorings,{{Cite web|url=https://www.saundersfootharbour.co.uk/harbour-facilities/|title=Harbour Facilities|website=Saundersfoot Harbour}} pleasure boats for seasonal tourism,{{Cite web|url=https://www.saundersfootseasafari.co.uk/|title=Pembrokeshire Boat Trips | Saundersfoot Boat Trips|date=13 December 2018}} and small fishing charters.[https://www.saundersfootseafishing.co.uk Saundersfoot Sea Fishing - Accessed 12 Feb 2021]

In 2021, the recorded population of Saundersfoot was 2,500. Of this, 39.3% were aged 65+, above the county average of 26.3%. The largest ethnic group is White who make up 97.1% of the population, above the county average of 97.6%, with the second largest being Asian/Asian British with 1.4% of the population, below the county average of 0.9%. The largest religious group was recorded as Christian who make up 56.4% of the population, above the county average of 48.8%, with the second largest being No religion, who make up 35.5% of the population, below the county average of 43.0%.

At the local level, councillors are elected to Saundersfoot Community Council to oversee local issues, such as planning applications and maintenance of the local public buildings and cemetery.{{cite news|url=http://www.tenby-today.co.uk/article.cfm?id=986&headline=Saundersfoot%20Community%20Council§ionIs=news&searchyear=2015 |title=Saundersfoot Community Council |work=Tenby Observer |date=12 June 2015 |access-date=2 May 2019 }}

Until 2022 the boundaries of the Saundersfoot community were coterminous with a Saundersfoot electoral ward, electing one county councillor to Pembrokeshire County Council. Councillor Rosemary Hayes MBE was the ward's representative on South Pembrokeshire District Council and Pembrokeshire County Council for 25 years, before losing to Phil Baker at the May 2008 elections.{{cite news|url=http://www.narberth-and-whitland-today.co.uk/article.cfm?id=908&headline=ELECTION%20SHOCKS§ionIs=news&searchyear=2008 |title=Election Shocks |work=Narberth & Whitland Observer |date=9 May 2008 |access-date=2 May 2019 }}

Following the recommendations of a boundary review by the Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales, effective from the 2022 local elections, the Saundersfoot ward was split into North and South. The north part was merged with the neighbouring community of Amroth to create a new ward of 'Amroth and Saundersfoot North'.{{cite web |title=Review of Community Boundaries in the County of Pembrokeshire. Final Recommendations Report. |url=https://ldbc.gov.wales/sites/ldbc/files/review/Pembs%20Final%20Report%20V7_reduced.pdf |website=Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales. |pages=69-71 |access-date=12 June 2022 |date=2021}} The south part became a new county ward of 'Saundersfoot South'. Both wards elect a councillor to the county council.

• William Frost (1848–1935), a Welsh designer of an early flying machine, the Frost Airship Glider.
• Rod de'Ath (1950–2014), a Welsh musician, drummer with Irish guitarist Rory Gallagher
• Jay James Picton (born 1983), a Welsh recording artist, songwriter with The Overtones and broadcaster

Saundersfoot railway station is a mile from the village centre off the B4316 road. Trains call every two hours, westwards to {{rws|Pembroke Dock}} and eastwards to {{rws|Whitland}}, {{rws|Carmarthen}} and {{rws|Swansea}}.

Saundersfoot holds its New Year's Day swim every year which is sponsored by local businesses. More than 1,500 people took part in 2016.{{cite news|publisher=BBC|date=1 January 2016|title=1,500 take part in New Year's Day Saundersfoot swim|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-35209752|access-date=8 February 2016}} Due to COVID-19, the 2021 event was cancelled{{cite news|publisher=Western Telegraph|date=25 August 2020|title=Saundersfoot New Year's Day Swim 2021 cancelled because of Covid-19 rules|url=https://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/news/18674472.saundesfoot-new-years-day-swim-2021-cancelled-covid-19-rules/|access-date=12 February 2020}} but was allowed to go ahead again in 2023.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-06 |title=Swim is back with a big splash to welcome in 2023 |url=https://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/news/23104560.saundersfoot-new-years-day-swim-back-2023/ |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=Western Telegraph |language=en}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.saundersfootharbour.co.uk Saundersfoot Harbour and the Wales International Coastal Centre]

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Category:Carmarthen Bay

Category:Former electoral wards of Pembrokeshire

Category:Coast of Pembrokeshire

Category:Communities in Pembrokeshire

Category:Villages in Pembrokeshire

Category:Seaside resorts in Wales