Population 768 (2011) Country Wales Police Dyfed-Powys Post town Haverfordwest | OS grid reference SM92SE20 Sovereign state United Kingdom Fire Mid and West Wales Principal area Pembrokeshire | |
Rudbaxton is a parish and a local government community in the county of Pembrokeshire, Wales, and is 81 miles (130 km) from Cardiff and 208 miles (330 km) from London. The community includes the village of Crundale and the hamlets of Poyston Cross and Bethlehem.
Contents
- Map of Rudbaxton UK
- Description
- History
- Prehistoric remains
- Listed and other buildings
- Notable people
- References
Map of Rudbaxton, UK
Description
The community includes the expanding village of Crundale, which houses the majority of the population, together with the settlements of Poyston Cross, Bethlehem and Rudbaxton Water. In 2011 the population of Rudbaxton was 749 with 18.2% of them able to speak Welsh and in 2015 the population is estimated at 850.
History
Rudbaxton parish was in the hundred of Dungleddy, a corruption of the Welsh for two Cleddau, referring to the Eastern and Western Cleddau rivers, which form part of the parish boundary. The Haverfordwest to Fishguard turnpike (now the A40) ran through the western half of the parish.
By 1708 efforts were being made by a "neighbouring Gentleman" to clothe and educate the poor children of the parish. A school was established by the SPCK and the philanthropist Sir John Philipps. In 1833 the population of the parish was 621, and the school educated 11 pupils, partly funded by the Baptist movement. A National School was established in 1877 and the school's minutes and correspondence papers from 1877 to 1966 are held at Pembrokeshire Record Office.
In 1831 about 75% of males over 20 years were occupied in agriculture. The population in 1870 was 586, occupying 130 houses. The population had expanded from 472 in 1801 to 669 in 1851, and then fell to 405 by 1961.
In 1942 a large area of the parish was taken over to build RAF Haverfordwest, later becoming Withybush Airport.
Prehistoric remains
Rudbaxton Rath is a hillfort within the community: a subcircular banked, ditched enclosure measuring around 100m by 95m; inside the western ramparts is a second enclosure of 50m by 32m.
Listed and other buildings
The parish church of St Michael was originally established in the early 13th century and is Grade I listed. It is built of rubble stone with slate roofing, and retains some late-15th or early-16th century features. It was restored "from a state of ruin" by the rector in the 19th century.
Grade II listed buildings in the parish include several houses and two bridges.
There are 48 buildings and other structures of interest listed by the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales within the parish.
Notable people
General Sir Thomas Picton was born in the parish, at Poyston Hall, in 1758. He died at the Battle of Waterloo.