Saints and Stones The Pilgrims’ Route to St David’s
In the Middle Ages two pilgrimages to the cathedral of St David’s in West Wales were the equivalent of a single journey to Rome. The diocese of St David’s was the richest and most powerful in Wales. The pre-‐Christians left many stone way-‐markers, burial mounds and tumuli which Christianity adopted and added to. This area of North Pembrokeshire is studded with neolithic sites, standing stones, cromlechs, barrows, holy wells and churches. The churches range from basic chapels with a nave and chancel, through more elaborate Norman architecture, to the riches and splendour of St David’s itself. These pictures were taken over 18th-‐22nd June 2010 and show a small selection of these sites and are all within twenty five miles of my front door. That said, this project is a first for me and it’s provided the excuse to find places that I’ve never been to, but have been meaning to visit for years. It was great fun and I hope you enjoy the results.
Solstice Sunrise Carn Ingli (Angel Mountain), Preseli Hills. Here, legend has it, the visionary St Brynach communed with the Angels
Blue Beyond Carn Ffoi, Preseli Hills
Dark Portal Pentre Ifan, neolithic cromlech, 3500 BC
Norman Tower St Brynach’s, Nevern
Celtic Knot
10th Century Celtic Cross, St Brynach’s, Nevern
Leaf & Lichen
10th Century Celtic Cross, St Brynach’s, Nevern
Still Standing
Remains of St Brynach’s, Cwm-‐yr-‐Eglwys, destroyed by the Royal Charter Storm of 1859
Offering of Roses Holy Well, Llanllawer
Disused & Decaying St David’s, Llanllawer
Ghostly Light St David’s, Llanllawer
Wildflower Welcome St Gwyndaf’s, Llanwnda
On the beach below, the last invasion of Britain took place in 1797, when a force of French landed. They were repelled by the women of Fishguard led by the redoubtable Jemima Fawr ( Jemima the Great)
Headstones -‐ Old St Gwyndaf’s, Llanwnda
And Headstones -‐ New St Gwyndaf’s, Llanwnda
Celtic Guardian St Gwyndaf’s, Llanwnda
Summer Churchyard St Catherine of Alexandria, Granston
Unknown Man
St Catherine of Alexandria, Granston
Silent Witness
St Catherine of Alexandria, Granston
Steps to Heaven St Rhian’s, Llanrhian
Arch & Angles St Rhian’s, Llanrhian
Lattice & Light St Rhian’s, Llanrhian
Seat of Power
Church of the Holy Martyrs, Mathry
Celtic Cross
Mesur y Dorth, Croesgoch
Beneath the Sycamore St Brynach’s, Pontfaen
Golden Cross St Brynach’s, Pontfaen
Space Between St Brynach’s, Pontfaen
Black Cross St David’s, Llanychaer
Knots & Crosses St David’s, Llanychaer
Faded Memory St Justinian’s, Llanstinian
Samson’s Stones Carreg Samson, Abercastle 5000 year-‐old burial mound
Madonna
St. Non’s Well, St David’s
Stone Cross
St. Non’s Well, St David’s
Pilgrimage End
St. David’s Cathedral, St David’s
Medieval Kaleidoscope St. David’s Cathedral, St David’s
Soaring Heavenwards St. David’s Cathedral, St David’s
Dancing Light
St. David’s Cathedral, St David’s
Steve Mallett steve@treynnon.com www.treynnon.com