Freshwater East
History
There is evidence of prehistoric occupation to the east of the village, where there is an earthwork. Freshwater is marked on a 1578 parish map, but apparently as a coastal place, rather than a parish.
The historic name for the bay is Welsh: Porth Lliw, and this is still in occasional use today.
In more modern times, the stream would provide fresh water for ships, giving it its name. In Victorian times it became established as a bathing venue. The beach is named as Freshwater East on a pre-1850 parish map, with little sign of a settlement, apart from a large house named Portclew (probably built around 1800; the name is a form of the bay's historic Welsh name), and a chapel.
In 1860, county horse races were held on the beach.
The 2011 census population was 250.
Situation
The village is on the Wales Coast Path and in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. To the west is Trewent Point, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), covering some 64 hectares.
Amenities
A coastal bus service connects with Pembroke and Pembroke Dock, and the surrounding area including Lamphey railway station on the Pembroke Dock branch of the West Wales Line operated by Transport for Wales Rail. Trains stop on request.
Surfing is possible in winter, and the beach is popular in summer. There is a cafe, toilet and parking. The Freshwater Inn is the village pub, serving food. The dunes, known as The Burrows, are a nature reserve.
Notable people
- Euros Childs (born 1975), a Welsh musician and songwriter, frontman for the band Gorky's Zygotic Mynci
See also
References
- ^ "Blue Flag award winning beaches". VisitWales. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
- ^ "Ordnance Survey: Freshwater East". Retrieved 19 June 2020.
- ^ "Penbrok comitat". British Library. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021.
- ^ B. G. Charles, The Place-names of Pembrokeshire, vol. 2 (Aberystwyth: National Library of Wales), p. 695.
- ^ E.g., Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, 'Ffeithiau a Ffigyrau'. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
- ^ "Pembrokeshire County Council: Visit Pembrokeshire: Freshwater East". Retrieved 19 June 2020.
- ^ "GENUKI: Lamphey". Retrieved 19 June 2020.
- ^ "GENUKI parish map 148". Retrieved 19 June 2020.
- ^ UK Census (2011). "Local Area Report – Freshwater East Built-up area (W37000131)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
- ^ Countryside Council for Wales website (Natural Resources Wales since 2013); Archived 2014-01-01 at the Wayback Machine accessdate: 30 December 2013
- ^ "Lamphey". The Train Line. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
- ^ Coastal Cruiser timetable on Pembrokeshire County Council website.
- ^ Tracey Cole. "Wales nature and outdoors: Freshwater East". BBC. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
External links