Spittal is a village, parish and community in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is situated on the A40 trunk road, approximately halfway between Haverfordwest and Fishguard. It had a population of 494 as of the 2011 census.

Name

The village's name is a corruption of the word 'hospital' (Welsh: Ysbyty), which is also the root of place names such as Spitalfields, London, Spital, Merseyside and Spital-in-the-Street, Lincolnshire. The village possessed a hospitium (place of accommodation for pilgrims) belonging to the Cathedral of St Davids. No trace of this remains.

History

The parish was in the Hundred of Dungleddy, and in the early 19th century had a population of 452, including a number of smaller settlements. There are the remains of several ancient encampments in the parish.

Amenities

Amenities include a community hall, a village green and a pub, the Pump on the Green.

The parish church of St Mary is a Grade II listed building of mediaeval origins, restored in the 19th century. The font is 12th or 13th century.

In 2004 a new primary school was built in the village to educate approximately 150 pupils from the village and surrounding area.