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History of St Florence

For centuries St Florence was just a small cluster of thatched stone cottages straggling round the Norman church, nestling at the end of the inlet of the river Ritec, between the towns of Tenby and Pembroke, and changed little over many centuries. In 1563, 50 households were recorded As being liable to pay hearth tax, increasing to 56 in 1670. In 1801, 59 families were recorded as living in the village.

The 1900’s saw the beginning of major change. Tarmac roads, sewerage systems and new houses and estates gradually emerged and increased the village size. The first new block of was Elm View, built in the 1930’s. Then Greenhayes in the 40’s. Longstone appeared in the 60’s, followed by Ridgeway view and Flemish Close. Recent times saw Parsons Green and later Parklands emerge in the 1990’s. In 2001 274 dwellings were listed in the village, housing a population of 736.

The village name changed over the ages and the present name is associated with a 5th century Norman Saint, Sanctus Florencius, and the church was dedicated to him in 1291. The nave and chancel dates back to the 12th century.

The village was built on the hillside, a safe flood distance above the river Ritec, or Rhydeg of “Fair ford” as it was originally called, and most probably started out as a settlement in the Bronze Age. South Pembrokeshire was well populated then and there are plenty of burial mounds and other indications of that period, and its position at the end of a wide inlet 3 miles from the open sea would have afforded an excellent strategic location. To give some idea of how high the water used to be, a bed of sand and shale was uncovered when the foundations were being dug for the new bungalows at the bottom end of Ridgeway View. An indication maybe of how high the water level used to be, and how close the village originally was to the waters edge.

Although the water had receded in the Norman times, the river still opened out into a wide tidal estuary and was navigable at high tide right up to St Florence. There is a large stone, on the High Street, just near the Ark, where it is said ships used to tie up to. Shallow bottomed boats would ply trade to and from the village, and the old Causey corn water mill near the ford, to the walled towns of Tenby, and Pembroke.

Today it’s just a small river, little more than a stream that flows down from the Ridgeway, and curves its way round through Gumfreston then into the sea between Tenby and Penally.

The river progressively silted up over the ages and the old water mill fell into disuse, the water traffic ceased, and part of the entrance was closed up in 1820 for land reclamation, and the estuary was finally closed forever in the 1840’s when an embankment was built for the new railway line between Tenby and Pembroke. The river Ritec now flows through a culvert into the sea. The old bed of the estuary though has never been touched, and in many places is still impassable with mud, lake’s ponds and reeds in abundance. In certain places this flat riverbed affords spectacular views of what was once a substantial waterway.

Fidlers Lane was the original road which linked the village to Tenby, and other roads led to the ancient towns of Carew and Pembroke and also the local farms, which go back many 100’s of years, some with important buildings of historic interest.

South Pembrokeshire is famous for its so called Flemish Chimneys, which date back to medieval times, when Henry 1 flooded the area with Flemings. The chimneys though are attributed more to the style of the local manor houses of those times. St Florence has several of these, one next to Rock house, another at Hall House, two more at the Old Chimneys, one at West View, and a partial one at Doves nest. There was also one behind the Grove Farmhouse, but this was removed a few years ago.

The Grove Farmhouse was the original village pub, called the Ball, and was possibly a coaching inn. The arched front door believed to have come from the church in the 14th century, probably as renovations were made.

Cattle drovers would have used the Ball over many centuries as they herded cattle from Castlemartin via Sageston, then down Fiddlers Lane to bypass Tenby on the start of their long and arduous journey to England.

The Ball closed down in the early 1900’s. Maybe because the drover’s trade had ceased as the cattle were now shipped by rail. The village blacksmith’s shop was situated opposite the Ball, and although the building has recently been renovated, the sign has been retained and can be seen to this day.

The Ball closed down in the early 1900’s, but by then two other public houses were firmly established in the village. The Sun Inn is believed to have opened in 1717, and was rebuilt to what we see today in1847. The New Inn dates back to 1609, as the Newe Inne, but this was originally located at the New Inn Farm at Minnerton Cross. The New Inn in the village was opened around 1875, with another blacksmiths next door. This public house, with its warm friendly back room bar, has only recently closed down, and is sadly missed by the locals. The Sun Inn continues to thrive. The Parsonage Farm Inn, converted from old farm buildings was opened in the 1980’s

Alan Lesser

Chairman

July 2006