Steynton Explained

Official Name:Steynton
Static Image:Steynton church from south - geograph.org.uk - 370464.jpg
Static Image Caption:Parish church of SS Cewydd and Peter
Coordinates:51.7295°N -5.0174°W
Os Grid Reference:SM914076
Population:3000
Unitary Wales:Pembrokeshire
Lieutenancy Wales:Dyfed
Country:Wales
Constituency Westminster:Preseli Pembrokeshire
Post Town:Milford Haven
Postcode District:SA73
Postcode Area:SA
Dial Code:01646

Steynton or Stainton is a parish in the county of Pembrokeshire, Wales, formerly in the hundred of Rhôs and now an area of Milford Haven and in the Community of Tiers Cross. The parish includes the hamlet of Dreenhill, near Haverfordwest. The parish population is about 3,000.

Geography

Steynton has a crossroads from which roads lead to Milford Haven to the south, and from it toward Johnston and Haverfordwest in the north and Jordanston and Pembroke, Pembroke Dock and Neyland to the east. The road to the west leads to the hamlet of Thornton. The parish includes the hamlet of Dreenhill, near Haverfordwest, as well as other settlements.[1]

Steynton has a pub, the Horse and Jockey.

Dreenhill

While Steynton village is in the south of the parish, Dreenhill is a hamlet in the north (National Grid reference SM924134) on the B4327 road 1miles southwest of Haverfordwest.[1] Dreenhill has a Calvanistic Methodist Chapel, established in 1834. The hamlet has a garage, The Masons pub and restaurant (formerly the Masons Arms) and a few houses, and is surrounded by farmland.

History

The toponym is likely derived from the Old English tun, meaning settlement or manor.[2]

Steynton was once a medieval parish and village, with a parish church dedicated to Saints Cewydd and Peter. The oldest parts of the present church may be 14th or 15th century. The church may have had links with Pill Priory, which is about 2miles to the south. The church tower was used as a musketry position in the English Civil War action at Pill Fort in Milford Haven.[3] The church is directly in line with St Katherine's church to the south and Johnston church to the north. The parish was about 6miles long from north to south, and up to 2miles wide from east to west.[4] The ancient parish extended almost as far as Haverfordwest to the north.[5]

Steynton was originally separate from Milford Haven, being about 2miles north-north-east of Milford, but Milford Haven has expanded and absorbed it. Steynton is part of the local government community of Miford Haven.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: GENUKI . Steynton parish map . 21 April 2015.
  2. Web site: What's in a Name . BBC Wales . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121112061803/http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/whatsinaname/sites/placenametool/?q=steynton . 2012-11-12 .
  3. Web site: Steynton . Experience Pembrokeshire . 14 November 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110710212306/http://www.experiencepembrokeshire.com/history-archaeology/military-heritage/steynton . 10 July 2011 .
  4. Book: Lewis . Samuel . Samuel Lewis (publisher) . 1849 . Steynton, or Stainton . A Topographical Dictionary of Wales . Fourth . London . . 374–384 .
  5. Web site: GENUKI . Steynton . 21 April 2015.