12474

 

II  

Designated  

04/02/1991  

04/02/1991  

Church of St David  

 

Pembrokeshire  

Solva  

 

Tregroes/Whitchurch  

179984  

225444  

 

Situated in the centre of Whitchurch hamlet; on southern side of road, about 100 m E of junction with lane from Upper Solva.  

Religious, Ritual and Funerary  

 

C13 or C14 parish church, heavily restored 1872-4 to plans of C E Buckeridge executed by J L Pearson.  

Rubble stone with purple Caerbwdy stone dressings, small, graded slates to roofs and red terracotta ridge. Nave, chancel and north chapel. Coped west bellcote with square opening. All openings are C19 and framed in purple stone. Pointed arched N door with single lancet each side, similar lancet each side of N chapel and pair to N end. Chancel has stone cross E end finial, canted passage between chapel and N wall, one small N lancet and triple lancet E window with relieving arch. Two south side lancets and 4 to nave south side. Two-light W window with relieving arch. All lancets have cusped ogee heads.  

Interior: nave has scissor-truss rafter roof with collars, C19 pulpit, plastered pointed arches to chancel and N chapel. N chapel has C19 roof, one wall plaque of 1771 and inscribed grave slabs to floor. Chancel has panelled wagon roof, seat built into SE window and piscina. East window stained glass of 1903. At W end plain octagonal medieval stone font on C19 circular base. Church is recorded back to 1291 when it belonged to Cistercian order, pre-restoration descriptions record timber bellcote and timber S porch. Large, open churchyard with rubble stone walls, iron N side gate between square piers with stopped caps. Numerous headstones and some table tombs, 2 enclosed within iron railings. S of church is low table tomb to Henry Whiteside (d. 1826) designer of Smalls lighthouse, 1770.