Coordinates: 51°52′55″N 5°16′08″W / 51.882°N 5.269°W / 51.882; -5.269

St David's or St Davids
Welsh: Tyddewi
St David's Cathedral
St David's or St Davids  St David's or St Davids shown within Pembrokeshire
Population	1,797 (2001)
OS grid reference	SM755255
Community	St David's and the Cathedral Close
Principal area	Pembrokeshire
Ceremonial county	Dyfed
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	HAVERFORDWEST
Postcode district	[[SA postcode area|SA62]]
Dialling code	01437
Police	Dyfed-Powys
Fire	Mid and West Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
EU Parliament	Wales
UK Parliament	Preseli Pembrokeshire
Welsh Assembly	Preseli Pembrokeshire
List of places: UK • Wales • Pembrokeshire

St Davids (or St David's,^[1] a contraction of St David's and the Cathedral Close,^[2] Welsh: Tyddewi), is a city and community in Pembrokeshire, Wales. Lying on the River Alun on St David's Peninsula, it is Britain's smallest city in terms of both size and population, the final resting place of Saint David, the country's patron saint, and the de facto ecclesiastical capital of Wales.

History and attractions[link]

The area was originally known in the Welsh language as Mynyw and in Latin as Menevia, and was later renamed in honour of David. The city is built around St David's Cathedral which was a popular place of pilgrimage in the Middle Ages. Next to it, the 14th century Bishop's Palace is a ruin maintained by Cadw and open to visitors. St David's was once a marcher borough, within which lay the hundred of Dewisland. In 1603 the antiquarian George Owen described it as one of five Pembrokeshire boroughs overseen by a portreeve.^[3]

Tradition states that Saint David was born to Saint Non at what is now St Non's, a ten-minute walk south of the city, in about AD 500. It is also said that he was baptised at Porthclais, now the city's port, was brought up by his mother at Llanon, and that he founded the city in around 550. Pope Calixtus II reportedly decreed that two pilgrimages to St David's were equivalent to one to Rome. Because of this a vast income was raised from visiting pilgrims in the Middle Ages.^[4] Saint Non's Well overlooks the Pembrokeshire Coast Path and St Brides Bay.

In addition to the cathedral, attractions in the city include the 14th century Tower Gate, the Celtic Old Cross and a number of art galleries. St David's is also a base for walking and water sports. It has several hotels and a youth hostel, and a number of pubs. The entire coastline around St David's forms part of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

The St David's lifeboat, located at St Justinian, has saved an estimated 360 people since the first lifeboat was located there in 1869; and four lifeboatmen have died while saving others.^[5] The Irish Sea area includes a large number of offshore rocks and islands and is notorious for strong tides.^[6]

The Flag of Saint David (Baner Dewi Sant)

Culture and sport[link]

The city hosted the National Eisteddfod in 2002. The Archbishop-designate of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, was inducted into the Gorsedd of Bards, a historic order of Druids.^[7]

The St David's Penknife Club is a group of people dedicated to voluntary fund raising for local groups and charities.^[8]

St David's has a rugby union club, St. Davids RFC, which competes in the SWALEC League Five West.^[9]

Whitesands Bay, about two miles west of St. David's, is a popular watersports resort. It has been described as the best surfing beach in Pembrokeshire and one of the best tourist beaches in the world.^[10]

Education[link]

The city is mainly served by Ysgol Dewi Sant ("St Davids School" in English), which caters to students aged 3 to 18, and several primary schools.

Notable people[link]

Asser, mentor of King Alfred the Great, and writer of his biography, was a monk at St David's before being called into Alfred's service.

Henry Hicks (1837-1899), eminent surgeon and geologist, was born at St David's and practised there from 1862 until 1871.

Thomas Tomkins (1572-1656), eminent English musician and composer, was born in St David's.

See also[link]

Wales portal

• Saint David's Day
• Chapel of St Non
• Annales Cambriae
• Bishop of St David's
• Diocese of St David's
• Roman Catholic Diocese of Menevia

References[link]

Further reading[link]

• O'Malley, Brian Brendan, comp. (1985) A Pilgrim's Manual: St. David's. Marlborough: Paulinus Press ISBN 0-907740-13-8

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: St David's

• St Davids City Council
• St David's at www.visitpembrokeshire.com (official council tourism website)
• St Davids at the Open Directory Project

v t e Communities of Pembrokeshire Ambleston · Amroth · Angle · Boncath · Brawdy · Burton · Camrose · Carew · Castlemartin · Cilgerran · Clydau · Clynderwen · Cosheston · Crymych · Cwm Gwaun · Dale · Dinas Cross · East Williamston · Eglwyswrw · Fishguard & Goodwick · Freystrop · Haverfordwest · Hayscastle · Herbrandston · Hook · Hubberston Hundleton · Jeffreyston · Johnston · Kilgetty/Begelly · Lampeter Velfrey · Lamphey · Letterston · Llanddewi Velfrey · Llandissilio West · Llangolman · Llangwm · Llanrhian · Llanstadwell · Llawhaden · Maenclochog · Manorbier · Manordeifi · Marloes and St Brides · Martletwy · Mathry · Merlin's Bridge · Milford Haven · Mynachlog-ddu · Narberth · Nevern · New Moat · Newport/Trefdraeth · Neyland · Nolton and Roch · Pembroke · Pembroke Dock · Penally · Pencaer · Puncheston · Rosemarket · Rudbaxton · Saundersfoot · Scleddau · Slebech · Solva · Spittal · St Davids · St Dogmaels · St Florence · St. Ishmael's · St Mary Out Liberty · Stackpole · Templeton · Tenby · The Havens · Tiers Cross · Trecwn · Uzmaston and Boulston · Walwyn's Castle · Wiston · Wolfscastle