St David & Solva

We set off at 8am to drive to St Davids, in Pembokeshire, West Wales (UK) and after a couple of small traffic delays got there about 10.30am to look around this most delightful Welsh City.

St Davids is renowned for its Cathedral and my blipfoto shows an aerial of it and the Bishops Palace (foreground)  with the surrounding countryside.

It started as a monastic community founded by St David (Abott of Menevia), who died in 589. Between 645 and 1097, the community was attacked many times by raiders, including the Vikings! In 1081,Willian the Conqueror visited St Davids to pray, and thus recognised it as a holy and respected place. The present cathedral was begun in 1181 and has suffered earthquake damage in 1247. The dissolution of the monarchy under Oliver Cromwell had great effect on many cathedrals and churches, particularly felt in St Davids. The cathedral was all but destroyed by Cromwell’s forces and the lead was stripped from the Bishops Palace roof. The repairs were started in 1793.

The extra shows an aerial view of Solva Bay which is another iconic Welsh place. No sooner had I finished an elderly gentleman living in a stunning cottage overlooking the bay engaged me in conversation. A short while later his wife joined us and we chatted for an hour in the sunshine. It t urns out he's a retired famous radio presenter and she was the school nurse when I was at The Bishop of Llandaff High School, Cardiff......we had lots of memories to exchange. I've promised to e-mail them the photo's I've taken. A nice day and some new friends made.