Spittal, Pembrokeshire


Spittal is a village, parish and community approximately halfway between Haverfordwest and Fishguard in Pembrokeshire, Wales. With an area of, in the 2011 census, the population of the parish was 494.

Name

The village's name is a corruption of the word 'hospital', which is also the root of such names as Spitalfields, London, Spital, Merseyside, Spital-in-the-Street, Lincolnshire, etc.: the village possessed a hospitium belonging to the Cathedral of St David's. No trace of this remains.

History

The parish was in the Hundred of Dungleddy, and in the early 19th century had a population of 452, including a number of smaller settlements. There are the remains of several ancient encampments in the parish.
The population of the community in 2001 was 501. There was formerly a post office in the village, which closed on 8 January 2009.

Amenities

In 2004 a new primary school was built in the village to educate approximately 150 pupils from the village and surrounding area. Other amenities include a community hall, a village green and a pub, the Pump on the Green.
The parish church of St Mary is a Grade II listed building of mediaeval origins, but restored in the 19th century. The font is 12th or 13th century.

Scolton Manor

is a former Victorian country house converted into a museum of Pembrokeshire life. It is a grade II* listed building.