Rosemarket: Church, Rath and Cycle Trail

Rosemarket brings together different aspects of the area's history: St Ismael's Church is a Grade II listed building; behind the church lies Rosemarket Rath, probably an Iron Age fort. Other features include Tabernacle Congregational Chapel and Rosemarket Dovecote. The Brunel Cycle Trail follows former railway lines and offers a different perspective on the area. The themes therefore range from archaeological landscapes and church architecture to the use of former railway lines.

Rosemarket Rath: Fort and Landscape

Rosemarket Rath is probably dated to the Iron Age, between 800 BC and AD 43. The fort lies behind St Ismael's Church on a south-facing spur above the confluence of two streams. Its location is described as specifically as its dimensions: the Rath measures about 130 m from east to west and 97 m wide. Its east-west extent is therefore greater than its width; the spur and the confluence of the streams add the surrounding landscape to the view of its ground plan.

St Ismael's Church and Tabernacle Chapel

St Ismael's Church combines Grade II listed status with a cautiously worded date: the nave may date from the 12th century. By contrast, two construction phases with specific dates are prominent at Tabernacle Congregational Chapel. It was rebuilt in 1831 and restored in 1885. The present chapel is built in the Romanesque style, or in a simple round-arched style with a gabled entrance. The possible date of the nave can therefore be distinguished chronologically from the stated rebuilding and restoration phases of the chapel.

If you are planning to attend a service, check the current Sunday service times at St Ismael's Church in advance.

Rosemarket Dovecote: Structure and Nesting Boxes

Rosemarket Dovecote is also known as Cross Farm Dovecote. The circular building is made of local sandstone masonry and has a domed roof. Inside are about 200 nesting boxes. Both its exterior form and its fittings shape the character of the building. It may date from the 13th or 14th century; this date, too, remains a possibility.

Brunel Cycle Trail and the Regional Landscape

The Brunel Cycle Trail is a shared, traffic-free route connecting Neyland with Johnston and Haverfordwest. The section through Rosemarket follows former railway lines, now used as paths and cycle routes. Both the places named along the route and the lines' former use are therefore relevant for orientation.

Rosemarket, near Neyland, is one of several places around Milford Haven founded according to Norman principles. Places in this group were typically laid out along a main street, with a church and village green. The open fields nearby have since been enclosed. This regional context offers another perspective on Rosemarket: alongside individual buildings, the development of the townscape can also be viewed in the context of a larger group of settlements.

Discover more destinations: Saundersfoot, Llandeloy, Treffgarne, St David's, Llandissilio, Crymych, Clarbeston, Moylegrove

For the full travel guide: Pembrokeshire.