Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Flimston Chapel
Castlemartin, Pembrokeshire, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Religious, Ritual and Funerary
- Date of designation
- 8 December 1995
- Locality
- RAC Range West
- Community
- Castlemartin
- Unitary authority
- Pembrokeshire
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 51.62061, -5.00048
- Cadw reference
- 16589
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 5 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1636 "Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ..." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Cadw's description
Location
On RAC Castlemartin Range, W of road to Stack Rocks.
Exterior
History: The chapel is perhaps associated with Monkton Priory. There is a mediaeval nave and chancel with a minuscule room at the N. In 1787 the tenant of Flimston farm converted the building into a carpenter's shop, stone shed and granary, forming cart-entrance arches which are still visible in the E wall and inserting internal walls. The little north room was reused as an external staircase. The building was restored to serve as a chapel again in 1901-3 by Col. and Lady Lambton, in memory of their three sons. Although protected by its position on the Army Range since 1938, it fell into disuse after the 1939-45 war. It was restored again in 1963 by the staff of the Royal Armoured Corps.
Description: The mediaeval chapel is a large single-cell building with a steeply-pointed vault. Rubble limestone masonry with larger quoins. Tile roof with verge parapets. Blocked S door. Interior: Arches of two cedilla are visible, blocked. The small side room at the N is now a vestry. It has a low door and a restored barred window to the altar. The semicircular bell-rope shaft in the centre of the W wall internally is not original, as it blocks an earlier window, but it predates the farm-use phase.
When restored by the Lambtons the building was rededicated to St Martin. An entrance porch added at the N. Small finial crosses at the E end and over the porch. E window of three lancets, following the arch and outline of the original windows. W bell-turret with openings on all four sides. Corbelled cornice. Plain and glazed floor tiles were laid in a pattern in the sanctuary. Movable altar rails. Modern font on a square shaft.
Lambton family memorials are mounted on both the N and S walls. Also the Lambton family vault in the churchyard is surrounded by (glacial erratic) boulders on which their initials are displayed on plaques. There is a rough-hewn Celtic cross in the churchyard. Low churchyard wall.
References: RCAHM Inventory (1925) 65
Lambton, Flimston Chapel (1914)
Dyfed Arch. Trust: S&M PRN 563
Nearby in the register
- Flimston FarmhouseDomesticunder 1 mi
- Flimston FarmhouseFarmsteadunder 1 mi
- Pricaston FarmhouseDomesticunder 1 mi
- Pricaston FarmhouseFarmsteadunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.