St Non's Chapel

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument.

The monument comprises the remains of a small medieval chapel overlooking the coastline above St. Non's Bay and comprises a simple rectangular building with an entrance on the west. It has an unusual north-south orientation possibly explained by the foundations having been laid out to suit the severe slope. Massive masonry on the southern, downhill end may have been part of a foundation platform. The position of the altar is marked by a step at the northern end. The earliest reference to a chapel at this location is from a document of 1335 though the presence of a stone incised with a Latin cross dated to the 7th to 8th centuries now within the chapel and early reports of possible slab-lined graves are suggestive of an early medieval foundation. The chapel is traditionally held to mark the place where St. Non gave birth to St. David and will have been associated with pilgrim routes to St Davids. It is set towards the north of an early enclosure that may have originally served as chapel precinct, at its north east angle is St Non’s Well, medieval well head restored in 18th century.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of the organisation and practice of medieval Christianity. The site forms an important element within the wider medieval landscape. The site is well preserved and retains considerable archaeological potential. There is a strong probability of the presence of evidence relating to chronology, layout, building techniques and functional detail.

The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.