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Coordinates: 51°43′26″N 4°41′06″W / 51.724°N 4.685°W / 51.724; -4.685
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Toponym: Cited source makes no claim that this was the first official record of the name
Noted details on Welsh name.
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'''Wisemans Bridge''' ({{lang-cy|Pont-yr-ŵr}}) is a coastal [[hamlet (place)|hamlet]] between [[Amroth, Pembrokeshire|Amroth]] and [[Saundersfoot]] in [[Pembrokeshire]], Wales. The small beachfront settlement, which is part of the [[parish]] and [[community (Wales)|community]] of [[Amroth, Pembrokeshire|Amroth]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/objview.asp?object_id=2976|title =Pembrokeshire County Council Community review|website=www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/|accessdate=31 July 2020}}</ref> was once an important centre for the mineral industry in [[West Wales]]. It is now a popular holiday destination within [[Carmarthen Bay]].
'''Wisemans Bridge''' is a coastal [[hamlet (place)|hamlet]] between [[Amroth, Pembrokeshire|Amroth]] and [[Saundersfoot]] in [[Pembrokeshire]], Wales. The small beachfront settlement, which is part of the [[parish]] and [[community (Wales)|community]] of [[Amroth, Pembrokeshire|Amroth]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/objview.asp?object_id=2976|title =Pembrokeshire County Council Community review|website=www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/|accessdate=31 July 2020}}</ref> was once an important centre for the mineral industry in [[West Wales]]. It is now a popular holiday destination within [[Carmarthen Bay]].


==Toponym==
==Toponym==
[[file:Wiseman's Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 1692079.jpg|thumb|left|The bridge at Wisemans Bridge]]
[[file:Wiseman's Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 1692079.jpg|thumb|left|The bridge at Wisemans Bridge]]
The name Wisemans Bridge has no definitive origin. In early [[medieval Wales]], the area was part of ''Llanussyllt'' but after the [[Norman invasion of Wales|Norman conquest]] it became known as the Parish of St Issells in dedication to the Welsh saint [[Saint Issel|Issel]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Penbrok comitat|publisher=British Library|url=https://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/unvbrit/p/zoomify83390.html|accessdate=}}</ref> In 1598, a local entry in the parish records of St Issells mentions a bridge in the locale. This has led to the theory that the name Wisemans Bridge derives directly from the decision to use the crossing rather than take another route.<ref name="name"/> However, research of St Issells' parish records in the 14th century show that an Andrew Wiseman held lands thereabouts as early as 1324.<ref name="name">{{cite news|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/fun-stuff/how-welsh-place-live-name-11278650|title=This is how the Welsh place you live got its name|website=www.walesonline.co.uk|date=7 May 2016}}</ref> It was recorded by the [[Ordnance Survey]] as Wisemans Bridge between 1898 and 1908.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://historicplacenames.rcahmw.gov.uk/placenames/recordedname/45e56359-13b3-4210-a914-a7527c82052a|website=www.historicplacenames.rcahmw.gov.uk|title=Recorded name: Wiseman's Bridge (B H)|accessdate=31 July 2020}}</ref>
The name Wisemans Bridge has no definitive origin. In early [[medieval Wales]], the area was part of ''Llanussyllt'' but after the [[Norman invasion of Wales|Norman conquest]] it became known as the Parish of St Issells in dedication to the Welsh saint [[Saint Issel|Issel]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Penbrok comitat|publisher=British Library|url=https://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/unvbrit/p/zoomify83390.html|accessdate=}}</ref> In 1598, a local entry in the parish records of St Issells mentions a bridge in the locale. This has led to the theory that the name Wisemans Bridge derives directly from the decision to use the crossing rather than take another route.<ref name="name"/> However, research of St Issells' parish records in the 14th century show that an Andrew Wiseman held lands thereabouts as early as 1324.<ref name="name">{{cite news|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/fun-stuff/how-welsh-place-live-name-11278650|title=This is how the Welsh place you live got its name|website=www.walesonline.co.uk|date=7 May 2016}}</ref> It was recorded by the [[Ordnance Survey]] as Wisemans Bridge between 1898 and 1908.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://historicplacenames.rcahmw.gov.uk/placenames/recordedname/45e56359-13b3-4210-a914-a7527c82052a|website=www.historicplacenames.rcahmw.gov.uk|title=Recorded name: Wiseman's Bridge (B H)|accessdate=31 July 2020}}</ref>

The [[Welsh language|Welsh]] form ''Pont-yr-ŵr'' has been used on-line in a small number of instances.<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 August 2022 |title=Sir Benfro: Rhybudd bod carthion wedi llifo i'r traeth |work=BBC Cymru Fyw |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cymrufyw/62676182 |access-date=24 October 2023}}</ref> But the form is not noted in the standard work on Pembrokeshire place names and is of unknown origin.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Charles |first=B. G. |title=The Place Names of Pembrokeshire |publisher=National Library of Wales |year=1992 |isbn=9780907158585 |location=Aberystwyth}}</ref>


==History==
==History==

Revision as of 12:32, 24 October 2023

Wisemans Bridge
The seafront at Wisemans Bridge
Wisemans Bridge is located in Pembrokeshire
Wisemans Bridge
Wisemans Bridge
Location within Pembrokeshire
OS grid referenceSN144062
Community
  • Amroth
Principal area
CountryWales
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
PoliceDyfed-Powys
FireMid and West Wales
AmbulanceWelsh
List of places
UK
Wales
Pembrokeshire
51°43′26″N 4°41′06″W / 51.724°N 4.685°W / 51.724; -4.685

Wisemans Bridge is a coastal hamlet between Amroth and Saundersfoot in Pembrokeshire, Wales. The small beachfront settlement, which is part of the parish and community of Amroth,[1] was once an important centre for the mineral industry in West Wales. It is now a popular holiday destination within Carmarthen Bay.

Toponym

The bridge at Wisemans Bridge

The name Wisemans Bridge has no definitive origin. In early medieval Wales, the area was part of Llanussyllt but after the Norman conquest it became known as the Parish of St Issells in dedication to the Welsh saint Issel.[2] In 1598, a local entry in the parish records of St Issells mentions a bridge in the locale. This has led to the theory that the name Wisemans Bridge derives directly from the decision to use the crossing rather than take another route.[3] However, research of St Issells' parish records in the 14th century show that an Andrew Wiseman held lands thereabouts as early as 1324.[3] It was recorded by the Ordnance Survey as Wisemans Bridge between 1898 and 1908.[4]

The Welsh form Pont-yr-ŵr has been used on-line in a small number of instances.[5] But the form is not noted in the standard work on Pembrokeshire place names and is of unknown origin.[6]

History

The valley behind Wisemans Bridge between the 14th and 19th centuries was a centre of industrial activity within the Pembrokeshire Coalfields. By the 19th century, the local high-quality coal was shipped out of Wisemans Bridge in 50- or 60-ton vessels.[7] A 4-foot narrow-gauge railway also transported coal to Saundersfoot Harbour via Coppet Hall.[8][9] The line was permanently closed in 1939.[10] The old railway through Wisemans Bridge and its tunnels to Saundersfoot are now part of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, a designated National Trail that was established in 1970.[11]

In 1943, Winston Churchill visited the area as the allies practised for the D Day landings.[12]

References

  1. ^ "Pembrokeshire County Council Community review". www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  2. ^ "Penbrok comitat". British Library.
  3. ^ a b "This is how the Welsh place you live got its name". www.walesonline.co.uk. 7 May 2016.
  4. ^ "Recorded name: Wiseman's Bridge (B H)". www.historicplacenames.rcahmw.gov.uk. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  5. ^ "Sir Benfro: Rhybudd bod carthion wedi llifo i'r traeth". BBC Cymru Fyw. 25 August 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  6. ^ Charles, B. G. (1992). The Place Names of Pembrokeshire. Aberystwyth: National Library of Wales. ISBN 9780907158585.
  7. ^ "GENUKI: Amroth". Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  8. ^ "Visit Saundersfoot". www.visit-saundersfoot.com. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  9. ^ "Old Saundersfoot" by Roscoe Howells
  10. ^ Connop-Price, Martin (2004). Pembrokeshire: The Forgotten Coalfield. Landmark Publishing Lttd. p. 128.
  11. ^ "Pembrokeshire Coast Path". www.nationaltrail.co.uk. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  12. ^ Amroth & District Community Association