St Davids - History

History

Tradition states that Dewi (Saint David) was born to Saint Non at what is now St Non's, just to the south of the city, in about AD 500. It is also said that he was baptised at Porthclais, now the city's port and was brought up by his mother at Llanon.

In the 6th Century Dewi founded a monastery and church at Glyn Rhosyn (Rose Vale) on the banks of the river Alun. The area was originally known in the Welsh language as Mynyw and to the Romans as Menevia. The monastic brotherhood that Dewi founded was very strict — besides praying and celebrating masses, they cultivated the land and carried out many crafts, including beekeeping, in order to feed themselves and the many pilgrims and travellers who needed lodgings. They also fed and clothed the poor and needy. The settlement that grew up around the monastery was called Tyddewi meaning David's home. In 519 the archbishopric of Caerleon in the county of Monmouth was transferred to Mynyw, which was renamed St Davids in honour of the archbishop and saint by whom the transfer was accomplished. The original cathedral built on the site was often plundered by the Vikings and was finally burnt and destroyed in 1087. The present cathedral was built by the Normans and contained many relics including the remains of St. David. It was visited by many pilgrims, many of whom were nobles and kings including; William the conqueror in 1077, Henry II in 1171, and Edward I and Queen Eleanor in 1284. Pope Calixtus II decreed that two pilgrimages to St David's were equivalent to one to Rome ("Roma semel quantum dat bis Menevia tantum"). Because of this, a vast income was raised from visiting pilgrims in the Middle Ages. Pilgrimages later fell out of favour due to practices such as the selling of indulgencies and the income from them faded away.

By the 19th Century the city of St Davids had become isolated and neglected and was described thus in the Penny Cyclopaedia :

At present its appearance is that of a poor village, the houses, excepting those of the clergy, being in a ruinous state. The locality is lonely, and the neighbouring district wild and unimproved; but it is still an interesting place as the seat of a large episcopal see, with a fine cathedral and the remains of other magnificent religious edifices.

Since then, better transport and the advent of tourism has helped the city regain its fortunes.