History of Pembrokeshire

The history of Pembrokeshire in southwest Wales, starts in the Paleolithic era with archaeological evidence pointing to human presence in the county dating back at least 70,000 years, with notable prehistoric sites such as Pentre Ifan. Subsequent periods saw settlement by Celtic tribes, a relatively limited Roman presence, and an eventual emergence of a series of Welsh kingdoms. The region experienced Norman and Flemish colonisation during the Middle Ages, with the south later gaining the moniker Little England beyond Wales due to the comparative strength of English culture over Welsh culture, while under the marcher Lordship of the Earls of Pembroke.

Following the incorporation of Wales into the Kingdom of England by the Laws in Wales Acts, Pembrokeshire was reorganised administratively as an English shire with the Elizabethan era seeing growth in agriculture, fishing, and small-scale mining. The woollen industry, once dominant, declined significantly during this period. Unusually for Wales, the county aligned with the Roundheads during the English Civil Wars although Pembrokeshire was the site of a Royalist uprising in 1648, which culminated in the Siege of Pembroke and a decisive defeat by Oliver Cromwell, with Milford Haven serving as a key embarkation point for the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Pembrokeshire remained largely rural. The Battle of Fishguard in 1797 marked the last attempted invasion of Britain, when French troops briefly landed near Goodwick before surrendering.