Lydstep
Coastal settlement in Pembrokeshire, Wales
title: "Lydstep" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["beaches-of-pembrokeshire", "coast-of-pembrokeshire", "villages-in-pembrokeshire", "seaside-resorts-in-wales"] description: "Coastal settlement in Pembrokeshire, Wales" topic_path: "geography/united-kingdom" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lydstep" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Coastal settlement in Pembrokeshire, Wales ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox UK place"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| country | Wales |
| constituency_welsh_assembly | Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire |
| official_name | Lydstep |
| unitary_wales | Pembrokeshire |
| lieutenancy_wales | Dyfed |
| constituency_westminster | Mid and South Pembrokeshire |
| post_town | TENBY |
| postcode_area | SA |
| coordinates | |
| static_image | Lydstep Haven, Near Tenby - geograph.org.uk - 55493.jpg |
| static_image_width | 250px |
| static_image_caption | Lydstep Haven |
| :: |
| country = Wales | welsh_name = | constituency_welsh_assembly = Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire | official_name = Lydstep | unitary_wales = Pembrokeshire | lieutenancy_wales = Dyfed | constituency_westminster = Mid and South Pembrokeshire | post_town = TENBY | postcode_district = | postcode_area = SA | dial_code = | os_grid_reference = | coordinates = | population = | population_ref = | static_image = Lydstep Haven, Near Tenby - geograph.org.uk - 55493.jpg | static_image_width = 250px | static_image_caption = Lydstep Haven Lydstep, known in ancient times as Lis Castell, is an area in Pembrokeshire, Wales, in the community of Manorbier. It can be reached via the A4139 from Tenby and Pembroke.
Ancient history
A number of ancient artefacts have been recovered from the submerged forest near Lydstep Haven, while peat deposits are periodically exposed showing human and animal footprints radiocarbon dated to as early as 5,400-4,750 BC.
Lydstep is the location of the royal court of Aergol Lawhir, the semi-legendary king of Dyfed in the mid-fifth century.
His court (Llys in modern Welsh) was notorious for drinking and being unruly which was said to have resulted in frequent murders. As such, Aergol Lawhir sent for the holy saint Teilo, who commissioned two of his disciples to remain at the Llys and maintain order. From that time, no more murders were committed at Lis Castell and in return, Aergol Lawhir granted Teilo the land at Trefgarn.
Lydstep Palace
Main article: Lydstep Palace
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Lydstep_Palace_(1),_Lydstep,Pembs-geograph.org.uk-_4546293.jpg" caption="The ruins of [[Lydstep Palace"] ::
The site of Aergol Lawhir's Llys is associated with the later Lydstep Palace, The ruins are of a medieval house referred to locally as "the Palace", or "the Palace of Arms" and are remembered as a hunting-seat of Henry Gower, Bishop of St. Davids. The building was constructed of limestone masonry with slate roof and had a frontage of about 22 yards (20 meters). The ruins consist of a first-floor hall and possible parlour, with a barrel vaulted undercroft in two unequal sections. The vaults were mostly without windows or fireplaces, and were probably used as cellars.
References
References
- (30 December 2008). "Frommer's Wales With Your Family: From Cliff-top Castles to Sandy Coves". Frommer's.
- "Submerged Forest, Lydstep".
- (1993). "A Welsh Classical Dictionary: People in History and Legend up to about A.D. 1000". [[National Library of Wales]].
- "The Lives of the British Saints: The Saints of Wales and Cornwall and Such Irish Saints as Have Dedications in Britain".
- "The Old Palace, Lydstep".
- "An Inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Wales and Monmouthshire: VII - County of Pembroke".
- Smith, Peter. (1988). "Houses of the Welsh Countryside: A Study in Historical Geography".
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