Rowston Farmyard

Rowston Farmyard, located 500 metres east of Stackpole Elidyr church and 100 metres north of Rowston farmhouse, is a model farmstead built in 1866 by Lord Cawdor. Rowston was a mixed farm of approximately 133.65 hectares. The previous farmstead was demolished, and the public road diverted to the west of the site.

The farm buildings are arranged around a main range that runs north-south, with four wings extending east and west. A perimeter road facilitates access to all areas of the farm. Two walled cattle enclosures are situated at the south end. The gable of the main range, which faces the farmhouse, displays a refined architectural composition. The main range itself is a double-sided cow and calf shed, incorporating a central feeding walk.

The two southern wings serve as cowsheds; the southwest wing is a loose-shelter type with feeding racks against its north wall, while its south wall primarily consists of timber boarding, which may not be original. The wing to the southeast is a single-sided cowshed with a feeding walk and shuttered openings on its north side.

The two northern wings house farm equipment, machinery, and stabling. The northwest wing is a cart shed featuring five arches open to the north, and the northeast wing is a stable block entered from the south.

A short northern extension, slightly west of the centre line, contains shafting and was evidently used for food processing. The loft above this extension and the northeast and northwest wings serves as a granary, with pitching doors at each of the three extremities. Exterior stairs are located at the end of the northeast wing.

The buildings are constructed using finely jointed, hammer-faced limestone, laid in snecked courses. Quoins and other corners are emphasised with larger stones. Door and window heads are either semicircular or shallowly cambered. There is evidence of careful selection of better masonry for aspects visible from the farmhouse or public road. The south elevation of the main range features a symmetrical central composition of three windows, the middle one being taller, flanked by doorways also arranged symmetrically. The roofs are covered with large grey slates and have hipped gables. Modern farm structures occupy the cattle enclosures at the south, and there are various sheeted lean-to extensions; however, these have not harmed the original structures.

The farmyard is listed as a model farm from the mid-Victorian period, demonstrating improved building techniques and optimum accessibility to all departments. Documents referenced include local information from Mr Prout, including rental notes dating to 1865, Tamlyn’s site survey of 1865, Haverfordwest R O: DB/13/l1, and the Dyfed Arch. Trust S&M PRN 6987.