ROCH, a parish, in the union of HAVERFORDWEST, hundred of RHOS, county of PEMBROKE, SOUTH WALES, 6 miles (N. W. by W.)
from Haverfordwest; containing 832 inhabitants. This place derives its name from a rocky mountainous ridge, rising
abruptly from the plain, and the summit whereof is occupied by an ancient castle, which, from its situation near the
extremity of the district of Rhos, was probably erected as a border fortress by some of the earlier Norman invaders, or by
the Flemings, who, in the reign of Henry I., settled in this part of the principality. The first possessor of the castle
of whom any notice is extant, was Adam de Rupe, or de la Roche, who is by some writers supposed to have been the founder,
and to whom also is attributed the establishment of the church, and of the priory of Hubberston Pill. Little is recorded
of the history of the castle, which appears to have been constructed equally with a view to military and domestic
purposes; but it is known to have belonged to the de la Roches till the reign of Henry VI., when the extensive estates of
that family were divided between two coheiresses, at which time it is thought to have been abandoned as a residence. It
was garrisoned for the king during the war in the reign of Charles I., and in 1644 was besieged by the parliamentarians,
under the command of Captain Edwards, to whom, after a defence of two days, it was surrendered. The parish, which lies
on the eastern shore of St. Bride's bay, and on the turnpike-road leading from Haverfordwest to St. David's, is of
considerable extent, comprising a large tract of amble and pasture land, which, with the exception of Cyfern mountain,
occupying only a small portion of it, and the cliffs to the west and south-west, bordering upon the bay, is inclosed and
in a good state of cultivation; the rateable annual value being returned at £2746. There is a culm colliery in the parish;
and a break-water has been erected for the protection of vessels arriving at Nolton haven, whence a large quantity of
culm is annually shipped by means of jetties recently constructed. Cyfern is a handsome residence occupying a pleasant
situation. The living is a discharged vicarage, rated in the king's books at £4. 13. 9., endowed with £200 royal bounty,
and in the patronage of the Crown; present net income, £137; impropriator, George Augustus Harries, Esq. The tithes have
been commuted for a rent-charge of £299. 17., of which £200 are payable to the impropriator, subject to rates, averaging
£12. 16. 8., and £99. 17. to the vicar, subject to rates that average £6. 8. 4.: a glebe of 2i acres, valued at £6 per
annum, belongs to the incumbent. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is a plain neat edifice without a tower, consisting
only of a nave and chancel, and containing a chaste monument to the memory of the Rev. John Grant, a former vicar. There
were anciently two chapels of ease, both now in ruins; one at Hilton, a mile to the south of the church, and the other,
called Caradoc's chapel, at Trevrin, about a mile and a half distant from it, on the margin of the bay, probably erected
to commemorate the spot where the corpse of St. Caradoc rested on its way for interment at St. David's. There are places
of worship for Baptists and Wesleyan Methodists. John, third son of the Rev. John Grant, bequeathed £500 for the endowment
of a free school here, the interest of which sum is.paid towards the support of a school, containing about 40 children
daily, and 25 on Sundays; of the former number, 25 are gratuitously instructed, and the rest paid for by their parents.
The school is carried on in a cottage on the glebe-land, by the permission of the vicar, and the master, who has a salary
of £20, is appointed by the vicar and churchwardens, who also nominate the children. Mrs. Fluerton, in 1700, bequeathed a
rent-charge of £2 to the poor, but it is at present unpro. ductive. The remains of the castle form an interesting and
striking object: this structure originally consisted of one stately tower, divided into three stories, each composed of a
large apartment, with an elegant smaller apartment, or retiring-room, having an arched roof and an oriel window, both
enriched with tracery; the ruins consist of the shell of this tower in a very perfect state. The rock on which it is
built is, on the south side, incorporated with the building for nearly half the height, and a huge mass protrudes into the
lower apartment. The prospect from the tower is very extensive, commanding the whole of St. Bride's bay, with a great part
of the adjacent country, which, from the want of wood, with the exception only of two or three small patches, is generally
destitute both of pleasing all of picturesque character.