RUDBAXTON, a parish, in the union of HAVERFORDWEST, hundred of DUNGLEDDY, county of PEMBROKE, SOUTH WALES, 3 miles (N.)
from Haverfordwest; containing 649 inhabitants. This parish, which is situated on the turnpike-road leading from
Haverfordwest to Fishguard, and watered by the Western Cleddy, as well as by the Rhitth brook, which flows into that
river, is wholly inclosed and under cultivation; the rateable annual value being returned at £1441. 11. It is surrounded
by the parishes of Prendergast, Camrhos, Trevgarn, Spittal, and Wiston; and contains by computation about 4000 acres, of
which 2000 are pasture, a large proportion amble, and 60 woodland, the prevailing timber consisting of oak, ash, and fir.
The surface is generally flat, and the soil of a good quality, producing the usual crops of wheat, barley, and oats; and
there are two small flour mills. It is enlivened by two gentlemen's seats, of cheerful aspect, Wythy Bush, a good family
mansion pleasantly situated, and Poyston. The petty-sessions for the hundred were formerly held at the New Bridge in the
parish, prior to their removal to Haverfordwest. The living is a rectory, rated in the king's books at £15. 4. 2., and in
the patronage of the Crown; present net income, £199. The church, dedicated to St. Michael, consists of two aisles, with
a square tower at the west end, of an unknown date, and is in length 63 feet, and in breadth 33; in the interior is a
freestone monument of the Haward family, of Heatherhill, of which the figures are nearly as large as life. Opposite to the
entrance of the churchyard is one of those large mounds so frequently found in this part of the principality, but of which
the use has not been clearly ascertained. There were formerly two chapels of ease, one in honour of St. Margaret, and the
other of St. Catherine, but both are now in ruins. There is a place of worship for Baptists. An infants' school, the
teacher of which is partly remunerated by a subscription of £5 per annum from the Baptists, contains about twenty children;
and thirty-five males and females are gratuitously taught by Independents. Thomas Haward, by deed, gave a rent-charge of
£2, which is paid by the corporation of Haverfordwest to poor housekeepers of Rudbaxton not receiving parochial relief;
and children from this place have a claim to be received into Haward or Talker's free school at that town. About three
miles to the north-east of Haverfordwest, within the limits of this parish, is a hill on which is an encampment, called by
the countrypeople " the Rhath. Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Picton, G. C. B., who fell in the battle of Waterloo, is
generally supposed to have been a native of the parish, but, really, was born at Haverfordwest, owing to the circumstance
of the family mansion, Poyston, being building at the time.