Scheduled MonumentsWalesSt Govan's Chapel and Well
Early Medieval · Chapel

St Govan's Chapel and Well

Pembrokeshire, Wales
Cadw SAM PE321
Period
Early Medieval
Site type
Chapel
Broad class
Religious, Ritual and Funerary
Nation
Wales
Boundary

Scheduled area

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Overview

History & significance

St Govan's Chapel is a small medieval chapel situated within a steep limestone cliff near Bosherston in Pembrokeshire, Wales. The chapel is traditionally associated with Saint Govan, a figure of early Christian tradition, though documentary evidence for its origins remains limited. The structure comprises a narrow stone-built chapel with evidence of medieval fabric, accessed by a flight of steps carved into the cliff face, and is accompanied by a holy well which has long held significance in local religious practice. The site represents an important example of the early Christian sacred landscape of Wales, where chapels and wells were frequently located in geographically prominent or symbolically significant natural settings.

St Govan's Chapel and Well is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference PE321. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is St Govan's Chapel and Well?

St Govan's Chapel is a small medieval chapel situated within a steep limestone cliff near Bosherston in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference PE321.

What period does St Govan's Chapel and Well date from?

St Govan's Chapel and Well dates from the early medieval period, and is classified as a chapel. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across Britain.

Who is responsible for protecting St Govan's Chapel and Well?

St Govan's Chapel and Well is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Cadw — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Wales. The official designation reference is PE321.

What other scheduled monuments are near St Govan's Chapel and Well?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Trevallen Downs Tank Range (0.6 km), Buckspool Down Camp (1.3 km), Fishpond Camp (1.9 km).

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