Pictures

in the

Picton Castle area

(Pembrokeshire, Wales)

Distant view of Picton Castle from Landshipping taken in 2004

Distant view of Picton Castle from Landshipping taken in 2015

This Picton Castle page is an to attempt to understand what my Picton ancestors viewed, felt, and experienced in the Picton Castle area. Notice that there is water below Picton Castle. Could the water and location on what is now called Picton Point be the reason Picton Castle was built at this location?

After arriving in Pembrokshire in the afternoon, I checked in at Bed and Breakfast. Then I decided to drive over to see Picton Castle. I spent a couple of hours there. I took a lot of pictures of the Castle and walked around the grounds taking pictures of the spring flowers blooming. The original Picton Castle may have been built of wood around 1100 AD and the current stone structure built in the 1300's. It is believed that it is still lived in by people descendent from the first Picton. The Castle was closed and I was unable to go inside but I was able to take pictures of the outside. I then drove down to the waters edge near Picton Castle. The tide was out. I walked out as far as I could but was unable to see Picton Castle. A few days later I found a road that went to the other side of the water to a place called Landshipping.

I arrived the 3rd week of February and the daffodils flowers were starting bloom. While I was in Pembrokeshire it was cool but the ground never froze. I understand the climate is wet and it never gets that cold. I do not think they have to worry about pipes freezing in the ground, snow staying on the ground for any length of time or having very much hay stored to feed animals in the winter because the grass was always green.

The earliest existing reference to the Picton Castle is a deed now in the Library of St. David's Cathedral.

The Picton Castle was featured in Ripleys, Believe It Or Not. During the 1960's It showed a picture of the castle. The write-up stated that the castle had been occupied by Picton's for over 800 years. They said this is the longest a known home has been lived in by one family in the world.

The conquest of Ireland was going on in the 1100's to the 1300's. A lot of fighting was going on just a few miles from Picton Castle including this buildup for the conquest of Ireland. Notice the involvement of the many of the powerful families in Pembrokeshire in conquering Ireland and becoming rich. Godebert of Flanders, de la Roche, de Pendergast, de Clares, de FitzMartin, de FitzGerald, Strongbow (Earl of Pembroke), Gerald de Windsor, William Marshall and Sir John de Wogan are some of the family names of powerful men from Pembrokeshire who went to Ireland. At that moment in time this was now the center of the universe. Also, the occupation of Knight (who very likely would fight and die) was about the only occupation available for the sons of these families.

Another thing to think about, is that the Knights Templar's had a facility located near Picton Castle on the Milford Haven Waterway in this time frame. In France,in 1307 the King of France tried to take over and destroy the Knights Templar's. The Knights Templar's escaped France with 18 ships loaded with treasure and no one knows where the ships went. If the Knights Templar's were smart, they would not hid all the ships at one location. Some think some of the ships went to Scotland and others to Portugal. Considering that the Milford Haven Waterway is one of the largest and best natural harbors in the world with a lot of places to hid, I suggest some of these treasure ships came to the Milford Haven Waterway. Could some of this treasure have been hidden here or could it have been used to help finance the invasion of Ireland? The Knights Templar's facility located near Picton Castle may be an indication that such a thing happen. If this did happen, could Picton Castle have been involved in all this? This was all happening around Picton Castle in the 1100's to the 1300's.

Both the Picton and de la Roche families have three fish in their coat of arms and there two castles were 10 to 12 miles apart. Could there be a connection or could both be descendants from related individuals because they both have three fish in there coat of arms?

What must have been going on in the minds of people in charge at Picton Castle? How involved were they? What were they doing? Where do the Picton Castle ancestors tie into all this? Notice that Philip de Picton (founder of the Northern branch of Pictons), the brother of William de Picton of Picton Castle went to Newport and Nevern and could this be related to all that is happening? Could the fighting going on around Nevern Castle at that time have drawn Philip de Picton to Newport because what other occupation did he have and it may have been safer? Sir John Wogan of Picton Castle (the son-in-law of William de Picton) was Justiciar of Ireland from 1295 to 1313. This made him the most important person in Ireland.

Please press the above line to go to someone elses Picton Castle website

View of Picton Point below Picton Castle

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Picton Castle entrance sign

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Private entrance to Picton Castle

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Courtyard View Picton Castle

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Picton Castle (East and North sides)

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Picton Castle (East and North sides)

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Picton Castle (East side)

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Picton Castle (East side)

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Picton Castle (East side)

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Entrance to Picton Castle (East side)

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Picton Castle by door (East side)

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Picton Castle back (North side)

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Picton Castle (West side) - taken 2004

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Picton Castle (West side) - taken 2015

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Picton Castle front (South side)

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Dining at Picton Castle - taken 2015

Martha and Kathryn Picton

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Dining at Picton Castle - taken 2015

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Dining at Picton Castle - taken 2015

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Dining at Picton Castle - taken 2015

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The gardens at Picton Castle - taken 2015

Kathryn and Martha Picton

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The gardens at Picton Castle - taken 2015

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The gardens at Picton Castle - taken 2015

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The gardens at Picton Castle - taken 2015

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The gardens at Picton Castle - taken 2015

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The fernery at the gardens at Picton Castle - taken 2015

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The fernery at the gardens at Picton Castle - taken 2015

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View of the waters edge below Picton Castle

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Old Slebech Church near Picton Castle - taken 2015

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Old Slebech Church near Picton Castle - taken 2015

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Old Slebech Church near Picton Castle - taken 2015

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Old Slebech Church near Picton Castle - taken 2015

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Wiston Castle about 3 miles from Picton Castle - taken 2015

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Wiston Castle about 3 miles from Picton Castle - taken 2015

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Wiston Castle and distant view of Preseli Hills - taken 2015

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Wiston Castle and moat - taken 2015

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St. Mary Magdalene Church of Wiston - taken 2015

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St. Mary Magdalene Church of Wiston - taken 2015

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A Roman Fort has been found North of Wiston Castle and some think that Wizo the Flemming built Wiston Castle there because a Roman Fort had existed near that location. Proof has been found that the Haverfordwest Castle is older than Norman times. My question is: Could a Roman Fort have been where Picton Castle is now and that is the reason Picton Castle was placed at that location?

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View of Preseli Hills and an amusement park several miles East of Picton Castle

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Last Modified January 2016

This site designed and maintained by Owen Picton.