Caldey Island
Encyclopedia
Caldey Island lies south of Tenby
in Pembrokeshire
, Wales
.
The island
is home to a small village, but is best known for its monastery
. Caldey Island is separated from the mainland by the Caldey Sound which is 1 km to 2 km wide between Caldey Island and the coast of Pembrokeshire. A ferry service from Tenby
crosses the sound during spring and summer.
Limestone was quarried here in the 19th century and taken to local lime kilns, some even going as far afield as the Annery kiln
on the Torridge in North Devon.
A Celtic monastery was founded on the island in the sixth century, and a Benedictine
foundation existed from 1136 until the dissolution of the monasteries in 1536. An Anglican Benedictine
community, led by Dom
Aelred Carlyle
, came in 1906 and built the current abbey. They were received into the Roman Catholic Church in 1913, but left Caldey in 1925 due to financial difficulties and moved to Prinknash Abbey
. The Cistercians, who now occupy the abbey, came in 1929 from Scourmont Abbey
in Belgium.
Boats sail to the island from Tenby during the summer months. Attractions on Caldey include a Norman
chapel, a twelfth century church, the sixth century Ogham
cross, and the twentieth century Abbey. Caldey Lighthouse
was built in 1828.
The principal income for the island is tourism, with perfume and chocolate production providing winter incomes. The monastery opened an internet shop in 2001. Their lavender perfume is said to be "simply the best lavender soliflore on earth" by the perfume critic Luca Turin
. The island also provides a spiritual retreat throughout the year.
There is a private guesthouse on the island as well as a fire engine, ambulance and a Coastguard team.
The island's name 'Caldey' comes from the Viking
name Keld-Eye meaning "cold island".
Tenby
Tenby is a walled seaside town in Pembrokeshire, South West Wales, lying on Carmarthen Bay.Notable features of Tenby include of sandy beaches; the 13th century medieval town walls, including the Five Arches barbican gatehouse ; 15th century St...
in Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire is a county in the south west of Wales. It borders Carmarthenshire to the east and Ceredigion to the north east. The county town is Haverfordwest where Pembrokeshire County Council is headquartered....
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
.
The island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
is home to a small village, but is best known for its monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
. Caldey Island is separated from the mainland by the Caldey Sound which is 1 km to 2 km wide between Caldey Island and the coast of Pembrokeshire. A ferry service from Tenby
Tenby
Tenby is a walled seaside town in Pembrokeshire, South West Wales, lying on Carmarthen Bay.Notable features of Tenby include of sandy beaches; the 13th century medieval town walls, including the Five Arches barbican gatehouse ; 15th century St...
crosses the sound during spring and summer.
Limestone was quarried here in the 19th century and taken to local lime kilns, some even going as far afield as the Annery kiln
Annery kiln
The former Annery lime kiln is situated just off the road from Bideford to Great Torrington, near Weare Giffard in the Torridge District of North Devon, England. The old lime kiln overlooks the River Torridge and lies close to the old 1827 canal and also to the railway that ran from Bideford to...
on the Torridge in North Devon.
A Celtic monastery was founded on the island in the sixth century, and a Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
foundation existed from 1136 until the dissolution of the monasteries in 1536. An Anglican Benedictine
Order of St. Benedict (Anglican)
There are a number of Benedictine Anglican religious orders, some of them using the name Order of St. Benedict . Just like their Roman Catholic counterparts, each abbey / priory / convent is independent of each other...
community, led by Dom
Dom (title)
Dom is a title of respect prefixed to the given name. It derives from Latin Dominus.It is used in English for certain Benedictine and Carthusian monks, and for members of certain communities of Canons Regular. Examples include Benedictine monks of the English Benedictine Congregation...
Aelred Carlyle
Aelred Carlyle
Aelred Carlyle, O.S.B. founded, around 1895, the first Anglican Benedictine community of monks.Born Benjamin Fearnley Carlyle, he was educated at Blundell's School. In 1892, he commenced medical training at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London. He did not complete his medical training...
, came in 1906 and built the current abbey. They were received into the Roman Catholic Church in 1913, but left Caldey in 1925 due to financial difficulties and moved to Prinknash Abbey
Prinknash Abbey
Prinknash Abbey is a Roman Catholic Benedictine monastery situated in the Vale of Gloucester in the Diocese of Clifton, near the village of Cranham....
. The Cistercians, who now occupy the abbey, came in 1929 from Scourmont Abbey
Scourmont Abbey
Scourmont Abbey is a Trappist monastery on the Scourmont plateau, in the village of Forges which is part of Chimay in the province of Hainaut, Belgium)...
in Belgium.
Boats sail to the island from Tenby during the summer months. Attractions on Caldey include a Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
chapel, a twelfth century church, the sixth century Ogham
Ogham
Ogham is an Early Medieval alphabet used primarily to write the Old Irish language, and occasionally the Brythonic language. Ogham is sometimes called the "Celtic Tree Alphabet", based on a High Medieval Bríatharogam tradition ascribing names of trees to the individual letters.There are roughly...
cross, and the twentieth century Abbey. Caldey Lighthouse
Caldey Lighthouse
Caldey Lighthouse is located on the south end of Caldey Island, three miles off the south Pembrokeshire, Wales coastline, a small island inhabited by a Cistercian monastery.-Construction and dimensions:...
was built in 1828.
The principal income for the island is tourism, with perfume and chocolate production providing winter incomes. The monastery opened an internet shop in 2001. Their lavender perfume is said to be "simply the best lavender soliflore on earth" by the perfume critic Luca Turin
Luca Turin
Luca Turin is a biophysicist with a long-standing interest in the sense of smell, the art of perfume, and the fragrance industry.-Vibration theory of olfaction:...
. The island also provides a spiritual retreat throughout the year.
There is a private guesthouse on the island as well as a fire engine, ambulance and a Coastguard team.
The island's name 'Caldey' comes from the Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
name Keld-Eye meaning "cold island".
External links
- Official Caldey Island website
- The monks installed a television set as a 'one-off' to watch the funeral of Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul IIBlessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
- Photos of Caldey Island and surrounding area on geograph.org.uk