From the Church Gazetteer;
"The ancient church was originally within the castle of Pembroke and given to the Norman abbey of St Martin (Sayes) in 1098. The north nave wall, with buttresses, is from the ancient church. After the dissolution of the monasteries the church deteriorated, with only the nave in use for the parish; the choir and sancturary lost and windows blocked up. In the late 1800s it was restored and enlarged. The church belongs to the Monkton Rectorial Benefice, with ten other churches." Text Source; (
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History & partial Description of the Exterior, from the British listed building Website;
History;
"Anglican parish church. In 1098 a church of St Nicholas was founded within Pembroke Castle and granted to the Abbey of Seez in Normandy. As it is possible that the first castle was at Monkton, this may be the foundation date. As a daughter house of Seez, its fortunes fell with the French wars when alien houses were sequestrated, finally closed in 1414. It was then administered by a royal steward until being granted to St Albans Abbey in 1443. After 1532 the nave was retained as parish church, the W and N windows blocked. There was already a wall to the chancel with low round arch and the c1500 canopied tomb against it. The rest became ruinous:
Description;
"Parish church, rubble stone with traces of render, close-eaved slate roofs and coped gables. Long nave with S porch, SE tower, long chancel with parallel N sacristy and NE chapel. C19 windows generally have hoodmoulds and carved stops.
Nave has W wall with battered base, standing proud of ends of nave side walls, suggesting alteration. Big 4-light pointed W window, 1879, with cinquefoil in head. Nave S has three 2-light windows of 1879, with quatrefoils in heads, and stone voussoirs of earlier windows. One window to left of S porch, two to right, divided by a buttress with plinth, two mouldings and two set-offs. Large S porch with traces of render, notably on W wall, coped S gable and large arched entry, with thin ashlar angle shafts (possibly of 1880) and unmoulded round arch. Medieval pointed vault, stone benches, and fine C13 S doorway of two orders of two roll-moulds, inner one restored, to a different curve leaving a crescent-shaped fillet between. Renewed hoodmould. C19 door with iron Gothic hinges. Above and to left is a narrow door formerly to an upper floor, in ashlar arched surround.
Tower is tall with battered sides, corbelled embattled parapet and projecting SW stair tower with higher embattled top. Stair turret has five loops on both S and W sides. Tower has narrow single bell-lights with cambered heads W and S, that on S behind 1907 clock, renewed grey stone lancet E. Louvred lancet to S at one-third height, eroded plaque below. Large sandstone 4-light pointed window of 1880, over pointed door in moulded ashlar square frame with tracery in spandrels. Moulded doorcase, board door with hinges as on nave S door. E side has two similar louvred lancets.
Chancel has slightly lower eaves, similar ridge. Four long 1887-9 2-light S windows with cinquefoils, original stone voussoirs. E end angle buttresses, cross finial, and large 1889 or 1904 sandstone 5-light window. Above, fine C14 ogee pointed niche with rosettes in hollow-moulded surround and eroded statue.
NE chapel is separated from chancel by narrow passage and has lower roof with cross finials. Big 3-light E window with quatrefoils and roundel in head, N side has two 2-light windows with hoodmoulds and head stops, then corbelled square C19 chimney with tall shaft of grey stone. To right is section of broken masonry, link to site of former priory buildings. W end has low lean-to N porch to left with pointed N door and small 2-light on W and sacristy to right. Sacristy has roof of similar height with cross finial to W. C19 2-light to N side and W end, which also has blocked vent above, both left of centre line.
Nave N is windowless with heavy buttressing. Three very large buttresses with high sloping bases and slated sloping tops. Narrower and rougher raking buttress at left; lower and narrower stepped buttress at right. Two corbels between right and second buttress. The next two bays each have a small C12 arched opening penetrating outer skin only. Between fourth and E buttress a rough stone lancet, corbel below, and blocked pointed door in rough square opening. The blocking uses remnants of a C17 ashlar tomb. On both sides of E buttress a piece of broken vault running parallel to nave." Text source; (
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