IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Mathry, HAVERFORDWEST, SA62 5AN

At one time there was a residence of the Bishop of St.David's at Longhouse Farm. Nearby is the Neolithic dolmen known as Carreg Samson.

One of Pembrokeshire's most impressive megalithic tombs, Carreg Samson/Samson's stone stands between Longhouse Farm (named for the monument) and the sea, with the outline of Strumble Head visible beyond and the peaks of Garn Fawr, Garn Gilfach and Garn Wnda to the east and northeast. All three show evidence of Neolithic occupation so the siting is significant. The burial chamber was once known as the grave of Samson's finger according to a legend that the C6 St Samson lifted the capstone into place with his little finger.

Image somewhat foreshortened but the farm has a close relationship with the burial chamber and is named after it. Richard Fenton, writing in the early C19, described it as "a very extensive and most excellent corn farm, held by lease under the palace of St David's" adding that it was sometimes used by the bishops as a holiday retreat "whither they frequently retired to disengage themselves from their more immured situation and ceremonious life within the cathedral precinct and breathe a purer air."

A Neolithic burial chamber or cromlech. The capstone lies on three of the six uprights and is approximately 6m by 3m in size.

Seen from Longhouse farm, with the coastline erased by mist, the burial chamber looks a lot like an oversized mushroom.

There are seven uprights of which four actually support the capstone. It was constructed over a pit and would once have been covered by a huge, rectangular, earth mound. The site was excavated in 1968 but all that was found was a few pieces of burnt bone and one neolithic pot.

Carreg Samson comprises a large capstone 4.5 metres long by over 2.7 metres wide resting on three of the seven uprights. Here it is photographed in 1987.

Siambr Gladdu Carreg Samson sy'n dyddio o'r Oes Neolithig ger Abercastell. Carreg Samson's Burial Chamber, a Neolithic monument located near Abercastle.

Much of the stone that was used to construct Carreg Sampson (or Samsom) is "of a curious texture, having flint and spar bedded all through it" (Richard Fenton, Historical Tour through Pembrokeshire, 1811)

A cow peers from behind this Neolithic burial chamber which overlooks the bay leading to Abercastle harbour. The capstone is supported on three of the seven upright stones, and the whole structure was once covered by a mound of earth or stones.