Little England beyond Wales - Definition and Overview

Little England beyond Wales is southern Pembrokeshire in Wales. Despite its distance from England, it is one of the most anglicised areas of the principality.

The area first became distinct from the rest of Wales when it was settled by Vikings. This separation was reinforced after the Norman conquest of England, when the area was also settled by Normans, who built a string of castles known as the Landsker Line to defend the region. During the Middle Ages, a colony of Flemish weavers was also imported into the area.

The region has kept its anglicised culture and sense of separation ever since. Until the nineteenth century, the region was the only English-speaking area of Wales away from the English border.

The district is the most fertile area of south west Wales, and is still known for its high number of English migrants and visitors, and for its support for the union with England and the Conservative Party.

See also: South Pembroke