Rhoscrowther

History

In 1833, the parish population was 231, mostly employed in agriculture.

Much of the parish and almost all the medieval village except the church was cleared during the establishment of the BP oil terminal southwest of the village in 1961 and during the construction of the Texaco Pembroke Refinery immediately to the north in 1964.

At 18:20 on 2 June 2011, a 730 cubic metre storage tank exploded killing four refinery workers and seriously injuring a fifth. Ten fire and rescue appliances attended the scene, along with many other emergency services. The fire was extinguished within 90 minutes.

On 1 August 2011 Valero Energy acquired the Pembroke Refinery from Chevron, as well as the marketing and logistics assets, for $730 million, excluding working capital, which was valued at approximately $1 billion. The Pembroke plant is one of the largest and most complex refineries in Western Europe with a total throughput capacity of 270000 oilbbl per day and a Nelson complexity index rating of 11.8. This puts Valero at a total of 15 refineries and 2.9 Moilbbl per day of throughput capacity overall, solidifying the company's standing as the world's largest independent refinery.

Valero also purchased ownership interest in four major pipelines and eleven fuel terminals, a 14000 oilbbl-per-day aviation fuel business, and a network of more than 1,000 Texaco-branded wholesale sites, which is the largest branded dealer network in the United Kingdom and the second-largest in Ireland. Valero has continued with the Texaco brand in these markets.

Church

Main article: St Decuman's Church, Rhoscrowther

The church is on a very early Christian site and was dedicated to Saint Decuman, whence the settlement's original name Llandegeman or Llandegman. It was the "bishop-house" of the cantref of Penfro and one of the seven principal churches in Dyfed under medieval Welsh law. The church, which is a Grade I Listed building, is in the care of Friends of Friendless Churches.

Past census

The Census records for the parish are 219 (1801): 201 (1851): 113 (1901): 131 (1951): 176 (1981)

References

References

1. Charles, B. G., ''The Placenames of Pembrokeshire'', National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth, 1992, {{ISBN. 0-907158-58-7, p 712
2. "GENUKI: Rhoscrowther".
3. (9 February 2012). "Chevron blast: Two questioned over Pembroke refinery deaths". BBC News.
4. Batty, David. (2 June 2011). "Four people killed in Wales oil refinery explosion". Guardian News.
5. (11 March 2011). "Chevron and Valero's deal to buy Pembroke oil refinery". BBC News.
6. OGJ editors. (March 11, 2011). "Valero to buy Chevron's Pembroke refinery". Oil and Gas Journal.
7. "Valero: Pembroke". Valero.
8. Wade-Evans, Arthur. ''Medieval Welsh Law'', [[s:Page:Welsh Medieval Law.djvu/365. p. 263]].
9. "Rhoscrowther, St Decumanus". Friends of Friendless Churches.