It was once a
marcher borough, controlled by the
Norman de Vale family from the 13th century
Dale Castle. Owen, in 1603, described it as one of nine Pembrokeshire "boroughs in decay". Located in the
hundred of
Roose, it is part of
Little England beyond Wales and has been English-speaking since the 12th century. The name (Old Norse:
Dalr = "valley") suggests prior occupation by Scandinavians. The nearby
RAF Dale airfield was active from 1941 to 1948. Following cessation of activities in
World War II, RAF Dale was decommissioned, and the site became occupied by the
Fleet Air Arm as
RNAS Dale (HMS Goldcrest), a satellite of
HMS Goldcrest at RNAS Brawdy.
Henry Tudor In 1485, Henry Tudor landed at Mill Bay near Dale before the
Battle of Bosworth, after which he became
King Henry VII. Villagers mark the anniversary; the most spectacular commemoration was for the 500th anniversary in 1985.
Sea Empress disaster On 15 February 1996, the oil tanker
Sea Empress grounded at the Milford Haven entrance, spilling 72,000 tonnes of
crude oil.
Housing There are many older Victorian homes towards the coastal shore area but away from the shore there are late 1940s council houses. ==Present==