Sir,
I am grateful to Roscoe Howells for reminding me of the arguments in favour of 'Cold Island' as the derivation of Caldey and to Roy Lewis for his question on the subject. I was of course aware, when writing the new Caldey Island Visitor's Guide, of Roscoe's opinion and some of the linguistic arguments and authorities he has quoted. I am also aware, as a resident of Caldey for 33 years (as familiar with the island's geography as Roscoe is with its history), that 'Cold Island' is the least likely name to be given by sea farers from Scandinavia to a sheltered, frost-free island, with a natural harbour, lush vegetation, abundant seafood and a highly productive artesian spring. For the same reasons the interpretation of 'cald' as 'inhospitable' is hardly more persuasive. The derivation suggested by W. D. Bushell junior, 'Island of the Spring', from the Norse 'Keld' meaning 'freshwater spring', may not have found favour with linguists, but makes a lot more sense to those who are familiar with and depend upon the island's remarkable spring. The abundance and reliability of Caldey's water supply is the single most important natural feature of the island, setting it apart from the other Pembrokeshire islands and enabling sustained human habitation over thousands of years. The prodigious capacity of the spring is less obvious to modern visitors because upwards of 20,000 litres of water is pumped out daily to supply the needs of the island's population and visitors. The modern stream, which rises from the same source, feeding the Priory and Village Ponds, is fast running for most of the year. In medieval times it also supplied a series of fish ponds and a water mill. Before the ponds were dug and the modern extraction system installed, the stream would have been considerably larger, carrying all the extra water which is now diverted. The power of the earlier stream is clearly shown by the depth of the valley in which it runs. At that time a copious torrent would have swept downhill and entered the sea through a delta of lagoons and rivulets flowing over the sandy inlet (now blocked by dunes) at Priory Bay. This abundance of fresh water would be the first sight to greet any sailor landing on the island. It seems to me, as it seemed to Bushell, that 'Spring Island' would be just about the most obvious name for visiting seafarers to give this welcoming haven. I had no space to discuss alternative derivations in the Visitor's Guide, so chose the one I thought most likely. I make no apologies for questioning the opinions of respected scholars, because in the end, however well informed, they are opinions not facts. That is why mine are qualified in the guide by the word 'possibly'. The true origin of the name Caldey is not documented and will always be the subject of conjecture. I hope Roscoe and I can at least agree that 'a rose by any other name would smell as sweet' and that Caldey will always mean much more to both of us than the origin of its name.
John Cattini, Ty Mair, Caldey Island.