During the 10th and 1th centuries the Cathedral was regularly raided by vikings arriving from the western seaways.  A visitor in the 11th century found only an abandoned site with St David's shrine lost amongst the undergrowth.  It is known that in 1089 the shrine had been removed from the church and stripped of the precious metals which had adorned it.

After 1123, when Bishop Bernard secured a "privilege" from Pope Calixtus II St Davids became a major center for pilgrimage.  Roma semel quantum: bis dat Menevia tantum-Once to Rome is to twice to St Davids.

In 1275 a new shrine was constructed on the north side side of the presbytery adjacent to the high altar.  The ruined base of this shrine remains to this day (see picture above).  This shrine was originally surmounted by an ornamental wooden canopy with murals of St David, St Patrick and St Denis of France.  The relics of St David and St Justinian were kept in a portable casket on the stone base of the shrine.  It was at this shrine that Edward I came to pray in 1284.

During the reformation Bishop Barlow (1536-48), a staunch Protestant, stripped the shrine of its jewels and confiscated the relics of David and Justinian in order to counteract what he saw as superstition.