Pembroke Castle Christmas Market

We held a stall at Pembroke Castle Christmas Market, which took place over the weekend November 24th -26th. What an amazing success drawing thousands to Pembroke!

Our raffle, a luxurious Christmas Hamper, proved very popular on our stall and we arranged for the Draw to take place in Pembroke Town Hall. Pembroke Town Crier, Gareth Jones, drew the winning ticket and extended congratulations to the lucky winner Jeremy Coombs, who lives in Haverfordwest. Thanks to all who bought raffle tickets, the proceeds of which will help support the work of our Society, including Pembroke Museum.

Talk by Andrew Shobbrook of DAT

At this morning's meeting of the History Society, Andrew Shobbrook of Dyfed Archaeological Trust gave a fascinating talk about the excavation of the medieval burial site discovered beneath the former Ocky White Store in Haverfordwest. Andrew was the leading archaeologist in this nationally important dig, interest in which was evidenced by the large audience of over 80 people. A coffee morning and raffle were held prior to the talk - money raised covers the cost of hiring the hall so that we can offer free admission. Visitors were also able to look around the Museum and Council Chamber - please not that the Museum will be closing now for the winter months and opening again for the February half-term on February 12th.

Quiz Night November 4th

Our Quiz Night and buffet was a great success! Before Covid we held regular Quiz Night's and they were very popular - but this was the first since covid and we were not sure of the response. We needn't have worried as 8 tables were filled with 45 people participating. The winning team, calling themselves 'the Golden Girls' are pictured here with Quiz Master Rose Blackburn BEM.

November 4th Talk

On Saturday November 4th there will be a Coffee Morning and Talk in Pembroke Town Hall. This month’s speaker is Andrew Shobbrook of Dyfed Archaeology, who will be giving us a presentation about the archaeological dig below what was the old Ocky White department store building in Haverfordwest, where archaeologists discovered the remains of more than 300 burials, as well as remnants of the Dominican medieval friary of St. Saviour’s, established in 1256. Dyfed Archaeological Trust worked at the site on behalf of Pembrokeshire County Council, in conjunction with John Weaver Contractors. The archaeological excavations ran for eight months in 2022 following the discovery of artefacts and human remains dating back to the 14th Century AD. According to DAT, this has been the first major archaeological excavation to have taken place within the boundaries of the medieval town of Haverfordwest and has proven to be a unique opportunity to gather information about the continuous development of the town through the ages, and its vital connection with the Western Cleddau River.

Saturday 7th October - Start of our Autumn Programme

Our Talk yesterday was very well attended - a good start to our Autumn Programme. Gareth Mills, as usual, gave a brilliant talk on Margaret Beaufort, a lady very important in our Pembroke story. A lady who at the tender age 13 gave birth to Henry Tudor in Pembroke Castle. Hard to imagine! Yet a lady who grew up to be a formidable politician who enabled her son to become king and provided a guiding hand in the future destiny of our country. As well, Margaret translated a number of devotional books and was a patron of the English printers William Caxton and Wynkyn de Worde. In 1502 she founded the Lady Margaret professorships of divinity at Oxford and Cambridge, and in 1505 she completed the endowment of Christ’s College. By the provisions of her will, most of her estate was given to endow St. John’s College, which was chartered in 1511. Wow, what a woman!

October Events

Pembroke & Monkton Local History Society begins its new Autumn/Spring programme on Saturday October 7th with a Coffee Morning and Talk in Pembroke Town Hall. Our speaker this month is popular local historian Gareth Mills who will talk about Lady Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII - the woman who forged the Tudor dynasty. A subject of great interest to us here in Pembroke! Perhaps too we will have some update about the progress of the Henry Tudor Centre. Doors will open from 10am for coffee and an opportunity to visit the Museum and Council Chamber, which are situated on the first floor of the Town Hall – a lift is available for disabled access. Following this, at 11am, we assemble in the George Lewis Room for the talk. Everyone is welcome to attend – you do not have to be a member - and entry is free.

Later in the month, on Friday October 20th at 7pm, the Society will be holding a Quiz Night at Foundry House Community Centre, the Commons, Pembroke. Tickets cost £5 and this will include a buffet.

Down on the Range

Down on the Range - Pembroke Museum volunteers went on a PCNP guided minibus tour of the Castlemartin Range yesterday. This was a great opportunity to enjoy the amazing coastal scenery of this restricted area as well as to visit the historic, derelict buildings, buildings, some - like Flimston and Pricaston - dating back to the Middle Ages. So sad to think that these were once thriving farmsteads until the WW2 requisition of this beautiful place for a tank range. It was a most enjoyable tour with Peter Royle, an excellent, interesting guide.