The first coffee morning and talk in our new 2025/26 Programme went off to a great start with a talk by popular local historian Gareth Mills on the History of Orielton and the Owen Family. He spoke to a large audience in Pembroke Town Hall – it was a very enjoyable morning indeed.
Orielton first came into the possession of the Owen family through the marriage of Hugh Owen to Elizabeth Wyrriott in 1571. The Owens of Orielton played a prominent part in the history of Pembroke for three centuries: they were sheriffs of Pembrokeshire, Members of Parliament and Mayors of Pembroke. The grandson of Elizabeth and Hugh, also named Hugh represented Pembroke in Parliament through the years leading up to the Civil War, and was made a baronet in 1641: this tradition carried on through the generations. His grandson Arthur famously rode to London in 1702 to give the casting vote for the Act of Settlement, which secured the Hanoverian succession. Despite the motto on the Family Coat of Arms “Honesty is the best policy”, tales of bribery and election rigging in fiercely fought elections abound. The direct line died out in 1804 and the estate was willed to John Lord, who changed his name to Owen. It was due to the vast sums of money he spent on rigging elections to pursue his political influence that finally led to bankruptcy and the sale of the estate in 1857. Many houses in Pembroke itself were also auctioned, as the family owned much of Pembroke.
Sadly the lovely Orielton House is now up for sale – for a mere £1.1million! Considering what’s there, that sounds very little!
