Getting ready for Christmas

Christmas is coming and we have changed the shop window next to Brown's Cafe (courtesy of Mrs Genys Brown). This time the theme is Toys from Christmas Past - featuring some of the Museum's vintage toy collection.

New publication - Monkton: A Hidden History

We are pleased to announce the publication of its latest book ‘Monkton – a Hidden History’. Written by Linda Asman and Keith Johnson with contributions from many local people, the book brings to light the rich heritage of Monkton, much neglected by historians. We are very thankful to the Heritage Lottery for funding its publication and the book will be launched at Pembroke Castle’s Christmas Market where the History Society will have a stall. The Market runs from Friday 25th to Sunday 27th November. Overshadowed somewhat by historic Pembroke, Monkton too can boast an impressive history, a history which dates back to the Old Stone Age. It encompasses the rise and fall of Pembroke Priory, the Civil War when Cromwell located his cannons here, the building of the Victorian terraces of Priory Mains to house Dockyard workers and the restoration of the Priory Church. In the course of researching the book, lesser-known information emerged such as the surprising fact that Monkton was a centre of the Mormon religion in the 1850s, with one of only three Mormon chapels in Wales. And research into the village's maritime past has revealed that it once had a thriving shipbuilding yard and that timber from Canada was imported to Monkton quay. Proudly independent of its larger neighbour, Pembroke, Monkton was virtually a self-contained community for over a century with shops and tradesmen of every kind, farms and quarries, schools and pubs and regular livestock fairs in the village street. Sadly, much of the character of the village was lost in the early 1960s when the local council decided to bulldoze most of the old terraces and replace them with a modern housing estate. The late Pauline Waters was a leading member of our Society and we have dedicated the book to her memory and to all who shared her love of old Monkton.

Remembrance Sunday, November 13th

It was good to see so many, including large numbers of children, at the Remembrance Sunday service at Pembroke Cenotaph. A Church Service was held at St Mary's afterwards where the History Society had put up a display for Remembrance.

Museums Morning & Talk - Saturday November 5th

Despite the dreadful weather, we had a great turnout for our Museum's morning with a most interesting talk by Liz Rawlings entitled 'The Flanders Connection' - Llangwm's wonderful community project which has attracted national interest and resulted in the renovation of St Jerome's Church.

Our new shop window display

Pembroke Museum has a fine collection of late Victorian and Edwardian costume - just hanging out our underwear for an airing! The display is in the shop window next to Brown's Cafe. The Museum will be open for another 2 weeks, closing at the end of half term (November 5th ) for the winter months.

November 5th - Our Next Talk by Liz Rawlings

Our Programme of Talks continues on Saturday morning, November 5th, 10am -12pm in Pembroke Town Hall. Doors will open at 10am for a Coffee Morning and, for the first hour, there will be an opportunity to visit the Museum. At 11am sharp, in the George Lewis Room, Liz Rawlings will give her talk ‘The Flanders Connection '. Liz is a prominent member of Llangwm Local History Society and her talk explains ' How a Flemish mercenary started a dynasty, which included Princess Diana, Winston Churchill and 3 American presidents. And how Llangwm developed as a result of the family’s expansion.' Everyone is welcome and entry is free.

Gareth's Talk a great success

Gareth Mills' talk on 'A New View on the Pembroke Dock' was a great success with around 100 people attending. The talk explored the remarkable story of Pembroke Dock and questioned why - despite it being a world leader in shipbuilding in its Victorian heyday - it does not receive the recognition it deserves. The Waterfront Museum in Swansea, part of the National Museum of Wales, barely mentions it. Further to that it was the great Sunderland base, playing a vital role in WW2. Gareth is an impressive speaker and he has promised to return next year to give us another talk.