Pembridge Amenity Trust

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Protecting the Scheduled Historic Buildings and Monuments of Pembridge. A Registered Charity No 1060265

Pembridge the Village - Pembridge has clearly seen many changes since its inception. The village pre-dates the Domesday book. A community has existed at this place for over 1000 years. At one point in its history the village exceeded Leominster in size and was an important centre of commerce during the mediaeval period. Following the Industrial Revolution, Pembridge appeared to "fall off the map" and economic activity declined. The village was left alone to continue its rural traditions in relative isolation and, as a consequence, much of its medieval character remained unspoiled.

1806 penny discovered under post of The Market Hall, Pembridge, Herefordshire.

Craftsmen working on the conservation of the Market Hall in Pembridge made a surprise discovery at the foot of the north east post. Like three other posts, decay had resulted in the need to remove the base of the post and replace it with new oak. When the decayed timber was removed a penny, dated 1806, was found embedded in the bottom of the post. This post stands on the original Market Cross stone base and the penny had obviously been placed by the workmen of the period to date their work.

Barry Goodman of Capps and Capps with the 1806 penny and current one pound coin before placing them under the north east post of the Market Hall at Pembridge.

Marches Archaeology, project archaeologists, had carried out a detailed survey of the building and had identified a phase of work at around the late eighteenth - early nineteenth century but there was no documentary evidence for this. The find of the penny dates this work to the very early nineteenth century and further adds to the knowledge of the building.

Barry Goodman, of main contractor Capps and Capps, who made the discovery returned to coin under the new work together with a current one pound coin to show to future generations the dates of work carried out.

The project is being organised by Pembridge Amenity Trust, a registered charity who look after the Market Hall, Bell Tower and Millennium Meadow. They have been fortunate in securing funding up to £190,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund, £13,292 by the Herefordshire Rivers Leader+ and £2,230 by Herefordshire County Council with the Trust contributing 5% of all the eventual costs.

The funding from Herefordshire Rivers Leader+ involves recording the project in still photographs and video, interpretative boards, leaflets and update the web site as well as producing information for local schools.

For more information please contact the secretary of the Pembridge Amenity Trust info@pembridgeamenitytrust.co.uk

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