The publication of a new book about Monkton has been announced by Pembroke and Monkton Local History Society.

Written by Linda Asman and Keith Johnson, with contributions from many local people, ‘Monkton – a Hidden History’ brings to light the rich heritage of Monkton, which has until now been much neglected by historians.

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.

Did you know that Monkton was a centre of the Mormon religion in the 1850s, with one of only three Mormon chapels in Wales? Or that the village 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.

Said Linda Asman, chair of the society: “It has long been an aim to publish a detailed history of Monkton. Now, thanks to a grant from Heritage Lottery Wales we have been able to achieve this.

One of the leading members of our Society was the late Pauline Waters and we have dedicated the book to her memory and to all who shared her love of old Monkton.”

The book will be launched at Pembroke Castle’s Christmas Market where the History Society will have a stall and this runs from today (Friday) to Sunday, November 27.