THERE has long been a Pembroke Town Trail to encourage people to explore the historic town, to draw attention to its many historic buildings and interesting features.

It was originally devised by Pembroke Civic Trust, but over the course of time much has changed. It was a decision of Pembroke Town Council’s Regeneration Committee to update the Trail, a project led by Linda Asman, member of both Pembroke Civic Trust and Pembroke & Monkton Local History Society, of which she is chairman.

The new town trail was launched some 18 months ago.

It now begins at Pembroke Town Hall which houses both the Pembroke Murals and Pembroke Museum and proceeds around the town in a series of 30 bronze plaques set into the pavements.

A pocket-sized booklet accompanies the trail, with a fold-up map and illustrations by local artist George Lewis, which can be obtained from Pembroke Town Hall, the information centre and castle.

The town trail was funded jointly by Pembroke Town Council and Pembrokeshire County Council’s Town Centre Support Programme.

A new digital trail has now been launched, following a successful ‘sharing your heritage’ grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Working with Modern Print & Design, Pembroke Dock, plaques bearing QR codes are now situated by the town trail points to be scanned with a phone to reveal information about the site complete with heritage photographs.

The QR codes link to a bilingual website at www.pembroketowntrail.wales

The advantage of the digital trail is that it is easily accessible and can be continually updated; the newly-installed Henry VII statue and enhanced Mill Bridge area have already been added.

It is hoped in future the Henry VII statue will be the start of a statue/art trail.

The History Society will be holding a meeting in Pembroke Town Hall on October 7, from 10am to discuss the way forward. See www.pembrokeandmonktonhistory.org.uk.