PEMBROKE, Pembrokeshire, South Wales, • market-town, muni cipal and parliamentary borongh, and the seat of a l'oor-Law Union, is situated on a navigable creek of Milford Haven, in 51* 40' N. lat., 40° 54' W. long., distant 264 miles W. by N. from London. The population of the borough in 1851 was 10,107. The borough is governed by 6 aldermen and 18 councillors, of whom one is mayor; and, in conjunction with Tenby, Wigton, and Milford, returns one member to the Imperial Parliament. The livings are in Ole archdea conry and diocese of St. David's. Pembroke Poor Law Union contains 29 parishes and townships, with an area of 69,804 acres, and a population in 1851 of 22,874.
Pembroke consists chiefly of one long irregularly-built street, gradually ascending westward to the castle, which &tends on a bold rocky promontory about forty feet high. In the reign of Henry L the fortress came into the possession of Gilbert Strongbow, earl of Pembroke. It sustained • protracted siege in 1648, when the Royalists
under colonels Langharne, Powell, and l'oyer, held out against Crom well till compelled by famine to surrender. The circular keep is 75 feet high, and 183 feet in circumference at the base ; the walls are 14 feet thick. Under the keep is • spacious natural cavern called the Wog-an. Henry VII. was born in Pembroke Castle. The important naval establishment Pater, or Pembroke dockyard, is described under Pater iu the article PLIIHROKESII1RE. In the town are—St. Michael's church, of Norman date; two other churches of the Establishment; chapels for Wesleyan and New Connexion Methodists, Independents, and Baptists; National schools; and a savings bank. The Free Grammar school has been closed for many years. Markets are held on Wednesday and Saturday, and fairs seven times in the year. A county court is held.