HAVERFORDWEST’S FAMOUS MEN

Sir John Perrot was born in 1527 at Haroldston House, the sad ruin of which is visible on the south side of Freemans Way, he was a great favourite of Queen Elizabeth and a close friend of Edward VI, who gave him a knighthood.

From his earliest days he was noted for his athletic prowess, great strength and notorious for his arbitrary ways and ungovernable temper.

During the reign of Mary he was imprisoned for favouring Protestantism and harbouring heretics at Haroldson and on his release he thought it wiser to stay out of the country for the rest of her reign.

Elizabeth granted him many favours. He was one of the four who carried the canopy of state at her coronation. In 1542 he was appointed vice-admiral of South Wales and keeper of the gaol at Haverfordwest. From 1571-1573 Elizabeth appointed him Lord President of Munster to quell the Desmond rebellion and from 1584-1588 he was Lord Deputy of Ireland.

In 1587 he was appointed deputy lieutenant for Pembrokeshire and a privy councillor in 1589 and he was, at various times, Member of Parliament for Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Haverfordwest.

His litigation against his neighbours made him so unpopular that a bitter anti-Perrot faction rose among the gentry. Even so, he became mayor of Haverfordwest in 1570 and again 1575 and 1576. He became a member of the Council in the Marches in 1574 and in 1575 he was appointed commissioner to suppress piracy in Pembrokeshire by the Privy Council. In 1579 he was given comma d of a squadron of five ships to protect the coast of Ireland from Spanish intruders, which nearly lost him his life.

In 1591 he was accused of high treason and was condemned to death. However, he died in the Tower of London before sentence was carried out and was buried at St Peter’s Church there.

In 1580, having obtained the privilege of purchasing imports on the same favourable terms as the mayor and corporation, and that his heirs should be burgesses, he gave lands and property of the yearly value of £30, the yield to be expended on improvements in the town.

General Sir Thomas Picton KCB

Thomas Picton was born at the town house of the Laugharne family, now the Dragon Hotel in Hill Street. The Pictons lived at Poyston outside Haverfordwest. Mrs Picton was visiting her friends at the house when she gave birth to her seventh child, Thomas Picton had a distinguished but varied career and though badly wounded at Quatre Bras, he led his men at Waterloo where he was killed. He lies buried at St Paul’s Cathedral, where there is a memorial to him and another at Carmarthen.

Admiral Sir Thomas Foley GCB

Admiral Sir Thomas Foley served with Lord Nelson at Cape St Vincent and at Copenhagen. He and Nelson were awarded the Freedom of Haverfordwest when Nelson visited Milford Haven in 1802, at a ceremony held at Foley House. This was the residence of John Foley, the Admiral's brother and was built by John Nash in 1794. The charter handed to Lord Nelson was later bought at a sale at Sotheby’s and presented to the Mayor and Corporation.

Augustus & Gwen John

The artist Gwen John was born at Victoira Place and her brother August John, though born in Tenby, was brought up here.