Mrs Pamela Baynham (nee Thomas) has lived in Rosemarket all her life. She was a student at Rosemarket School until the age of 11, before attending Tasker School in Haverfordwest to continue her education. It was whilst there that, in 1957, aged 16, Pam undertook a project entitled ‘The village of Rosemarket’.

Pam’s work comprised 10 chapters. Each page contains neatly handwritten information, interwoven with her own drawings, newspaper cuttings, and photographs.

Pam has kindly agreed to share her school project with us, and we include extracts on this website. The original remains beautifully preserved in a folder.

Pam’s work begins with a hand-drawn street map of Rosemarket. The detailed work includes a number of characteristics no longer visible or in existence, such as the railway line which used to run alongside the village, the post office and the New Inn public house.

Pam’s project includes chapters on early Rosemarket and name derivation, the church of St Ismael, employment, communications and buildings in the village.

Pam also includes a chapter dedicated to Lucy Walter which begins: “Lucy Walter was the ill-fated Rosemarket girl, who, if rumour is true, should have become queen of England”.

Pam’s school project also makes reference to another Rosemarket resident known in history, Anna Williams, who is described as “friend and companion to writer Samuel Johnson”. She was a poet herself, becoming as Pam describes it in her project, “a greatly respected member of the intellectual and artistic society in London in the 18th Century”.

Anna was the daughter of Dr Zachary and Martha Williams and had moved to London with her father to assist him in his work. Whilst in London, she met Samuel Johnson and eventually joined his household.

Rosemarket Local History Society would like to thank Pam for sharing her school project with us.