If you want to use this site please update your browser!
CATALOG
0 0
  • $
  • C$
  • £
  • $
  • C$
  • £
04.03.2021

Tregwynt Hoard

The Tregwynt Treasure is a collection of coins and a gold ring dating back to the mid-17th century. It was discovered at Tregwynt Mansion near Fishguard in Pembrokeshire, Wales, in 1996 and is currently housed in the National Museum of Wales. This treasure is historically significant as it marks the first English Civil War treasure found in Pembrokeshire.

Tregwynt Mansion gained notoriety during the French invasion of Britain in 1797 when Colonel Thomas Knox, who was present at a dance there on February 23, 1797, first reported the invasion. Colonel Knox, who was serving under his father, William Knox, ordered a strategic withdrawal to Haverfordwest. However, the retreat of the Fishguard fencibles was stopped by Lord Cawdor, who convinced Knox to advance. The local volunteers, known as fencibles, reportedly took around 1,200 French prisoners. This event is often referred to as the "last invasion of British soil." According to local legend, guests at the dance hid their valuables, and when the treasure was discovered in 1996, it seemed to confirm this story.

The dating of the treasure is based on the latest coin found within the hoard, which dates back to 1647 or 1648. This timeframe coincides with the conclusion of the English Civil War, suggesting that the coins were hidden for safekeeping during this period. Numerous hoards have been found since the Civil War, but the Tregwynt Treasure was the first such hoard found in Pembrokeshire.

These items were concealed in an outhouse at Tregwint Mansion and were unearthed in 1996 during construction work related to the building of a tennis court. As more coins were discovered, a metal detector was employed to thoroughly search the area, leading to the discovery of many more coins. Eventually, an excavator was used, revealing not only the coins but also lead sheeting believed to have covered the treasure and a ring with an inscription inside. The ring bears the motto, "Better death than a lie of faith."

The treasure was likely hidden at the time when Oliver Cromwell arrived in Pembrokeshire to quell the rebellious local royalists. The total value of the hoard at the time it was hidden exceeded £50, which would have equated to four years' wages for an average soldier. It is believed that the treasure may have been saved by Llewellyn Harris, who was residing in the mansion with his twelve children during that period.

Tregwynt Hoard

UP