The Kirkland Arms

Image: © Natasha Ceridwen de Chroustchoff Taken: 18 Aug 2007

On the corner of Spring Gardens and St James Street. Why the horse? Here's the story (with acknowledgements to www.pembroketownandcountyshow.org ) "There was great excitement in 1905 when a local horse, Kirkland, won the Grand National. It was trained in Lawrenny by Mr. E. Thomas and had walked to Narberth station, prior to the race, en route for Liverpool. On its return it had to be stabled overnight at the Commercial Inn kept by Mr. Fred Thomas who charged the enthusiastic crowd 6d to see the horse, many of whom had won a fair packet on the horse at 6-1. The landlord later changed the name of the Kirkland Arms in the horse's honour. The two grooms were George Legge, who won at the Olympic Games with his horse: Foxhunter. The other was Billy Smith, who got so drunk and, knowing he would be sacked, turned his horse loose at the turn of Lawrenny hill and disappeared up the 'valleys' for a few years, before coming back to be mine host at the Railway Inn, Pembroke."

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