A FORMER Pembridge resident has written a history of one of Herefordshire's most picturesque villages.

Local historian Andrew Stirling-Brown has spent years researching what was a medieval market town, once described as the "Jewel in the Crown" of the county's black and white village trail.

Mr Stirling-Brown said: "During the seven years I lived in Pembridge, I became more and more interested in discovering as much as possible about the medieval history of the village and the family that took its surname from it."

"Thankfully, there was enough information out there, to put together a picture of life and events in and around Pembridge in the late medieval period."

To help illustrate the story, which covers the period up to 1500, Ian Brown has provided a selection of photographs.

These include shots of the wonderful timber-framed buildings, market hall and Pembridge Church.

A family tree of the Pembridges has been included, and the booklet touches on aspects of the Mortimer family, as the manor fell into their hands in 1265.

"Pembridge Past - Medieval Pembridge and the Pembridge family" is available now, published by Homebrown Press, priced £5.99.

It is available at local Tourist Information Centres, and selected book shops or by visiting www.homebrown-press.co.uk.