Henry VII Pembroke birthplace statue put in place

A statue to commemorate the birthplace of a Pembrokeshire town's most famous son has been installed after years of campaigning and fundraising.

Henry VII - born Henry Tudor - was born at Pembroke Castle in 1457, the son of Margaret Beaufort and Edmund Tudor.

He went on to become the first Welshman to sit on the English throne.

The 8ft-high (2.4m) £45,000 bronze statue was unveiled on the town's Mill Bridge during a ceremony on Saturday.

Unveiling the statue, Sara Edwards, Lord Lieutenant of Dyfed, said: "It seems only fitting that the birthplace of one of our great kings should be recognised here and will be here as a permanent home in the shadow of Pembroke Castle."

The statue site overlooks Pembroke Castle

The people of Pembroke have been trying for many years for the town to gain recognition as the birthplace of the founder of the Tudor dynasty and the site of the statue was chosen to have his birthplace as a backdrop.

The statue was modelled in clay by sculptor Harriet Addyman before being cast in bronze.

The unveiling of the sculpture, paid for by local people, a donation from oil refinery firm Valero and the council, was marked with a community party.

A feasibility study will now look into the possibility of creating a Henry VII visitor centre, which could tell the story of his past and how he went on to defeat Richard III at the battle of Bosworth Field to become king.

The statue was lowered on to its plinth on Thursday

The statue also features Henry VII's dog