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                                                                EXHIBIT 24

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this Power of Attorney has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated. By so signing, each of the undersigned,
in his capacity as a director of Trenwick Group Inc. (the "Company"), does
hereby appoint James F. Billett, Jr. and Alan L. Hunte, and each of them
severally, his true and lawful attorneys or attorney to execute in his name,
place and stead, in his capacity as a director of the Company, the Registration
Statement on Form S-4 to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Commission") registering $110,000,000 principal amount of 8.82% Exchange
Subordinated Capital Income Securities of Trenwick Capital Trust I (the
"Capital Securities"), the 8.82% Exchange Junior Subordinated Deferrable
Interest Debentures of the Company and the Exchange Guarantee of the Company
with respect to the Capital Securities, and any and all amendments to said
Registration Statement and all instruments necessary or incidental in
connection therewith, and to file the same with the Commission. Each of said
attorneys shall have full power and authority to do and perform in the name and
on behalf of each of the undersigned, in his capacity as a director of the
Company, every act whatsoever requisite or necessary to be done in the premises
as fully and to all intents and purposes as each of the undersigned might or
could do in person, hereby ratifying and approving the acts of said attorneys
and each of them.

   Signature                       Title                      Date

/s/ W. Marston Becker              Director                   May 22, 1997
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    W. Marston Becker



/s/ Anthony S. Brown               Director                   May 22, 1997
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    Anthony S. Brown



/s/ Neil Dunn                      Director                   May 22, 1997
    -------------------
    Neil Dunn



/s/ P. Anthony Jacobs              Director                   May 22, 1997
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    P. Anthony Jacobs
   2
/s/ Herbert Palmberger             Director                   May 22, 1997
    --------------------
    Herbert Palmberger



/s/ Joseph D. Sargent              Director                   May 22, 1997
    --------------------
    Joseph D. Sargent



/s/ Frederick D. Watkins           Director                   May 22, 1997
    --------------------
    Frederick D. Watkins



/s/ Stephen R. Wilcox              Director                   May 22, 1997
    --------------------
    Stephen R. Wilcox