[4] During the Arab domination, Pedroche was called Bitraws; it was the most important locality of the kura of Fash al Ballut (field of the acorns), and the residence of judges (cadíes) and governors (walíes).
But the locality did not definitively pass into the power of the Christians until after the conquest of Cordoba by Fernando III (1236), who gave the Pedroches to Córdoba in 1243.
[3] In 1242 Ferdinand III donated the towns and areas of Santa Eufemia, Belalcázar and Pedroche to the council of Córdoba.
According to historian Juan Ocaña Torrejón [es], this was the origin of the development of Villanueva de Córdoba: he says that the latter town was founded between 1348 and 1360 and links it with the exodus that came from Pedroche.
[3] On April 18, 1553, Villanueva de Córdoba and its 280 inhabitants received its title of villa and was removed from the jurisdiction of Pedroche, for which it paid the Crown 700,000 maravedies.
[3] The councils of the seven villas used to meet at the hermitage of Piedras Santas de Pedroche,[n 2] until the joint monarchs of Spain Isabella and Ferdinand ordered in 1480 that all city councils and villages were to build their own town hall — but this was not done immediately everywhere; for example Añora's town hall dates from the 16th century.
On January 14, 2006, in the Santa María reservoir (likely a mere enlargement of the Santa María rivulet that crosses the area), a large otter feeding place was found filled exclusively with shells or Spanish pond turtle (Mauremys leprosa), except for the remains of feathers from a small bird.
Two recent otter feces with remains of the aforementioned reptile: phalanges, nails and some tail, were located next to the feeding place.
An original coffered ceiling in good condition, covers the central nave was made in the fifteenth century, all multicolored and beautiful execution.
Inside are kept seven wooden benches with the names of the seven villages of the Pedroches, whose representatives used to gather here to discuss issues pertaining to the villas.