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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                       PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 24, 1997

                               TRENWICK GROUP INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

       Delaware                      0-14737                   06-1152790   
    (State or other             (Commission File            (I.R.S. Employer
    jurisdiction of                  Number)                 Identification 
    incorporation)                                               Number)    

Metro Center, One Station Place, Stamford, Connecticut              06902
       (Address of Principal Executive Offices)                   (Zip Code)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code     (203) 353-5500



                                       N/A
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
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Item 5.  Other Events.

         The Board of Directors of Trenwick Group Inc. (the "Company") has
approved the redemption, at the close of business on September 24, 1997 (the
"Redemption Date"), of the rights (the "Original Rights") issued pursuant to the
Rights Agreement, dated as of November 2, 1989, between the Company and the
Rights Agent thereunder (the "1989 Rights Agreement"), at a price of $.01 for
each Original Right, which is equivalent to $.00667 per share of common stock,
payable on October 3, 1997 to holders of record on the Redemption Date. A notice
of redemption will accompany the redemption payment.

         The Board of Directors also approved the adoption of a new shareholder
rights plan. The new plan, like the 1989 Rights Agreement, is intended to
promote continuity and stability, deter coercive or partial offers which will
not provide fair value to all shareholders and enhance the Board's ability to
represent all shareholders and thereby maximize shareholder values.

         Pursuant to the new Rights Agreement between the Company and First
Chicago Trust of New York, as Rights Agent (the "1997 Rights Agreement"), one
right ("Right") will be issued for each share of common stock, par value $.10
per share, of the Company outstanding as of the close of business on September
24, 1997. Each of the new Rights will entitle the registered holder to purchase
from the Company one two-hundredths of a share of Series B Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, par value $.10 per share, at a price of $125 per one
two-hundredths of a share. The Rights generally will not become exercisable
unless and until, among other things, any person acquires 15% or more of the
outstanding stock. The new Rights are generally redeemable at $.01 per Right at
any time until a public announcement that a 15% or greater position in the
Company's common stock has been acquired and will expire, unless earlier
redeemed or exchanged, on September 23, 2007.

         A description of the new Rights is set forth in Exhibit C to the 1997
Rights Agreement. The foregoing description of the Rights Agreement does not
purport to be complete and is qualified by reference to the Rights Agreement
attached hereto as an exhibit, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c)  Exhibits.

Exhibit No.                Description

   4                       Rights Agreement, dated as of September 24, 1997,
                           between Trenwick Group Inc. and First Chicago Trust
                           of New York, which includes as Exhibit A thereto the
                           Form of Rights Certificate (incorporated by reference
                           to the Registrant's Form 8-A dated September 24,
                           1997).
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                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                                             Trenwick Group Inc.
                                               (Registrant)


                                             By:  /s/  James F. Billett, Jr.
                                                -----------------------------
                                                Name:  James F. Billett, Jr.
                                                Title: Chairman of the Board,
                                                       President and Chief
                                                       Executive Officer

Dated:   September 24, 1997