Monmouth 46376 224599795 2008-07-09T16:26:53Z 68.13.240.54 /* Notable persons */ :''This is about the Welsh town of Monmouth. For other uses, see [[Monmouth (disambiguation)]].'' {{Infobox UK place| |country = Wales |welsh_name=Trefynwy |constituency_welsh_assembly= | static_image= |[[Image:WalesMonmouth.png]] |official_name= Monmouth |unitary_wales= [[Monmouthshire]] |lieutenancy_wales= [[Gwent]] |constituency_westminster= [[Monmouth (UK Parliament constituency)|Monmouth]] |post_town= MONMOUTH |postcode_district = NP25 |postcode_area= NP |map_type= United Kingdom |latitude= 51.80893 |longitude=- 2.71938 |dial_code= 01600 |os_grid_reference= SO505125 |population= 8,547 }} '''Monmouth''' ([[Welsh language|Welsh]]: ''Trefynwy'' = "town on the Monnow") is a [[town]] in southeast [[Wales]] and traditional [[county town]] of the [[Historic counties of Wales|historic county]] of [[Monmouthshire (historic)|Monmouthshire]]. It is situated where the [[River Monnow]] meets the [[River Wye]] with bridges over both [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/203771]. [[Image:MonmouthTown.JPG|thumb|left|255px|Monmouth town centre, Agincourt Square]] ==Character== Monmouth boasts a [[medieval]] [[13th century|13th-century]] stone gated [[bridge]] at [[Monnow Bridge]] [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/11200], unique in Britain as it is the only preserved bridge of its design remaining. There is also a long bridge over the [[River Wye]] [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/36247]. After centuries of waiting a second bridge over the Monnow was finally opened on [[March 15]], [[2004]], thus allowing the old bridge to become [[pedestrianisation|pedestrianised]]. This project has, however, meant the demolition of the old cattle [[market]], thus Monmouth is no longer the traditional market town it has traditionally been; however, a [[farmers' market]] selling local produce is still held. Monmouth is very much a town of [[school]]s. Apart from the [[comprehensive school]] with over 1600 pupils, there are two [[independent school]]s - [[Monmouth School]] [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/289336] (founded [[1614]]) and [[Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls]] [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/97714] (founded [[1892]]). There are also several state [[primary school]]s, with most areas served by both [[Infant School|infants']] and [[Junior School|juniors']] Schools. [[Image:MonmouthBridge.jpg|thumb|left|255px|Monmouth - Monnow Bridge]] The annual [[Monmouth Show]] has been held each year (traditionally on the last Thursday of August) since [[1919]] (when it was called the Monmouthshire County Show), though its history can be traced back further to 30 May [[1857]] when the eighth [[Duke of Beaufort]] and Sir Charles Morgan M.P. put up the funds for a Monmouth Cattle Show, and even prior to that there had been an agricultural society in existence in the town dating back to the [[1790s]], which held ploughing competitions. The Savoy Theatre in Church Street, built on the site of the oldest theatre in Wales,<ref>See Savoy theatre web site: http://www.savoytrust.org.uk/</ref> functions as both a cinema and theatre. There are numerous [[pub]]s in the centre of Monmouth, including Old Nags Head, Queen's Head, Punch House, The Griffin, The Gloucester, The Vinetree, The Kings Head, The Three Horseshoes, The Green Dragon and The Gatehouse. Some of these hold [[pub quiz]]zes and live music throughout the week. Monmouth is [[town twinning|twinned]] with [[:fr:Carbonne|Carbonne]], [[France]] and [[Waldbronn]], [[Germany]]. ==History== [[Image:Old map of Monmouth, Wales.jpg|thumb|400px|Spede's Map of Monmouth, 1610]] Archaeological excavations undertaken by the Monmouth Archaeological Society on various sites along Monnow Street have uncovered a wealth of information about the early history of the town. Indeed, the [[Council for British Archaeology]] have designated Monmouth as one of the top ten towns in Britain for archaeology.<ref>See Keith Kissack, ''Monmouth and its Buildings'', Logaston Press, 2003</ref> ===Roman Times=== {{main|Blestium}} Monmouth as an organised settlement dates back to the times of the [[Roman Britain|Roman occupation of Britain]]. The Romans called it [[Blestium]], and it was part of a network of Roman forts covering the region, linked to [[Abergavenny]] or Gobannium, [[Usk]] known as [[Burrium]], later [[Caerleon]], and [[Gloucester]] and modern local archaeologists and historians have found items of Roman pottery and coinage that date from that period. ===Middle Ages=== The town appears in the [[Domesday Book]], and for the [[11th century]] and [[12th century]] the town and surrounding areas were ruled by [[Normans|Norman]] French lords after the [[Norman conquest|conquest of England]] by [[William the Conqueror]] in [[1066]]. During this time, [[Monmouth Castle]] [http://www.castlewales.com/monmouth.html] was built, in [[1067]] under [[William Fitz-Osbern]] of [[Breteuil]], [[Normandy]], a significant castle-builder, holding commanding views over the surrounding area from a sound defensive site. Initially it would have been a [[motte and bailey]] [[castle]], rebuilt in stone and later refortified and developed over time. A [[Benedictine]] [[priory]] [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/648841] was also created in [[1101]],<ref name="Priory"> {{cite web|url=http://www.monmouthpriory.org.uk/|title=Monmouth Priory|accessdate=2006-02-01}}</ref> and it was traditionally there that [[Geoffrey of Monmouth]] - author of the ''[[Historia Regum Britanniae]]'' (''History of the Kings of Britain'') - gained his education. A [[Monmouth#Monnow Bridge|fortified bridge]] [http://www.castlewales.com/monnow.html] was built during the [[13th century]]. The [[castle]] came into the possession of the [[House of Lancaster]] through the marriage of [[John of Gaunt]] to Blanche, a Monmouth based heiress. John of Gaunt strengthened the castle, adding the Great Hall. In [[1387]], [[Henry V of England|Henry V]] was born in [[Monmouth Castle]] in the Queens Chamber within the gatehouse. The castle became a favourite residence of the House of Lancaster. Henry would win the [[Battle of Agincourt]] in [[1415]]. Many parts of Monmouth, including the town's main square, are named after this battle. During the rebellion of [[Owain Glyndwr]] between [[1400]] and [[1412]] Monmouth Castle and town was not attacked by Welsh forces, however skirmishes and battles were fought in the area, such as at Campston Hill when Prince Henry's men followed a retreating force of Glyndwr's, capturing the Welsh standard and killing the standard bearer, Ellis ap Richard ap Howell ap Morgan Llwyd. Other battles took place at nearby at Craig-y-Dorth, at [[Grosmont]] and [[Usk]], such as the [[Battle of Pwll Melyn]]. [[Grosmont]] town was razed and [[Abergavenny]] and [[Crickhowell]] attacked. ===Post-Medieval times=== In [[1605]], [[James I of England|James I]] granted Monmouth a [[town charter]] by [[letters patent]]. The granting of the charter included the charge that the town "at all perpetual future times ... be and remain a town and borough of Peace and Quiet, to the example and terror of the wicked and reward of the good".<ref name="monmouth.gov-history">{{cite web|url=http://www.monmouth.gov.uk/pages/monmouth.htm|title=Monmouth Town Council|accessdate=2006-02-01}}</ref> The layout of the town as depicted in Speede's map of [[1610]] would be easily recognisable to present day inhabitants, with the layout of the main axis from the castle via the main street, Monnow Street, to the bridge clearly visible. Monnow street is a typical market street, in being wide in the middle (for those selling) and narrow at each end (to help prevent the livestock escaping). Four railways were built to serve Monmouth between [[1857]] and [[1883]] - they were gradually closed between [[1917]] and [[1964]], since when Monmouth has not had any rail services. One of them has now been replaced by a major road, built along the same route. <!--==Geography== ==Politics== ==Demographics== ==Significant buildings== ===Monnow Bridge=== This section is linked from [[Monmouth]] ===Shire Hall=== ===Monmouth Castle=== ===[[Kymin Hill]]=== ===Churches=== --> ==Notable persons== [[Image:CharlesRolls & HenryV Monmouth.jpg|thumb|250px|Statues of [[Charles Rolls]] (right) and [[Henry V of England]] in Monmouth.]] Famous persons associated with Monmouth include: *St. [[Philip Evans]] - Jesuit priest and martyr. *[[Geoffrey of Monmouth]], born in 1090 and wrote ''[[Historia Regum Britanniae]]'', the "History of British Kings" *[[Henry V of England|Henry V]], born in Monmouth [[castle]] in [[1387]], immortalised in his victory at [[Azincourt|Agincourt]] and the square in the town is named after this battle. *[[James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth]], leader of the [[Monmouth Rebellion]] of [[1685]] *William Jones, a liveryman of [[Worshipful Company of Haberdashers]] and founder of the first of the town's grammar schools. (The second was founded late in the nineteenth century, directly by the Haberdashers' Company.) *[[Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson|Admiral Horatio Nelson]], who paid two visits to the town and approved a naval temple on the nearby [[Kymin Hill]]. The [[Nelson Museum]], Monmouth is home to one of the largest collections of Nelson material, bequeathed to the town by Lady Llangattock (d. 1923), mother of Charles Rolls. *[[Charles Rolls]], who lived at The Hendre near Monmouth and was co-founder of the Rolls-Royce company, was the first man to make a non-stop double crossing of the [[English Channel]] by plane. There is a statue of Charles Rolls in Agincourt Square [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/289333]. *[[Dave Edmunds]], rock musician, who was instrumental in the conception of the nationally famous [[Rockfield Studios]], situated just outside the town, where [[Queen (band)|Queen]] recorded their hit ''[[Bohemian Rhapsody]]''. *[[Jake Thackray]], poet and singer-songwriter, retired and spent the rest of his life in Monmouth. *Among the famous ex-pupils of [[Monmouth School]] are politicians [[Colin Moynihan|Lord Moynihan]] and [[Cliff Tucker]], international rugby players [[Eddie Butler (rugby player)|Eddie Butler]], [[John Gwilliam]], Tony Jordan and [[Keith Jarrett (rugby player)|Keith Jarrett]], equestrian [[David Broome]], Glamorgan and England cricketer [[Steve James]], actors [[Richard Marner]] and [[Victor Spinetti]], and rock musician [[Grant Nicholas]]. ==Etymology== It is generally believed Monmouth is a contraction of 'Monnow-Mouth', and is pronounced by those who live in the area as 'Mon-muth', much like [[Bournemouth]]. Deeper into Wales the town is often pronounced as 'Mun-muth', in the same way as London is pronounced "Lun-dun" and is arguably derived from ''Mynwy'' ([[Monnow]]) and ''Mydd'' (Mouth) (c.f. ''myn-mydd''). ==References== <small> <references/> </small> ==External links== *[http://www.monmouth.gov.uk/ Monmouth Town Council] *[http://www.habs-monmouth.org/ The Haberdashers' Monmouth Schools] *[http://www.monmouthcomp.monm.sch.uk/ Monmouth Comprehensive School] *[http://www.monmouth.org.uk/ Monmouth and District Community Website] *[http://monmouth.towncrier.org.uk/ Monmouth Online Magazine] *[http://www.monmouthshow.co.uk/default.asp Monmouth Show] *[http://www.walesontheweb.org/cayw/collections/en/699881 Nelson Museum] *[http://www.francisfrith.com/search/wales/gwent/monmouth/photos/monmouth_photos.htm Old photos of Monmouth] *[http://www.urban75.org/photos/wales/monmouth.html Old photos and info on Monmouth's railway history] *[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/main.jhtml?xml=/property/2006/02/25/pmonmouth25.xml Critique of Monmouth in the Telegraph] [[Category:Monmouthshire|*]] [[Category:Towns in Monmouthshire]] [[Category:Towns of the Welsh Marches]] [[Category:Welsh county towns]] [[br:Menoe (kêr)]] [[cy:Trefynwy]] [[fr:Monmouth (pays de Galles)]] [[nl:Monmouth (Wales)]] [[pl:Monmouth (Walia)]] [[sv:Monmouth]]