Monmouth ( ;
WelshWelsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of Celtic spoken natively in Wales, in England by some along the Welsh border and in the Welsh immigrant colony in the Chubut Valley in Argentine Patagonia....
:
Trefynwy = "town on the Monnow") is a
townA town is a type of settlement ranging from a few hundred to several thousand inhabitants, although it may be applied loosely even to huge metropolitan areas; the precise meaning varies between countries and is not always a matter of legal definition...
in southeast
WalesWales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom, bordered by England to its east, and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It is also an elective region of the European Union...
and traditional
county townA county town is the 'capital' of a county in Republic of Ireland or the United Kingdom. County towns are usually the location of administrative or judicial functions, or established over time as the de facto main town of a county. The concept of a county town eventually became detached from its...
of the historic county of
MonmouthshireMonmouthshire , also known as the County of Monmouth , is one of thirteen ancient counties of Wales and a former administrative county....
. It is situated close to the border with
EnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the North Sea to the east, with the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, where the
River MonnowThe River Monnow flows through south-west Herefordshire, England and eastern Monmouthshire, Wales.- Border River :For much of its short length it marks the border between England and Wales before it joins the River Wye at Monmouth. The Wye is also half English from Monmouth until it meets the...
meets the
River WyeThe River Wye is the fifth-longest river in the UK and for parts of its length forms part of the border between England and Wales. It is important for nature conservation and recreation.-Description:...
with bridges over both
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/203771.
Monmouth is
twinnedSister cities, also known as town twinning, is an agreement between towns, cities and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties...
with Carbonne,
FranceFrance , officially the French Republic , is a country located in Western Europe, with several overseas islands and territories located on other continents. Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean...
and
WaldbronnWaldbronn is a municipality in the district of Karlsruhe, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated in the northern Black Forest, 11 km southeast of Karlsruhe.- Geography :...
,
GermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium,...
.
Character
The medieval
13th centuryAs a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 through 1300 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian/Common Era...
stone gated
bridgeA bridge is a structure built to span a valley, road, body of water, or other physical obstacle, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle. Designs of bridges vary depending on the function of the bridge and the nature of the terrain where the bridge is constructed.-History:The first...
at
Monnow BridgeMonnow Bridge in Monmouth, Wales, is the only remaining mediæval fortified river bridge in Great Britain with its gate tower still standing in place. It crosses the River Monnow just above its confluence with the River Wye.- 13th-century bridge :...
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/11200 is unique in Britain being the only preserved bridge of its design remaining. There is also a long bridge over the
River WyeThe River Wye is the fifth-longest river in the UK and for parts of its length forms part of the border between England and Wales. It is important for nature conservation and recreation.-Description:...
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/36247. A second bridge over the Monnow was opened on March 15, 2004, thus allowing the old bridge to become pedestrianised. This project has meant the demolition of the old cattle
marketA market is any one of a variety of different systems, institutions, procedures, social relations and infrastructures whereby persons trade, and goods and services are exchanged, forming part of the economy. It is an arrangement that allows buyers and sellers to exchange things...
.
Schools
Apart from the
comprehensive schoolA comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. The term is commonly used in relation to the United Kingdom, where comprehensive schools were introduced in the late 1940s to the early 1970s. It corresponds broadly to the...
with over 1,600 pupils, there are two
independent schoolAn independent school is a school which is independent in terms of its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some...
s -
Monmouth SchoolMonmouth School is a HMC boys' boarding and day school in Monmouth, Monmouthshire in south east Wales. It was founded in 1614 by William Jones. It is run as a trust, the William Jones's Schools Foundation, by the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers, one of the Livery Companies...
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/289336 (founded 1614) and
Haberdashers' Monmouth School for GirlsHaberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls is an independent school located in Monmouth, Wales, and one of the most exclusive educational institutions in the world. The school was established, and continues to be supported by, the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers in 1892. There are four houses -...
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/97714 (founded 1892). There are also several state primary schools, with most areas served by both
infants'An Infant school is a type of school which caters for young children, usually between the ages of four and seven years. It is usually a small school serving a particular locality. The term is used primarily in the United Kingdom....
and
juniors'A junior school is a type of school which caters for children, often between the ages of 7 and 11.-Australia:In Australia, a junior school or junior primary is usually a part of a primary school or private school that educates children between the ages of 4 and 11.At schools that have a junior...
schools.
Monmouth show
The annual
Monmouth ShowThe Monmouth Show is the largest one-day agricultural show in Wales, taking place annually in Monmouth.- Origins in 1790s :The origins of the show date back to the 1790s when the town's agricultural society organised ploughing matches. Another landmark event was on May 30th, 1857, when the eighth...
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 8th
Duke of BeaufortThe title Duke of Beaufort in the Peerage of England was created by Charles II in 1682 for Henry Somerset, 3rd Marquess of Worcester, a descendant of Charles Somerset, 1st Earl of Worcester, illegitimate son of Henry Beaufort, 3rd Duke of Somerset, a Lancastrian leader in the Wars of the Roses. The...
and Sir Charles Morgan M.P. put up the funds for a Monmouth Cattle Show. Prior to that there had been an agricultural society in the town dating back to the 1790s, which held ploughing competitions.
Entertainment
The Savoy Theatre in Church Street, built on the site of the oldest theatre in Wales, functions as both a cinema and theatre. There are numerous
public houseA public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment licensed to serve alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises in countries and regions of British influence. Although the terms often have different connotations, there is little definitive difference between pubs, bars,...
s in the centre of Monmouth, including the Old Nags Head, the Queen's Head, the Punch House, the Griffin, the Gloucester, the Vinetree, the King's Head, the Three Horseshoes, the Green Dragon and the Gatehouse. Some of these hold
pub quizA pub quiz is a quiz held in a public house. These events are also called Quiz Nights or Trivia Nights and may be held in other settings. Pub quizzes are still extremely popular and may attract people to a pub who are not found there on other days. The pub quiz is a modern example of a pub game...
zes and live music throughout the week.
History
Archaeological excavations undertaken by the Monmouth Archaeological Society on sites along Monnow Street have uncovered a wealth of information about the early history of the town. Indeed, the
Council for British ArchaeologyEstablished in 1944, the is an educational charity working throughout the UK to involve people in archaeology and to promote the appreciation and care of the historic environment for the benefit of present and future generations...
have designated Monmouth as one of the top ten towns in Britain for archaeology.
Roman times
Monmouth as an organised settlement dates back to the times of the
Roman occupation of BritainRoman Britain was those parts of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire between AD 43 and about 410. The Romans referred to their province as Britannia...
and the conquest of
Roman Wales- Pre Roman Wales :Up to and during the Roman occupation of Britain, the native inhabitants of Iron Age Britain spoke Brythonic languages and were regarded as Britons...
. The Romans called it
BlestiumBlestium was a small town and probable fort in Roman Wales within the Roman province of Britannia Superior, part of Roman Britain. Today it is known as Monmouth located in the Welsh county of Monmouthshire in south east Wales....
, and it was part of a network of Roman forts covering the region, linked via
Roman roadThe Roman roads were essential for the growth of the Roman Empire. Roman roads enabled the Romans to move armies and trade goods and to communicate news. The Roman road system spanned more than 250,000 miles of roads, including more than 50,000 miles of paved roads...
s to
AbergavennyAbergavenny , meaning Mouth of the River Gavenny, is a market town in Monmouthshire, Wales.It is located 24 km west of Monmouth on the A40 and A465 roads, 10 km from the English border within the Welsh Marches...
or
GobanniumGobannium was a Roman fort and civil settlement or Castra established by the Roman legions invading what was to become Roman Wales and lies today under the market town of Abergavenny, Monmouthshire in south east Wales.- Documentary evidence :...
,
UskUsk is a small town in Monmouthshire, Wales, situated 10 miles northeast of Newport.Usk is noted for its rural setting, tranquil lifestyle and quality of life. It feels more like a village than a town. The River Usk flows through the town and is spanned by an ancient, arched stone bridge at...
known as
BurriumBurrium was a legionary fortress in the Roman province of Britannia Superior or Roman Britain.Its remains today lie beneath the town of Usk in Monmouthshire....
, later
Isca AugustaIsca Augusta was a Roman legionary fortress and settlement, the remains of which lie beneath parts of the present-day village of Caerleon on the northern outskirts of the city of Newport in South Wales.-Name:...
at
CaerleonCaerleon is a suburban village and community, situated on the River Usk in the northern outskirts of the city of Newport, South Wales.It is a site of archaeological importance, being the site of a notable Roman legionary fortress and an Iron Age hill fort...
and
GlevumGlevum was a Roman fort in Roman Britain that become "colonia" of retired legionaries in AD 97. Today it is known as Gloucester, located in the English county of Gloucestershire...
at
GloucesterGloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
. Archaeologists and historians have found items of Roman pottery and
Roman currencyThe Roman currency during most of the Roman Republic and the western half of the Roman Empire consisted of coins including the aureus , the denarius , the sestertius , the dupondius , and the as...
and coinage that date from that period.
Middle Ages
The town appears in the
Domesday BookThe Domesday Book is the record of the great survey of England completed in 1086, executed for William I of England, or William the Conqueror...
, and for the
11th centuryAs a means of recording the passage of time, the 11th century is the period from 1001 to 1100 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian/Common Era.
...
and
12th centuryAs a means of recording the passage of time, the 12th century is the period from 1101 to 1200 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian/Common Era. In the history of European culture, this period is considered part of the High Middle Ages and is sometimes called the Age of the...
the town and surrounding areas were ruled by
NormanThe Normans were the people who gave their names to Normandy, a region in northern France. They descended from Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of mostly Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
French lords after the conquest of England by William the Conqueror in 1066. During this time,
Monmouth CastleMonmouth Castle is a castle site in the town of Monmouth, county town of Monmouthshire, south east Wales.- Location :Monmouth castle is located close to the centre of Monmouth town on a hill towering over the River Monnow, behind shops and the main square and streets...
http://www.castlewales.com/monmouth.html was built, in 1067 under William Fitz-Osbern of
Breteuil-Places:Breteuil is the name of two communes in France:*Breteuil, in the Eure département*Breteuil, in the Oise département...
,
NormandyNormandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is situated along the English Channel coast of Northern France between Brittany and Picardy and comprises territory in northern France and the Channel Islands.Normandy is divided between French and British...
, 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
castleA castle is a defensive structure seen as one of the main symbols of the Middle Ages. The term has a history of scholarly debate surrounding its exact meaning, but it is usually regarded as being distinct from the general terms fort or fortress, in that it describes a residence of a monarch or...
, rebuilt in stone and later refortified and developed over time.
A
BenedictineBenedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
prioryA priory is a house of men or women under religious vows headed by a prior or prioress. Priories are Catholic institutions.Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the...
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/648841 was also created in 1101, and it was traditionally there that
Geoffrey of MonmouthGeoffrey of Monmouth was a British clergyman and one of the major figures in the development of British history and the popularity of tales of King Arthur...
- author of the
Historia Regum BritanniaeThe Historia Regum Britanniae is a pseudohistorical account of British history, written c. 1136 by Geoffrey of Monmouth. It chronicles the lives of the kings of the Britons in a chronological narrative spanning a time of two thousand years, beginning with the Trojans founding the British nation...
(
History of the Kings of Britain) - gained his education. A fortified bridge
http://www.castlewales.com/monnow.html was built during the
13th centuryAs a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 through 1300 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian/Common Era...
.
The Battle of Monmouth was fought in 1233 between the rebel forces of
Richard Marshal, 3rd Earl of PembrokeRichard Marshal, 3rd Earl of Pembroke was the brother of William Marshal, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, whom he succeeded to the Earldom of Pembroke....
, and a royalist force under John of Monmouth. The rebels carried the day and St Thomas' Church and Monnow Bridge were torched in the battle, which according to Glamorgan-Gwent Archaelogical Trust records took place beside the
River MonnowThe River Monnow flows through south-west Herefordshire, England and eastern Monmouthshire, Wales.- Border River :For much of its short length it marks the border between England and Wales before it joins the River Wye at Monmouth. The Wye is also half English from Monmouth until it meets the...
on Castle Field, land today known as Vauxhall Fields. The battle was immortalised by an illustration by
13th centuryAs a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 through 1300 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian/Common Era...
historian
Matthew ParisMatthew Paris was a Benedictine monk, English chronicler, artist in illuminated manuscripts and cartographer, based at St Albans Abbey in Hertfordshire. He wrote a number of works, mostly historical, which he scribed and illuminated himself, typically in drawings partly coloured with watercolour...
, which shows Richard Marshal unhorsing Baldwin of Guisnes. The original is owned by
Corpus Christi College, CambridgeCorpus Christi College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It is notable for being the only college to have been founded by Cambridge townspeople, having been established in 1352 by the Guilds of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary...
.
The
castleA castle is a defensive structure seen as one of the main symbols of the Middle Ages. The term has a history of scholarly debate surrounding its exact meaning, but it is usually regarded as being distinct from the general terms fort or fortress, in that it describes a residence of a monarch or...
came into the possession of the
House of LancasterThe House of Lancaster was a branch of the royal House of Plantagenet. It was one of the opposing factions involved in the Wars of the Roses, an intermittent civil war which affected England and Wales during the 15th century...
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 VHenry V was King of England from 1413 until his death. From an unassuming start his military successes in the Hundred Years' War, culminating with his famous victory at the Battle of Agincourt, saw him come close to uniting the realms of England and France under his rule.-Early life:Henry was born...
was born in
Monmouth CastleMonmouth Castle is a castle site in the town of Monmouth, county town of Monmouthshire, south east Wales.- Location :Monmouth castle is located close to the centre of Monmouth town on a hill towering over the River Monnow, behind shops and the main square and streets...
in the Queen's Chamber within the gatehouse. The castle became a favourite residence of the House of Lancaster. Henry would win the
Battle of AgincourtThe Battle of Agincourt was an English victory against a much larger French army in the Hundred Years' War. The battle occurred on Friday 25 October 1415 , in northern France...
in 1415. Many parts of Monmouth, including the town's main square, are named after this battle.
During the rebellion of
Owain GlyndwrOwain Glyndŵr , or Owain Glyn Dŵr, anglicised by William Shakespeare as Owen Glendower and also sometimes styled Owain IV of Wales by modern historians, was a Welsh ruler and the last native Welsh person to hold the title Prince of Wales...
between 1400 and 1412 Monmouth Castle and
walled townA defensive wall is a fortification used to defend a city or settlement from potential aggressors. In ancient to modern times, they were used to enclose settlements...
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
GrosmontGrosmont is a small village and civil parish situated in the Scarborough district of North Yorkshire, England and is within the North York Moors National Park. The village is named after the Grandmontines Priory...
and
UskUsk is a small town in Monmouthshire, Wales, situated 10 miles northeast of Newport.Usk is noted for its rural setting, tranquil lifestyle and quality of life. It feels more like a village than a town. The River Usk flows through the town and is spanned by an ancient, arched stone bridge at...
, such as the
Battle of Pwll MelynThe Battle of Pwll Melyn, also known as the Battle of Usk, was part of the Welsh revolt against English rule that lasted from 1400 to 1415. This key battle in the Glyndŵr Rising occurred in the spring of 1405. The defeat of the Welsh rebels here was devastating and included the loss of important...
.
GrosmontGrosmont is a small village and civil parish situated in the Scarborough district of North Yorkshire, England and is within the North York Moors National Park. The village is named after the Grandmontines Priory...
town was razed and
AbergavennyAbergavenny , meaning Mouth of the River Gavenny, is a market town in Monmouthshire, Wales.It is located 24 km west of Monmouth on the A40 and A465 roads, 10 km from the English border within the Welsh Marches...
and
CrickhowellCrickhowell is a small town in Powys, Mid Wales.- Location :The name Crickhowell is taken from that of the nearby Iron Age hill fort of Crug Hywel above the town, the Welsh language name being anglicised by map-makers and local English-speaking people...
attacked.
Post medieval times
In 1605,
James IJames VI & I was King of Scots as James VI from 1567 to 1625, and King of England and Ireland as James I from 1603 to 1625....
granted Monmouth a town charter by
letters patentLetters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of an open letter issued by a monarch or government, granting an office, right, monopoly, title, or status to a person or to some entity such as a corporation. The opposite of letters patent are letters close , which are personal in nature...
. 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".
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).
In 1840 at Monmouth's Shire Hall,
ChartistChartism was a movement for political and social reform in the United Kingdom during the mid-19th century between 1838 and 1850. It takes its name from the People's Charter of 1838, which stipulated the six main aims of the movement as:...
protestors
John FrostJohn Frost may refer to:*John Frost , Welsh Chartist*John Dutton Frost , British army officer, served in Operation Market Garden...
,
Zephaniah WilliamsZephaniah Williams was born near Argoed, Sirhowy Valley, Monmouthshire, with much of his childhood spent near the then village of Blackwood, also living for some periods in Caerphilly and Nantyglo...
and
William Jones-Academics and authors:*William Jones , Welsh mathematician who proposed the use of the symbol π*William Jones , English optics manufacturer and instrument maker....
became the last men in Britain to be sentenced to be
hanged, drawn and quarteredTo be hanged, drawn and quartered was the penalty for high treason in medieval England, and remained on the statute book but seldom used in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until abolished under the Treason Act 1814...
after being found guilty of
treasonIn law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more serious acts of disloyalty to one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife...
following
riots in NewportThe Newport Rising was the last large-scale armed rebellion against authority in mainland Britain, when on November 4 1839, somewhere between 1,000 and 5,000 Chartist sympathisers, including many coal-miners, most with home-made arms, led by John Frost, marched on the town of Newport,...
that led to 20 deaths. The sentences were later commuted to
transportationTransportation or penal transportation is the deporting of convicted criminals to a penal colony. Examples include transportation by France to Devil's Island and by the UK to its colonies in the Americas, from the 1610s through the American Revolution in the 1770s, and then to Australia between...
to
AustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the continental mainland , the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans...
.
Four railways were built to serve Monmouth between 1857 and 1883; the
Coleford, Monmouth, Usk and Pontypool RailwayThe Coleford, Monmouth, Usk & Pontypool Railway was a line which ran from Monmouth to Pontypool. It was opened in 1857, passenger services were withdrawn in 1955, meaning the railway closed to all traffic exactly 100 years from opening, on 12th October 1957.-History:The railway was...
, the
Ross and Monmouth RailwayThe Ross and Monmouth Railway was a railway between Ross-on-Wye and Monmouth of about . It was authorized in 1865 by an Act of Parliament and opened on the 4 August 1873. The station at Monmouth was situated at Mayhill on the east bank of the Wye; later, in 1874 the line was extended to a station...
, the
Wye Valley RailwayThe Wye Valley Railway ran for nearly between Chepstow and Monmouth along the lower part of the scenic Wye Valley in Monmouthshire, Wales, and Gloucestershire, England. It followed the route of the River Wye for most of it's length. The line opened on 1 November 1876 as an independent company but...
, and the
Coleford RailwayThe Coleford Railway also known as the Coleford Branch, was a short lived railway line between Monmouth Troy railway station and Coleford. It was constructed in 1880s and opened on 1st September 1883 and closed on 1st January 1917...
. All of these closed between 1917 and 1964, since when Monmouth has been without rail services. One of the former lines has now been replaced by a major road, built along the same route. Monmouth's main railway station, known as
Monmouth TroyMonmouth Troy was one of the two former stations at Monmouth. It was built in 1857 by the Coleford, Monmouth, Usk and Pontypool Railway and was used by several other branch lines as the local rail network expanded...
, was offices for a timber yard for many years, but the building has now been dismantled and re-erected at
Winchcombe railway stationWinchcombe railway station was a railway station serving Winchcombe in the English county of Gloucestershire. The station was actually located in the village of Greet, several miles from Winchcombe....
on the
Gloucestershire Warwickshire RailwayThe Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway is a volunteer-run heritage railway that has reopened the closed railway line between Toddington and Cheltenham Racecourse railway stations in Gloucestershire. It is currently extending to Broadway, Worcestershire, but none of it is actually in Warwickshire...
. The other station at Monmouth was Monmouth May Hill on the Ross and Monmouth Railway, built on the opposite bank of the
River WyeThe River Wye is the fifth-longest river in the UK and for parts of its length forms part of the border between England and Wales. It is important for nature conservation and recreation.-Description:...
to the town centre.
Notable people
People associated with Monmouth include:
- Geoffrey of Monmouth
Geoffrey of Monmouth was a British clergyman and one of the major figures in the development of British history and the popularity of tales of King Arthur...
, born in 1090 and believed to be from the area, wrote Historia Regum BritanniaeThe Historia Regum Britanniae is a pseudohistorical account of British history, written c. 1136 by Geoffrey of Monmouth. It chronicles the lives of the kings of the Britons in a chronological narrative spanning a time of two thousand years, beginning with the Trojans founding the British nation...
, the "History of British Kings".
- Gilbert de Clare
Gilbert de Clare may refer to:* Gilbert Fitz Richard known also as Gilbert de Clare , lord of Clare, Tonbridge and Ceredigion* Gilbert de Clare, 1st Earl of Pembroke...
, Earl of Gloucester and Guardian of England, died at Monmouth CastleMonmouth Castle is a castle site in the town of Monmouth, county town of Monmouthshire, south east Wales.- Location :Monmouth castle is located close to the centre of Monmouth town on a hill towering over the River Monnow, behind shops and the main square and streets...
on December 7, 1295.
- Henry III's second son Edmund Crouchback, the 1st Earl of Lancaster, added the Great Hall to house the royal courts at Monmouth Castle
Monmouth Castle is a castle site in the town of Monmouth, county town of Monmouthshire, south east Wales.- Location :Monmouth castle is located close to the centre of Monmouth town on a hill towering over the River Monnow, behind shops and the main square and streets...
after being granted possession by his father, who also named him Steward of EnglandThe position of Lord High Steward of England is the first of the Great Officers of State. The office has generally remained vacant since 1421, except at coronations and during the trials of peers in the House of Lords, when the Lord High Steward presides. In general, the Lord Chancellor was...
.
- King Edward II was briefly imprisoned at Monmouth Castle in 1326 after being overthrown by his wife Isabella
Isabella is a variant of Isabel, a feminine given name. It may also refer to:*210 Isabella, an asteroid*Isabella , an American hybrid grape variety*isabelline or Isabella, a greyish-yellow or light buff colour-Places in The United States:...
and her lover Roger MortimerRoger Mortimer was the name of several Marcher lords:*Roger Mortimer of Wigmore, married Isabel de Ferriers*Roger Mortimer, 1st Baron Mortimer *Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March...
, the Earl of March.
- Monmouth Castle was a favourite residence of Henry Bolingbroke, the future Henry IV
Henry IV may refer to:* Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor , King of Germany and Holy Roman Emperor* Henry IV of England , King of England and Lord of Ireland* Henry IV of France , King of France and Navarre...
, who seized the throne from Richard IIRichard II may refer to:*Richard II of England , King of England.*Richard II , a play by William Shakespeare about the king...
in 1399. Henry V (see below) was born there.
- His son, Henry V
Henry V was King of England from 1413 until his death. From an unassuming start his military successes in the Hundred Years' War, culminating with his famous victory at the Battle of Agincourt, saw him come close to uniting the realms of England and France under his rule.-Early life:Henry was born...
– immortalised by Shakespeare for his victory at AgincourtAzincourt is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France.-Geography:Situated 12 miles north-west of Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise on the D71 road.-History:...
over the French in 1415 – was born in Monmouth CastleA castle is a defensive structure seen as one of the main symbols of the Middle Ages. The term has a history of scholarly debate surrounding its exact meaning, but it is usually regarded as being distinct from the general terms fort or fortress, in that it describes a residence of a monarch or...
in 1387 and brought up at Courtfield in nearby LydbrookLydbrook is a civil parish in the Forest of Dean, a local government district in the English county of Gloucestershire. It comprises the districts of Lower Lydbrook, Upper Lydbrook, and Joys Green.- Introduction :...
.
- William Jones
-Academics and authors:*William Jones , Welsh mathematician who proposed the use of the symbol π*William Jones , English optics manufacturer and instrument maker....
, a liveryman of Worshipful Company of HaberdashersThe Worshipful Company of Haberdashers is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. The organisation, which developed from the Mercers' Company, another Livery Company connected with clothing and haberdashery, received a Royal Charter in 1448...
from nearby Newland-Places:United Kingdom* Newland, East Riding of Yorkshire, England* Newland, Gloucestershire, England* Newland, North Yorkshire, England* Newland, Worcestershire, EnglandUnited States* Newland, Indiana* Newland, North CarolinaAustralia...
, founded the first of the town's grammar schools in 1614.
- Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader best known for his involvement in making England into a republican Commonwealth and for his later role as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland.He was one of the commanders of the New Model Army which defeated the royalists in...
visited Monmouth on his way to retake Chepstow CastleChepstow Castle , located in Chepstow, Monmouthshire in Wales, on top of cliffs overlooking the River Wye, is the oldest surviving stone fortification in Britain...
and lay siege to Pembroke CastlePembroke Castle is a medieval castle in Pembroke, West Wales.The first castle was established in 1093 during the Norman invasion of Wales. However its present appearance owes much to William Marshal, one of the most powerful men in 12th-Century Britain....
in 1648 during the Second Civil WarThe Second Civil War may refer to:* Congo Civil War may refer to Second Congo War * Second English Civil War * Second Liberian Civil War started in 1999* Second Sudanese Civil War...
.
- St. Philip Evans
Philip Evans is the name of:* Philip Evans and John Lloyd, saints* Phil Evans, South African football player* Philip Evans *Philip Evans , cricketer...
, Jesuit priest and martyr, was born in the town and based at the nearby Catholic seminary at the CwmCwm may refer to:* Cirque, an amphitheatre-like valley* Canadian War Museum* Chartered Wealth Manager, a designation of the American Academy of Financial Management* Christian Witness Ministries* Circus World Museum...
, Llanrothal.
- James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth
James Crofts, later James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth and 1st Duke of Buccleuch PC , was an English nobleman. He was born in Rotterdam in the Netherlands, the eldest illegitimate son of Charles II and his mistress, Lucy Walter, who had followed him into continental exile after the execution of...
, leader of the Monmouth RebellionThe Monmouth Rebellion of 1685, also known as the Pitchfork Rebellion, was an attempt to overthrow James II, who had become King of England at the death of his elder brother Charles II on 6 February 1685. James II was unpopular because he was Roman Catholic and many people were opposed to a...
of 1685
- John Graves Simcoe
John Graves Simcoe was the first Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada from 1791-1796...
, the first governor of Upper Canada and the founder of Toronto, lived at the Old Court in nearby Whitchurch.
- Poets William Wordsworth
William Wordsworth was a major English Romantic poet who, with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, helped to launch the Romantic Age in English literature with the 1798 joint publication Lyrical Ballads....
, Samuel Coleridge, Alexander PopeAlexander Pope is a famous eighteenth century English poet, best known for his satirical verse and for his translation of Homer. He is the third most frequently quoted writer in The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations, after Shakespeare and Tennyson. Pope is famous for his use of the heroic couplet.-...
, Thomas GrayThomas Gray , was an English poet, classical scholar and professor at Cambridge University.- Early life and education :...
and Robert SoutheyRobert Southey was an English poet of the Romantic school, one of the so-called "Lake Poets", and Poet Laureate for 30 years from 1813 to his death in 1843...
all visited and were inspired by the Wye ValleyThe Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is an internationally important protected landscape straddling the border between England and Wales. It is one of the most dramatic and scenic landscape areas in southern Britain....
, along with Britain's greatest landscape painter JMW Turner and naval hero Horatio Nelson.
- Admiral Horatio Nelson
Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronté, KB was a British flag officer famous for his service in the Royal Navy, particularly during the Napoleonic Wars...
paid two visits to the town and approved a naval temple on the nearby Kymin Hill. The Nelson MuseumThe Nelson Museum is a museum situated in Monmouth, Monmouthshire, south east Wales and which holds a very valuable collection of artifacts closely associated with Admiral Horatio Nelson.- Location :...
, 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.
- Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration which is, or has been, awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories. It takes precedence over all other orders, decorations and medals...
hero Corporal William Wilson AllenWilliam Wilson Allen, VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross , the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...
is buried at Monmouth Cemetery.
- HMS Monmouth
Seven ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Monmouth, after the Welsh town; the name also recognises James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, the "Black Duke":*HMS Monmouth was an 8-gun yacht launched in 1666 and sold in 1698....
was sunk with all hands on November 1, 1914, by German raiders ScharnhorstScharnhorst may refer to:*Gerhard von Scharnhorst , a Prussian general*five ships of Germany named after the general:** SS Scharnhorst , a passenger steamer built in 1904...
and GneisenauGneisenau may refer to:* August von Gneisenau , Prussian field marshal* One of the German naval ships named after him:* SMS Gneisenau , three-masted iron-hulled frigate, launched 1879, wrecked 1900...
off the Chilean CoastChile, officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
at the Battle of CoronelThe World War I naval Battle of Coronel took place on 1 November 1914 off the coast of central Chile near the city of Coronel. German Kaiserliche Marine forces led by Vice-Admiral Graf Maximilian von Spee met and defeated a Royal Navy squadron commanded by Rear-Admiral Sir Christopher Cradock.The...
. St Mary's Church, Monmouth, contains a memorial to the men who lost their lives and the church hosts an annual service in remembrance. Seven Royal NavyThe Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of HM Armed Forces . From the beginning of the 18th century until well into the 20th century, it was the most powerful navy in the world, playing a key part in establishing the British Empire as the dominant world power from 1815 until the early...
ships have been named after the Welsh town, including a Type 23 frigate launched in 1991 which is still in operation.
- Charles Rolls
Charles Stewart Rolls was a motoring and aviation pioneer. Together with Frederick Henry Royce he co-founded the Rolls-Royce car manufacturing firm...
, 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 ChannelThe English Channel is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest, to only in the Strait of Dover...
by plane. There is a statue of Charles Rolls in Agincourt Square http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/289333.
- Dave Edmunds
Dave Edmunds is a Welsh singer, guitarist and record producer. Although he is primarily associated with Pub rock and New Wave, and had numerous hits in the 1970s and early 1980s, his natural leaning has always been towards 1950s style rock and roll.-Early years:As a teenager Edmunds first played...
, rock musician, lives in the town. He was instrumental in the conception of Rockfield StudiosRockfield Studios, near Monmouth in Wales and just outside the village of Rockfield, Monmouthshire, are where many of British rock music’s most successful recordings have been made.-History:...
, situated just outside the town, where the band QueenQueen were an English rock band. Formed in London in 1970 following the demise of the band Smile, Queen consisted of vocalist Freddie Mercury, guitarist Brian May, bassist John Deacon and drummer Roger Taylor. The band became popular with audiences via their hit songs, live performances,...
recorded their hit single Bohemian Rhapsody"Bohemian Rhapsody" is a song by the British rock band Queen. It was written by Freddie Mercury for the band's 1975 album A Night at the Opera. "Bohemian Rhapsody" is in the style of a stream-of-consciousness nightmare that has unusual song structure, more akin to a classical rhapsody than popular...
, as did OasisIn geography, an oasis or cienega is an isolated area of vegetation in a desert, typically surrounding a spring or similar water source...
their multi-million selling album (What's the Story) Morning Glory? Morning Glory? is the second album by English rock band Oasis. It was released in October 1995. The album was Oasis' most enduring commercial success, charting at number one in the UK and number four in the U.S. The album sold 346,000 copies in its first week in the UK and has sold 23 million...
in 1995.
- Jake Thackray
John Philip "Jake" Thackray , was an English singer-songwriter, poet and journalist. Best known in the late 1960s and early 1970s for his topical comedy songs performed on British television, his work ranged from satirical to bawdy to sentimental to pastoral, with a strong emphasis on storytelling,...
, poet and singer-songwriter, lived in Monmouth for more than 20 years before his death in 2002.
- Peter Thorneycroft
George Edward Peter Thorneycroft, Baron Thorneycroft CH, PC , was a British Conservative Party politician. He served as Chancellor of the Exchequer between 1957 and 1958....
, MP for Monmouth 1945-66, President of the Board of Trade under Prime Minister Winston ChurchillSir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill KG, OM, CH, TD, FRS, PC was a British politician known chiefly for his leadership of the United Kingdom during World War II. He served as Prime Minister from 1940 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955. A noted statesman and orator, Churchill was also an officer...
and then Chancellor of the Exchequer under Harold MacmillanMaurice Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton, OM, PC was a British Conservative politician and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 10 January 1957 to 18 October 1963....
. He became Baron Thorneycroft of Dunston and was appointed Chairman of the Conservative Party by Margaret ThatcherMargaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher LG, OM, PC, FRS served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990 and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1975 to 1990. She is the only woman to have held either post....
from 1975-1981.
- Among the ex-pupils of Monmouth School
Monmouth School is a HMC boys' boarding and day school in Monmouth, Monmouthshire in south east Wales. It was founded in 1614 by William Jones. It is run as a trust, the William Jones's Schools Foundation, by the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers, one of the Livery Companies...
are politicians Lord MoynihanColin Berkeley Moynihan, 4th Baron Moynihan PC is a former Olympic coxswain who became a politician.-Early life:...
, Cliff TuckerClifford Lewis Tucker was a British industrial relations executive, magistrate and politician.He was educated at Monmouth School and St David's College, Lampeter...
and Derek Ezra, Baron EzraDerek Ezra, Baron Ezra MBE is a Liberal Democrat life peer in the United Kingdom House of Lords and former chairman of the National Coal Board...
, international rugby players Eddie ButlerEdward Thomas "Eddie" Butler is a journalist, commentator, and former Welsh Rugby Union player, who won 16 caps for the team, between 1980 and 1984. Butler was educated at Monmouth School and Cambridge University...
, John GwilliamJohn Albert Gwilliam was a Welsh rugby union 'No 8' who played international rugby for Wales and club rugby for Cambridge University, Edinburgh Wanderers, Gloucester, Newport, London Welsh, Llanelli and Wasps...
, Tony JordanTony Jordan is a British television writer. He is listed as the number 1 television screen writer in the UK by Broadcast magazine and among British Broadcastings Top 20 in The Stage ....
, Keith Jarrett and Richard ParksRichard David Parks is a former Wales international rugby union player. A back row forward, he currently plays for Newport Gwent Dragons.- Biography :...
, international rugby referee Wayne BarnesWayne Barnes is an English international rugby union referee. He became a professional referee in April 2005, giving up a career in law to do so. Barnes is also the youngest referee ever appointed to the Panel of National Referees, having been given the position in 2001, aged just 21...
, equestrian David BroomeDavid McPherson Broome CBE is a retired Welsh show jumping champion.Broome was born in Cardiff, South Wales, attended Monmouth School and still maintains his stables at Mount Ballan Manor, Crick, near Chepstow in Monmouthshire...
, champion horse-racing trainer Major Dick Hern, Glamorgan and England cricketer Steve JamesStephen Peter James is a former English cricketer who played two Tests for England in 1998, making 71 runs in four innings. He was captain of Glamorgan for three seasons before retiring in 2003 after 17 seasons with the club, aged 35...
, pre-war Glamorgan captain Trevor Arnott (buried at Dixton Church), Allo Allo actor Richard MarnerRichard Marner, born Alexander Molchanoff was a Russian-born British actor. He was probably best known for his role as Colonel Kurt Von Strohm in the British sitcom Allo 'Allo!.-Early life:...
, Beatles film star Victor SpinettiVictor Spinetti is a Welsh comic actor.-Early life:Spinetti was born in Cwm, Wales of Welsh and Italian heritage from a grandfather who is said to have walked from Italy to Wales to work as a coal miner. His parents, Giuseppe and Lily , owned the chip shop in Cwm, over which premises the family...
, TV presenter Glyn WorsnipGlyn Worsnip was a British radio and television presenter. Born in Highnam, Gloucestershire, he was most famous for his appearances on That's Life! and on Nationwide.He attended Monmouth School and after two years service in the RAF as a Photographic Intelligence Officer he graduated...
, TV doctor Mark PorterMark Porter is a British publication designer and art director, and creative director of The Guardian. Formerly art director of ES, the Evening Standard magazine, the UK edition of Wired magazine, and Colors magazine...
, BBC Wales TV presenters Phil Parry and Roger PinneyRoger Pinney is a BBC Reporter in Wales and was formerly BBC Wales' Environment correspondent.He began his career by writing articles for the Abergavenny chronicle and the South Wales Argus....
, rock musician Grant NicholasGrant Nicholas is the lead singer of the rock band Feeder, along with bassist Taka Hirose and drummers Jon Lee and later Mark Richardson.-Early years:...
, Moscow Olympics bronze medal rower Charlie Wiggin, Beijing Olympics silver medal rower Tom LucyThomas David Lucy is an international rower from Llangovan near Monmouth. He won a silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics for Great Britain in the Mens eight....
, and 11-time CambridgeThe city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. It is also at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen....
Boat Race coach and world silver medal rower Robin Williams. A former pupil who found notoriety was John VassallWilliam John Christopher Vassall was a British civil servant who, under pressure of blackmail, spied for the Soviet Union....
, naval attache to the British Embassy in Moscow, who was jailed for 18 years in 1962 for spying for the Russians.
- Music conductor and author Jane Glover
Jane Glover CBE is a British-born conductor and music scholar.-Early life:Glover attended Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls. Her father, Robert Finlay Glover MA TD,was headmaster of Monmouth School and it was through this connection that she was able to meet Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears...
attended Haberdashers' Monmouth School for GirlsHaberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls is an independent school located in Monmouth, Wales, and one of the most exclusive educational institutions in the world. The school was established, and continues to be supported by, the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers in 1892. There are four houses -...
. Other former pupils include TV news correspondent Charlotte Hume, BBC Wales TV presenter Frances Donovan, former CasualtyCasualty, styled as CASUAL
+Y, is the longest running emergency medical drama series in the world, and the second-longest-running medical drama in the world behind America's General Hospital. Created by Jeremy Brock and Paul Unwin, it was first broadcast in 1986 and transmitted in the UK...
actress Sandra HuggettSandra Huggett is a British actress.She grew up in Ross-On-Wye, Herefordshire, but now lives in North London. Her father is professional golfer, Brian Huggett. She attended both Haberdashers Monmouth School For Girls & Mountview Theatre School...
, TV presenter Lisa RogersLisa Rogers is a Welsh television presenter and occasional actress. She has appeared in films, television programmes, theatre and radio.-Early life:...
, actress Zoie KennedyZoie Kennedy was born Zoie Davies to mother Kathy in 1977 in Weobley, Herefordshire, England in 1977. Her first known TV appearance was as a WPC in The hunt for the Yorkshire ripper, shortly after this followed the role of news reporter Polly Grantham in Emmerdale and Staff Nurse Meryl Taylor in...
, harpist Jemima PhillipsJemima Phillips is a Welsh harpist.Born in Ebbw Vale, she was raised in Monmouth, Wales, and was a semi-finalist in the BBC’s Young Musician of the Year competition. She then attended the Royal College of Music, London. She has played the harp from the age of 9.Phillips was appointed Official...
and former Liberal MP and head of the RSPCA Jackie BallardJacqueline Margaret Ballard has been a politician and journalist in the United Kingdom. She was the Director General of the RSPCA, and took up post as CEO of the RNID on 22 October 2007....
.
- Wales and British Lion rugby player John Bevan
John Bevan may refer to:* John Bevan , Welsh dual-code rugby international who played rugby union for Cardiff and rugby league for Warrington...
, who played in the legendary 23-11 Barbarians defeat of the All Blacks in 1973, is the Monmouth School rugby master. Former school cricket coach Graham BurgessGraham K. Burgess is an English FIDE Master of chess and a noted writer and trainer. He became a FIDE Master at the age of twenty. He attended Birkdale High School in Southport, Merseyside. In 1989 he graduated from the University of Cambridge with a degree in mathematics...
played 14 seasons for Somerset and was a county umpire until retiring at the end of the 2008 season.
- Emma Stansfield
Emma Stansfield is a Welsh actress.Born Emma Thompson, her parents Colin and Gill Thompson trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama, and run an amateur dramatics society in Monmouth...
, British actress who played Ronnie Clayton in Coronation StreetCoronation Street is an award-winning prime time soap opera set and produced in Manchester created by Tony Warren...
from 2005 to 2006, is from the town.
- Historian and TV presenter Professor Saul David
Julian Saul "Saul" David is a military historian, broadcaster and academic. He is best known for his work on the Indian Mutiny and the Anglo-Zulu War, as well as presenting and appearing in documentaries on British television covering imperial and military themes.David was educated at various...
is from Welsh NewtonWelsh Newton is a small village and civil parish in the county of Herefordshire, England. It is located close to the border with Wales to which the parish extends....
and was educated at Monmouth Comprehensive School.
- Robert Plant
Robert Anthony Plant CBE , is an English rock singer and songwriter, famous for his membership in the former rock band Led Zeppelin as the lead vocalist and lyricist, as well as for his successful solo career...
of Led ZeppelinLed Zeppelin were an English rock band formed in 1968 by Jimmy Page , Robert Plant , John Paul Jones and John Bonham . With their heavy, guitar-driven sound, Led Zeppelin are regarded as one of the first heavy metal bands, helping to pioneer the genre...
had a house at PenalltPenallt is a village in Monmouthshire, Wales set high on a hill above Monmouth . In the centre of the village, by the village green, is the 17th century village pub, the Bush Inn ....
in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Playwright George Bernard ShawGeorge Bernard Shaw was an Irish playwright. Although his first profitable writing was music and literary criticism, in which capacity he wrote many highly articulate pieces of journalism, his main talent was for drama, and he wrote more than 60 plays...
was also a regular visitor to the village at the turn of the last century.
- Comedian Ken Goodwin
Ken Goodwin is a former field hockey goalkeeper from Canada, who participated in two consequentive Summer Olympics for his native country, starting in 1984...
and astrologer Russell GrantRussell Grant is a British astrologer and media personality. He is frequently quoted in the media, as well as working as a television presenter....
also lived in the area for a number of years.
- Rugby player Ray Cheney
-Early Years:Ray was born in Porth in the Rhondda. He showed exceptional all round sporting abilities and played football at Ton Pentre for Ton Pentre F.C....
, lives in the town.
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
BournemouthBournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the Borough of Bournemouth, England. The town has a population of 163,444 according to the 2001 Census, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is the largest town on the south coast and the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
. 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).
External links