The Skirrid Mountain Inn
Encyclopedia
The Skirrid Mountain Inn http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/216735 is a public house
in the small village of Llanfihangel Crucorney
, just a few miles north of Abergavenny
, Monmouthshire
. Perhaps the oldest pub in Wales
, listed in chronicles from 1100. Owain Glyndŵr
is said to have rallied his forces in the cobbled courtyard in the early 15th century before raiding nearby settlements sympathetic to the English king, Henry IV.
The first floor of the inn was reputedly used as a Courtroom where capital punishment was imposed for certain offences, including sheep stealing. Local legend has it that as many as 180 convicted felons were hanged, some possibly from an oak beam over the well of the staircase outside of the Courtroom. Markings, possibly from rope marks, still exist on the staircase wood.
Legend has it that the inn was used as a rallying point for local supporters of the Welsh Revolt against the rule of Henry IV
, the uprising being led by Owain Glyndwr
. In the early 15th century he is said to have personally rallied his troops in the cobbled courtyard before raiding nearby settlements sympathetic to the English.
It is believed that the first floor of the inn was once used as a Court of Law and over the period of a great many years, as many as 180 prisoners were adjudged guilty of crimes serious enough to warrant the sentence of death by hanging, a sentence that was carried out at the inn itself, the last case of capital punishment purportedly taking place sometime prior to the death of Oliver Cromwell
(1599–1658).
It also claims to be the home of several ghosts or spirits as well as the scene of numerous supernatural occurrences or paranormal activities. Indeed the reputation of the inn is such that it has merited the attendance of a number of paranormal investigators over the years, including the Midlands' Ghost Hunt company, Eerie Evenings, who have gone on record in the past to say that it is one of the most paranormally active venues they have ever investigated.
The inn has been featured on TV's Extreme Ghost Stories
and Most Haunted
with Yvette Fielding
. Possibly as the result of comments made by Derek Acorah
, a former star of the show and a professed Medium, whilst filming was taking place at the inn, a popular belief has arisen that the infamous Judge Jeffreys heard cases at the Court.
There is no readily available documentary evidence to show that Jeffreys ever sat in judgement at the inn, however, during his career he did deal with cases in the area from Chester to as far south as Montgomeryshire (now part of Powys) and within a few short years then dealt with cases on the Western Circuit including the county of Somerset. Both territories being within relatively close proximity to Monmouthshire, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that on his travels he may have stopped at the inn or may even have heard isolated cases at the inn if conditions so dictated.
However, when considering his reputation as a 'Hanging Judge', if the last execution at the inn puportedly took place during Cromwells' time, then Judge Jeffreys would have been no more than a young lad nearing his 14th birthday at the time of Cromwells' death.
The events for which Jeffreys is most famous are the Bloody Assizes
. This term was given to a number of trials held by five judges led by Jeffreys, following the rounding up and capture of a large number of rebels involved in an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow James II
in 1685. This revolt became known as the Monmouth Rebellion
, named so after the leader, the Duke of Monmouth, but had little if any connection with Monmouthshire
where the inn is located. Otherwise known as James Scott
, the Duke was given the title, being an illegitimate son of Charles II
. Having spent much time in The Netherlands he landed on the coast of Dorset
with a small band of men and rallied together a large group of poorly trained and badly armed supporters as he made his way through Dorset and Somerset
. A battle subsequently took place against the King's army, at Sedgemoor
near Bridgwater
in Somerset. The captured rebels, including some sympathisers, were tried at Winchester
and other towns in the south west of England. The majority of those found guilty were transported to Barbados
as plantation workers. Of the remainder, some died whilst awaiting trial and possibly as many as 200 were executed in Somerset. Importantly there would appear to be no record of any of the trials or executions having occurred at the inn.
to the west, part of the Brecon Beacons National Park. The valley of the River Usk
, River Wye
and River Monnow
all pass close by. Offa's Dyke Path
runs close by also.
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
in the small village of Llanfihangel Crucorney
Llanfihangel Crucorney
- Location :The village is located five miles north of Abergavenny and eighteen miles south of Hereford, England on the A465 road.- Amenities :Llanvihangel Crucorney is a small village with a pub, The Skirrid Mountain Inn which claims to be the oldest inn or hostelry in Wales, dating from at least...
, just a few miles north of Abergavenny
Abergavenny
Abergavenny , meaning Mouth of the River Gavenny, is a market town in Monmouthshire, Wales. It is located 15 miles west of Monmouth on the A40 and A465 roads, 6 miles from the English border. Originally the site of a Roman fort, Gobannium, it became a medieval walled town within the Welsh Marches...
, Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire is a county in south east Wales. The name derives from the historic county of Monmouthshire which covered a much larger area. The largest town is Abergavenny. There are many castles in Monmouthshire .-Historic county:...
. Perhaps the oldest pub in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, listed in chronicles from 1100. Owain Glyndŵr
Owain Glyndwr
Owain Glyndŵr , or Owain Glyn Dŵr, anglicised by William Shakespeare as Owen Glendower , was a Welsh ruler and the last native Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales...
is said to have rallied his forces in the cobbled courtyard in the early 15th century before raiding nearby settlements sympathetic to the English king, Henry IV.
The first floor of the inn was reputedly used as a Courtroom where capital punishment was imposed for certain offences, including sheep stealing. Local legend has it that as many as 180 convicted felons were hanged, some possibly from an oak beam over the well of the staircase outside of the Courtroom. Markings, possibly from rope marks, still exist on the staircase wood.
Claims to fame
The Skirrid Mountain Inn is one of the oldest pubs in Wales with a history dating back over 900 years.Legend has it that the inn was used as a rallying point for local supporters of the Welsh Revolt against the rule of Henry IV
Henry IV of England
Henry IV was King of England and Lord of Ireland . He was the ninth King of England of the House of Plantagenet and also asserted his grandfather's claim to the title King of France. He was born at Bolingbroke Castle in Lincolnshire, hence his other name, Henry Bolingbroke...
, the uprising being led by Owain Glyndwr
Owain Glyndwr
Owain Glyndŵr , or Owain Glyn Dŵr, anglicised by William Shakespeare as Owen Glendower , was a Welsh ruler and the last native Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales...
. In the early 15th century he is said to have personally rallied his troops in the cobbled courtyard before raiding nearby settlements sympathetic to the English.
It is believed that the first floor of the inn was once used as a Court of Law and over the period of a great many years, as many as 180 prisoners were adjudged guilty of crimes serious enough to warrant the sentence of death by hanging, a sentence that was carried out at the inn itself, the last case of capital punishment purportedly taking place sometime prior to the death of Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
(1599–1658).
It also claims to be the home of several ghosts or spirits as well as the scene of numerous supernatural occurrences or paranormal activities. Indeed the reputation of the inn is such that it has merited the attendance of a number of paranormal investigators over the years, including the Midlands' Ghost Hunt company, Eerie Evenings, who have gone on record in the past to say that it is one of the most paranormally active venues they have ever investigated.
The inn has been featured on TV's Extreme Ghost Stories
Extreme Ghost Stories
Extreme Ghost Stories is a British supernatural documentary television series produced by ITV Granada, consisting of four one-hour episodes.-Origin:...
and Most Haunted
Most Haunted
Most Haunted is a British paranormal documentary reality television series. The series was first shown on 25 May 2002 and ended on 21 July 2010. It was broadcast on Living and presented by Yvette Fielding. The programme was based on investigating purported paranormal activity...
with Yvette Fielding
Yvette Fielding
Yvette Fielding is a British broadcaster, producer and actress. She is best known for being the presenter of the TV shows Blue Peter, Most Haunted and Ghosthunting With....-Early life and career:...
. Possibly as the result of comments made by Derek Acorah
Derek Acorah
Derek Acorah is a British medium. He is best known for his work on Most Haunted, broadcast on Living, between 2002 and 2005. He recently presented the series Derek Acorah on Sky Real Lives...
, a former star of the show and a professed Medium, whilst filming was taking place at the inn, a popular belief has arisen that the infamous Judge Jeffreys heard cases at the Court.
There is no readily available documentary evidence to show that Jeffreys ever sat in judgement at the inn, however, during his career he did deal with cases in the area from Chester to as far south as Montgomeryshire (now part of Powys) and within a few short years then dealt with cases on the Western Circuit including the county of Somerset. Both territories being within relatively close proximity to Monmouthshire, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that on his travels he may have stopped at the inn or may even have heard isolated cases at the inn if conditions so dictated.
However, when considering his reputation as a 'Hanging Judge', if the last execution at the inn puportedly took place during Cromwells' time, then Judge Jeffreys would have been no more than a young lad nearing his 14th birthday at the time of Cromwells' death.
The events for which Jeffreys is most famous are the Bloody Assizes
Bloody Assizes
The Bloody Assizes were a series of trials started at Winchester on 25 August 1685 in the aftermath of the Battle of Sedgemoor, which ended the Monmouth Rebellion in England....
. This term was given to a number of trials held by five judges led by Jeffreys, following the rounding up and capture of a large number of rebels involved in an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow James II
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
in 1685. This revolt became known as the Monmouth Rebellion
Monmouth Rebellion
The Monmouth Rebellion,The Revolt of the West or The West Country rebellion of 1685, was an attempt to overthrow James II, who had become King of England, King of Scots and King of Ireland at the death of his elder brother Charles II on 6 February 1685. James II was a Roman Catholic, and some...
, named so after the leader, the Duke of Monmouth, but had little if any connection with Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire (historic)
Monmouthshire , also known as the County of Monmouth , is one of thirteen ancient counties of Wales and a former administrative county....
where the inn is located. Otherwise known as James Scott
James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth
James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, 1st Duke of Buccleuch, KG, PC , was an English nobleman. Originally called James Crofts or James Fitzroy, he was born in Rotterdam in the Netherlands, the eldest illegitimate son of Charles II and his mistress, Lucy Walter...
, the Duke was given the title, being an illegitimate son of Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
. Having spent much time in The Netherlands he landed on the coast of Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
with a small band of men and rallied together a large group of poorly trained and badly armed supporters as he made his way through Dorset and Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
. A battle subsequently took place against the King's army, at Sedgemoor
Sedgemoor
Sedgemoor is a low lying area of land in Somerset, England. It lies close to sea level south of the Polden Hills, historically largely marsh . The eastern part is known as King's Sedgemoor, and the western part West Sedgemoor. Sedgemoor is part of the area now known as the Somerset Levels...
near Bridgwater
Bridgwater
Bridgwater is a market town and civil parish in Somerset, England. It is the administrative centre of the Sedgemoor district, and a major industrial centre. Bridgwater is located on the major communication routes through South West England...
in Somerset. The captured rebels, including some sympathisers, were tried at Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
and other towns in the south west of England. The majority of those found guilty were transported to Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
as plantation workers. Of the remainder, some died whilst awaiting trial and possibly as many as 200 were executed in Somerset. Importantly there would appear to be no record of any of the trials or executions having occurred at the inn.
Attractions
The inn looks out onto the Skirrid Mountain to the east and the Black Mountains, WalesBlack Mountains, Wales
The Black Mountains are a group of hills spread across parts of Powys and Monmouthshire in southeast Wales, and extending across the national border into Herefordshire, England. They are the easternmost of the four ranges of hills that comprise the Brecon Beacons National Park, and are frequently...
to the west, part of the Brecon Beacons National Park. The valley of the River Usk
River Usk
The River Usk rises on the northern slopes of the Black Mountain of mid-Wales, in the easternmost part of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Initially it flows north into Usk Reservoir, then east by Sennybridge to Brecon before turning southeast to flow by Talybont-on-Usk, Crickhowell and...
, River Wye
River Wye
The 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:...
and River Monnow
River Monnow
The 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...
all pass close by. Offa's Dyke Path
Offa's Dyke Path
Offa's Dyke Path is a long distance footpath along the Welsh-English border. Opened in 1971, it is one of Britain's premier National Trails and draws walkers from throughout the world...
runs close by also.