Monnow Street is the main shopping street of Monmouth, south east

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...

. It runs for about 500 yards in a south-westerly direction from

Agincourt Square Agincourt Square is an open space in the centre of Monmouth, Wales, in front of the Shire Hall. The area has been used for public functions and markets over the centuries. History The mediaeval market place in Monmouth developed from the bail ...

to the Monnow Bridge, which crosses the

River Monnow The River Monnow ( cy, Afon Mynwy) marks the England–Wales border for much of its length. After flowing through southwest Herefordshire, England, and eastern Monmouthshire, Wales, its confluence with the River Wye is approximately south of ...

History and buildings

The road is thought to have existed at least from

Roman Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...

times. Keith Kissack, ''The Lordship, Parish and Borough of Monmouth'', Lapridge Publications, 1996, , p.14 In the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...

it was a typical market street, known as the "Great Causey",Kissack, ''The Lordship, Parish and Borough of Monmouth'', p.25 with gates at either end and a wider area in the middle for the trading of livestock and the erection of market stalls. Keith Kissack, ''Monmouth and its Buildings'', Logaston Press, 2003, . p.34 The market was later concentrated at the northern end of the road (now Agincourt Square), and the road itself became known as Monmouth Street. Archaeological investigations at properties in the street, led by the

Monmouth Archaeological Society The Monmouth Archaeological Society is a society of amateur and professional archaeologists who encourage the preservation of archaeological artifacts and sites, publish, and carry out archaeological studies in and around Monmouth, Wales. Hist ...

, have revealed both Roman and Norman remains, as well as evidence of mediaeval

iron working Ferrous metallurgy is the metallurgy of iron and its alloys. The earliest surviving prehistoric iron artifacts, from the 4th millennium BC in Egypt, were made from meteoritic iron-nickel. It is not known when or where the smelting of iron fro ...

. David Hunter, ''Offa's Dyke Path: A Journey Through the Border Country of England and Wales'', Cicerone Press, 2011
, p.60 The street is described by architectural historian John Newman as a "pleasingly continuous array of C18 and early C19 shops and houses, in the main modestly two-storeyed, with several Victorian interventions".John Newman, ''The Buildings of Wales: Gwent/Monmouthshire'', Penguin Books, 2000, , p.409 Notable buildings include Cornwall House, The Vine Tree and the Robin Hood Inn.

Gallery

File:Monnow street showing a procession after WW1.jpg, Monnow Street in July 1919, showing a procession of servicemen and civilians to celebrate peace after the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

File:1947 flood in Monnow st..jpg, 1947 flood in Monnow Street File:Goat Master.jpg, Goat Master with mascot in Monnow Street during the Olympic torch procession in 2012

References

{{Streets in Monmouth Shopping streets in Wales Streets and squares in Monmouth, Wales