The Nelson Garden, on 13 Chippenhamgate Street, at the rear of No.18 Monnow Street, Monmouth,
Monmouthshire is a 19th-century garden that was the scene of a tea party held to honour
Lord Nelson
Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronte (29 September 1758 – 21 October 1805) was a British flag officer in the Royal Navy. His inspirational leadership, grasp of strategy, and unconventional tactics brought a ...
in 1802. The garden is one of 24 sites on the
Monmouth Heritage Trail
The Monmouth Heritage Trail is a walking route which connects various sights in the town of Monmouth, Wales.
History
In 2009 Monmouth Civic Society identified 24 historic and interesting buildings in the town, and organised the production and fix ...
. It is bounded on the south by the line of the medieval town wall through which it is entered via a short underground passageway. The garden has limited public access and is now managed by a trust. It is included on the
Cadw/ICOMOS Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales.
History
The walled garden was the site of a
real tennis court in the 17th century and was a bowling green by 1718. It then became an orchard; an example of an 18th-century
hypocaust
A hypocaust ( la, hypocaustum) is a system of central heating in a building that produces and circulates hot air below the floor of a room, and may also warm the walls with a series of pipes through which the hot air passes. This air can warm th ...
(heated) wall still survives, where fruit trees would have been '
espalier
Espalier ( or ) is the horticultural and ancient agricultural practice of controlling woody plant growth for the production of fruit, by pruning and tying branches to a frame. Plants are frequently shaped in formal patterns, flat against a struct ...
ed' (trained flat) against the warm brickwork. There are traces of the stoking chamber for this wall in a neighbouring garden. Roman and Norman remains lie deep beneath the lawn.
[Monmouth Civic Society, ''Guide to the Monmouth Heritage Blue Plaque Trail'', n.d., p.25]
The Nelson Garden commemorates Lord Nelson's visit to Monmouth on August 19, 1802, with
Sir William and
Lady Emma Hamilton
Dame Emma Hamilton (born Amy Lyon; 26 April 176515 January 1815), generally known as Lady Hamilton, was an English maid, model, dancer and actress. She began her career in London's demi-monde, becoming the mistress of a series of wealthy me ...
on the occasion of their tour of the
Wye Valley
The Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB; cy, Dyffryn Gwy) is an internationally important protected landscape straddling the border between England and Wales.
The River Wye ( cy, Afon Gwy) is the fourth-longest river in th ...
. Having been entertained at the
Beaufort Arms, the party adjourned "accompanied by Colonel Lindsay to the beautiful summerhouse in his garden there to enjoy the refreshment of tea or coffee and to pass the rest of the evening in that charming retreat". Although the 'charming retreat' has vanished, in about 1840 the present Memorial Pavilion was erected, possibly to the design of
George Vaughan Maddox
George Vaughan Maddox (1802–27 February 1864) was a nineteenth-century British architect and builder, whose work was undertaken principally in the town of Monmouth, Wales, and in the wider county. Working mainly in a Neo-Classical style, hi ...
, the Monmouth architect.
[John Newman, ''The Buildings of Wales: Gwent/Monmouthshire'', Penguin Books, 2000, , pp.408] Being of timber, various parts have had to be replaced over time and it is not known how much of the current structure is original. "Lord Nelson's Seat" remains an attractive feature, bearing a plaque commemorating Nelson's visit. The
describes the summerhouse as "important and unusual."
Until 1950 the managers of the adjoining
Lloyds Bank
Lloyds Bank plc is a British retail and commercial bank with branches across England and Wales. It has traditionally been considered one of the " Big Four" clearing banks. Lloyds Bank is the largest retail bank in Britain, and has an exte ...
maintained the garden. This changed when their families were allowed to live elsewhere, but the garden continued to be maintained by resident tenants. Thereafter it deteriorated, but in 1994 the Nelson Society and
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 ...
, began restoration. In 1996 the
Welsh Historic Gardens Trust became involved and in 1997 set up a restoration committee to care for the garden. In 2001 the committee negotiated a 10-year sub-lease from Lloyds Bank, funded conservation work on the entrance tunnel, and installed a decorative iron screen to separate the garden from the rest of the bank property.
[
The garden is now managed by the Nelson Garden Preservation Trust which aims to establish a comprehensive historic restoration scheme and ensure its long-term future. The garden is usually open to the public between April and September on Fridays between 2–4 p.m.
]
Architecture and listings
The garden structures, including the pavilion, are Grade II* listed.
Gallery
Nelson's 'seat', Nelson Garden, Monmouth.JPG, The seat where Nelson sat to take tea in 1802
Nelson 2002 celebrations, Nelson Garden, Monmouth.jpg, In 2002 it was the bi-centenary of the Nelson's visit to the garden
The Nelson pavilion in 2011, Nelson Garden, Monmouth.jpg, The Nelson pavilion
The pavilion in the Nelson Garden Monmouth.jpg, C.19th engraving of the pavilion
Notes
References
*Newman J., ''The Buildings of Wales: Gwent/Monmouthshire'', (2000) Penguin Books
External links
The Nelson Garden website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nelson Garden, The
Gardens in Wales
Buildings and structures in Monmouth, Wales
Grade II* listed buildings in Monmouthshire
Tourist attractions in Monmouthshire
Monmouth, Wales
Monuments and memorials to Horatio Nelson
Registered historic parks and gardens in Monmouthshire