New homes in Monmouth

From Monmouth later became a tourist centre at the heart of the Wye Valley, as well as a market town. It now serves as a shopping and service centre, and as a focus of educational and cultural activities for its surrounding rural area.

A quick history

Archaeologists have discovered Neolithic and Bronze Age remains in Monmouth, but the history of the town is mainly associated with the Roman Era. Blestium Fort was connected to other major Roman towns including Gloucester and Caerleon, and later after the Norman conquest, Monmouth Castle was built. The castle is also known as the birthplace of Henry V.

Monmouth became a county town in the 16th century and was represented in parliament for the first time, while Monmouth School was founded in 1614. Great Castle House was built in the late 17th century and is home to the oldest regiment of the British Army. Local tourism grew over the decades and centuries that followed, especially thanks to visits from William Wordsworth, William Turner and Samuel Coleridge. Charles Rolls, one of the co-founders of Rolls Royce, once lived near the town.

Business and industry

There are several different businesses close to Monmouth, including Nimbus Records who were the first British company to make CDs. The town is well-connected to Newport by road, where employers include; Monmouthshire Building Society, Wales and West Utilities, Acorn UK and Gocompare.com.

Things to do in the area

Monmouth has retained its small-town charm, but still has many attractions and amenities including; the Savoy Theatre, the Blake Theatre and the Monmouth Museum. One of the most iconic sights in Monmouth is the gated bridge, which dates back to the 13th century.

There are several annual events held in the local area, including The Monmouthshire Show which focuses on countryside and farming, and The Monmouth Festival which hosts nine days of free live music and is one of the largest festivals of its kind in Europe.

If you love getting out and about in the great outdoors, there are lots of walking routes along the beautiful Wye Valley. While the Forest of Dean is only a short drive away where you’ll find a sculpture trail and miles of mountain bike tracks.

Other attractions nearby include; Wye Valley Butterfly Zoo, Clearwell Caves, Puzzlewood and Goodrich Castle.

Travel and commuting

Monmouth is located on the A40, a dual carriageway that goes to Ross-on-Wye and the M50 further north, and Newport and the M4 further south. Although there’s no train station in the town, the road routes are very good and there are regular bus services to nearby towns and cities.

From Monmouth, the journey to Abergavenny takes 30-minutes by car, while Ross-on-Wye can be reached in just 20-minutes and Newport in 35-minutes. Gloucester is a 45-minute drive away, while the journey to London takes around three hours. If you prefer, there are regular rail services from Newport to London Paddington, with a journey time of under two hours.

When it’s time to go on holiday, Monmouth is one hour five minutes from Bristol Airport and one hour 25-minutes from Birmingham Airport