The Queen's Head PH

Cadw's description

Location

Prominently sited within the linear group of historic buildings leading to St. James's Square on the east side of Monmouth and about 300m east of the town centre.

History

Built 1630 (plaque), and restored and much rebuilt in 1922 by Harry A Dancey.

Exterior

Originally a timber framed house, and this has been reproduced in present exterior appearance, but only the section gabled to the street is genuinely C17. The rest of the building is rendered, probably over brick, with applied timber framing, Welsh slate roofs and red brick stacks. Single depth range along the street, but the gabled section stretches back from the street. Two storeys, and attics, but the attic shows only at the rear apart from the gabled section. Wings with two wide bays on either side of the gabled section. This has a small 3-light window and a doorway on the ground floor, and the upper floor is jettied on three brackets; C17 7-light oriel window under a pent roof. Small 2-light window in gable above; bargeboarded gable with spike finial. The left hand wing has a garage door and a 3-light window on the ground floor and two large and one small 2-light windows above, all new windows with leaded lights. Roof with ridge stack and spike finial on gable to left. The right wing has two recessed bay windows on the ground floor and an entrance canted across the corner, two mullion-and-transom windows above. Return to Wyebridge Street has two windows on each floor. Ridge stack, spike finial on gable.
Rear elevation shows three late C20 dormers on west wing, and rear gables of centre range and east wing.

Interior

Three features seen at resurvey may be in situ, suggesting that the 1922 rebuilding may not have been as thoroughgoing as the exterior appearance suggests. The garage at the left hand end of the building includes a stone fireplace with massive jambs and lintel, but there is no chimney above it. The main bar area at the right hand end has another similar fireplace and a strapwork ceiling with fleur-de-lys in the panels.

Reason for designation

Included for its special architectural interest as a C17 and C20 building of definite character near Monmouth town centre.