Retaining Wall between Castle Street Car-park and the Garden of Old Court

Cadw's description

Location

Part of the south side of the town wall circuit, seen within the garden of Old Court but also retaining the Castle Street car park.

History

Fragments of medieval town walls built first in the C14 when Abergavenny had a complete circuit with four gates. This section is part of the run from Abergavenny Castle to the Tudor Street Gate (demolished after 1802) which gave access to the road leading down to Usk Bridge (qv Merthyr Road). It was partially demolished and rebuilt in the centuries following the Civil War in the mid C17 so that very little ancient fabric now remains. This section is the most extensive, best preserved and most visible of the remains of the town walls.

Exterior

Built of red sandstone random rubble very little of which can be considered ancient. About 20m of wall approximately 3m high survives at this point, flat stone capping. There are indications of repairs, including brick, heightening and rebuilding.
The elevation in the Castle Street car-park is very low due to the difference in ground level inside the wall circuit.

Reason for designation

Included for its special historic interest as a fragment of the medieval town walls of Abergavenny. This section is the most extensive, best preserved and most visible of the remains of the town walls.