Nelson Rooms

Cadw's description

Location

An important residential street to the south of the town centre of Monmouth.

History

Probably c1870 and unaltered externally. It was built by Lady Llangattock as a Working Men's Gymnasium and may have been designed by Benjamin Lawrence of Newport who designed the contemporary Working Men's Free Institute for the same client (see Monk Street). Previous to 1970 the Nelson Museum was housed here, hence the name of the building.

Exterior

Coursed squared rock-faced red sandstone rubble with probably Bath stone ashlar quoins and dressings, tiled roof. The plan is a large hall above a basement. Two storeys, possibly partly with an attic, with the upper floor much taller than the ground floor. Rectangular corner block with four bays to Glendower Street and the gable end to Agincourt Street.
Glendower Street elevation has three cross-framed windows on the left of the ground floor and a door flanked by single light ones on the right. The upper floor has 2, 3, 2, 1 2, 1 light windows, all with two transoms; all lights with leaded glazing. The 3-light one is in a slightly projecting oriel with an apron and castellated parapet. There are three string course, above and below the apron and below the castellated parapet, which go round the building. Coped gable with single light window above the oriel. Blank plaque on parapet above the door.
Agincourt Street elevation has a canted 2-storey bay with 1 + 3 + 1 lights, single light below and with two transoms above, leaded lights. The first floor window has a stone apron and a castellated parapet. Plain 3-light window above, coped gable with ball finials.
Rear elevation similar, but more plainly finished.

Interior

Interior not available at resurvey, but details have been provided. The building has a single room on each floor with the lower one having a much lower ceiling. The upper hall is in five bays with four false hammerbeam trusses, in fact a heavy tie with brackets and arched braced collars above; vertical iron restraints through the centre of each truss. The eastern bay has a balcony.

Reason for designation

Included for its special architectural interest as a Victorian recreational building in the Gothic style and for its group value in Glendower Street.