31 Monnow Street

Cadw's description

Location

On Monmouth's principal commercial street which leads out of the town square going south-west to Monnow Bridge.

History

Early C18 main block with the same ridge line as No. 33 (qv) and possibly built together with it, later rear extension, altered in the late C19.

Exterior

Rendered and painted front, probably over brick, Welsh slate roof, rendered stack. Double depth plan with rear extension. Three storeys, three windows. Ground floor has late C19 or early C20 shopfront with central entrance, flanking 2-light display windows with overlight, large fascia which hides the cills of the first floor windows. The windows are all plain, recessed sashes with 2 over 2 panes and stone cills. Steeply pitched roof with stack on right gable. Rear elevation altered.

Interior

The interior retains both beams with roll mouldings suggestive of c.1600 and C17 chamfered beams with lamb's tongue stops. These were presumably reused in the main early C18 rebuild rather than being in situ. The interior of the lower floors has been very extensively altered and is now joined with No. 33 (qv) as one shop, but the upper floor retains part of the early C18 staircase with two dog-leg flights, closed string, close-set turned balusters and moulded handrail. There are also at least five early C18 2-panel doors in the attic. The roof space shows a much renewed queen strut roof and what appears to be a reused upper cruck blade.

Reason for designation

Included for its special architectural interest as a multi-period building of definite character in the Monmouth town centre.