Monmouthshire is a county on the South East edge of Wales with a population of 87,000 and an area of over 500 sq miles. Monmouthshire contains Monmouth, Chepstow (famous for its racecourse) and Abergavenny

Abergavenny has a population of over 14,000, the name coming from ‘Aber’ meaning ‘mouth of’ and the River Gavenny. The walls of Abergavenny town were captured by nationalist hero Owain Glyndwrin 1404 who burned the town to the ground. Abergavenny Castle is sited on the River Usk and is a naturally fortified site which was built by the conquering Normans.

Monmouth is the county town of Monmouthshire with over 8,500 inhabitants and will forever be associated with the Monmouth Rebellion of 1685 which saw James Scott the Duke of Monmouth challenge the Catholic King James II. The revolt ended in ignominy for the rebels with a heavy defeat at Sedgefield, resulting in the ‘Bloody Assizes’ where 1400 of his supporters were executed.

Famous residents of Monmouthshire include: Admiral Horatio Nelson, Henry V, James Scott the rebel Duke of Monmouth and engineer Charles Rolls of Rolls-Royce fame.