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Grosmont in Monmouth County England History and GeographyGROSMONT, a market town and parish in the upper division of the hundred of SKENFRETH, county of MONMOUTH, 12 miles (N.) from Monmouth, and 139 (W.) from London, containing 701 inhabitants. This place, though at present consisting only of scattered cottages interspersed with a few respectable houses in the immediate vicinity of the church, and some handsome mansions in distant and detached situations, was formerly a town of considerable importance, and of great extent. Numerous remains of stone causeways, by which the adjoining meadows are intersected, are, with a high degree of probability, supposed to indicate the site of former streets, and the size and architecture of its church, unconnected with any monastic establishment of importance, tend to confirm that opinion. The castle, which, together with those of Llandeilo and Skenfreth, was erected for the defence of this part of the country, was, in the reign of Henry III., attacked by the Welch under Prince Llewellyn, but the king coming to its assistance with a powerful army, obliged them to raise the siege. In a subsequent expedition of that monarch against the Earl of Pembroke, who had placed himself under the protection of Llewellyn, the Welch having cut off the supplies of the royal army, the king retreated to Grosmont castle, and his forces encamped in the neighbourhood. While waiting here for supplies, his troops were surprised by a party of Llewellyn's cavalry, who carried off a considerable booty. The remains of the castle, which was afterwards the baronial residence of the earls of Lancaster, form an interesting and picturesque object, romantically situated on the summit of an eminence overlooking a beautiful vale watered by the river Monnow, and bounded by the lofty mountains of Craig, Saverney, and the Garway: the walls include an area one hundred and ten feet in length, and seventy in breadth, surrounded by a moat: the principal entrance is through an arched gateway; on the right of which are the remains of the baronial hall, eighty feet in length, and twenty-seven feet wide, lighted by three fine windows on one side, and two at each end; some vestiges of the barbican may still be traced, and there are slight remains of the intrenchments to the south: the walls, richly overspread with ivy, and impending over the stream of the Monnow, the retired situation of the buildings, and the scenery of the surrounding country, combine to impart a powerful interest to this beautiful ruin. The market is on Tuesday; and fairs are held April 4th, August 10th, and October 9th, for the sale of cattle: the old market-house has been recently taken down, and a new one is at present being erected on its site, at the expense of the Duke of Beaufort. The town, which is governed by a mayor and burgesses, forms part of the duchy of Lancaster, and is included within the jurisdiction of a court baron held occasionally for the three castles of Llandeilo, or White castle, Skenfreth, and Grosmont: the petty sessions for the hundred of Ewyaslacy, in the county of Hereford, are also held here. The living is a discharged rectory, in the archdeaconry and diocese of Llandaff, rated in the king's books at £6. 5. 2½., and in the patronage of the Crown. The church, dedicated to St. Nicholas, is a spacious cruciform structure in the decorated style of English architecture, with an octagonal tower surmounted by a spire: an old tombstone in the churchyard, near the east wall of the chancel, without any inscription, is said to point out the grave of John ? Kent, of whom many notable exploits are traditionally recorded. A free school was founded in 1803, by the Rev. Tudor Price, rector, who bequeathed £400 for that purpose: in 1812, Miss George added £400, the interest of which is paid to a master, for instructing the children of the poor of this parish, and those of farmers not renting land to the amount of more than £30 per annum, and six children from each of the parishes of Rolstone and Skenfreth. A Sunday school, in which from forty to fifty children are instructed, is supported by subscription. Grosmont gives the title of viscount to the Duke of Beaufort. From Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of England 1831, courtesy of Databases 4 Sale |
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