Cornwall House

Monnow Street is the main High Street of the town, and always has been. The plots are all medieval on the main stretch between the bridge and the castle. Since then they have all been re-fronted, or rebuilt.

Cornwall House stands out from the crowd because it is the only major private residence on the High Street. The house is rather wide – taking up three of the original burgage plots – the plots that established the town.

The Agent of the Duke of Beaufort rebuilt the house in 1752. To see the house he built you have to look around the back – as he deliberately faced it away from town down to the river.

Today it has two front elevations. The side that you see from the street seems to be from about 1800, when the house was turned around.

It’s a house that was modified every half century but it’s also one that is lucky enough to look handsome from both elevations.