My Town / Monmouth / Aneurin Hughes

1. Where are you from originally?

I was born in Aberystwyth and raised seven miles outside the town in a small village with a long name – Penbontrhydybeddau.

2. When did you move to Monmouth?

We moved to Monmouth about six years ago having lived in an idylllic spot near Newcastle Emlyn prior to that.

3.What attracted you to the town?

The reason for moving was the impressive schools that are here and for me to be closer to centres of work as an actor. I am called upon at short notice to travel to the large cities in the course of my work and Monmouth seemed a good strategic spot!

4. What is special about your house and why did you buy it?

We had not intended to live in the centre of town but having found our house and settled here it has worked out to be very convenient. The house is in two parts from two distinct periods. The elevation that faces the street is from the middle of the seventeeth century and the side that faces the south and the park is from the 1830’s.

5. Apart from your house do you have any favourite building in Monmouth

Monmouth is a medieval town though its roots go back as far as Roman times.

The high street is narrow at each end but has an open square in the middle with the benefit of being able to keep livestock under control on market day.

With a bit of imagination you can look down the main high street and imagine it as it was. Many of the houses still retain large stones over the fire places.

At the bottom of the street is the Monnow river with the lovely old bridge and gatehouse sitting on top of the bridge. There is also another river the Wye of course.

At the top of the high street the Town Hall stands, built in 1742, it was here that the Chartist were tried. Nearby is the Church as well as the remains of Monmouth Castle where Henry V was born in 1387 – a fact immortalised in Shakespeare - "I'll tell you, there are good men born at Monmouth..." King Henry V, Act IV Scene VII.

Admiral Nelson visited the town and the museum boasts many of his personal artefacts.

In the centre of Agincourt Square is a wonderful monument to Charles Rolls of Rolls Royce fame. He was brought up at Hendre - a large house on the outskirts of Monmouth.

6. The towns appeal to me….

The town is full of history and interesting buildings from the time of Geoffrey of Monmouth right up to the present day with the likes of Rockfield Srudios where many famous bands have recorded their music. The piano that Freddie Mercury used to record the hit song ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ is still there.

There are plenty of old rockers that have moved to Monmouth and so there is still a lot of music to be heard in the town.

There’s a good community here. Not too large nor too small!