History Shire Hall, Monmouth

town hall , principal street in monmouth, crown , thistle inn



the statue of henry v @ shire hall

the current building erected in 1724, , @ least fourth building on site. had earlier been site of elizabethan court built in 1536, in turn replaced in 1571 timber-framed construction. timbers original building used in construction of shire hall, provided open trading area on ground floor rooms above. building, described in buildings of wales mighty affair , constructed of bath stone ashlar , designed little-known architect, philip fisher (d. 1776) of bristol @ cost of £1700. courts of assize transferred building in 1725, court room located on first floor above open arches used market area. clock in pediment made richard watkins in 1765.

the interior of building remodelled in 1828, , new exterior stair tower glazed lantern added, enclosing grandiose new staircase. thomas hopper involved improvements shire hall under royal assent . involved many years improvements penrhyn castle, near bangor. , edward haycock, sr. extended shire hall building along agincourt street, creating room new staircase , larger courts. hopper took residence in monnow street in monmouth while happening.

sculpture of king henry v

the sculpture of king henry v, in niche above front entrance , below clock, considered of poor quality; variously described incongruous , rather deplorable , , pathetic..like hypochondriac inspecting thermometer . added in 1792 charles peart, professional sculptor had been born @ nearby english newton. inscription reads: henry v, born @ monmouth, aug 9th 1387. carved birth date thought incorrect.

trial of chartist leaders

the county gaol located short distance court rooms. here chartist leader henry vincent, had sought right of men vote in parliamentary elections, imprisoned before being tried @ assizes. vincent convicted, unpopularity of verdict led protests led miners being killed in clash military @ newport on 4 november 1839. john frost arrested in newport shortly after riot, followed other leaders of group. special commission opened @ shire hall on 10 december 1839, , appointed grand jury considered charges bring against them. grand jury included lord granville somerset, brother of duke of beaufort; john etherington welch rolls; octavius morgan; , 4 members of parliament, joseph bailey, william addams williams, reginald james blewitt, , sir benjamin hall. frost, william jones, zephaniah williams , 5 others duly charged high treason, , trial began on 31 december. has been described 1 of important treason trials in annals of british law . judges lord chief justice, sir nicholas tindal; sir james parke; , sir john williams, notorious sentencing tolpuddle martyrs transportation in 1834. counsel crown attorney general, sir john campbell; frost s counsel sir frederick pollock.

while trial taking place, measures taken protect monmouth against chartist insurgents. troops billeted @ white swan, , stationed @ gatehouse on monnow bridge. granville somerset , benjamin hall spoke in frost s defence, and, in summing up, lord chief justice tindal drew attention complete certainty needed conviction, suggesting desire acquittal. 8 men found guilty, jury added recommendation mercy. on 16 january 1840, judge sentenced frost, jones , williams hanged, drawn , quartered; last men in britain sentenced punishment. other 5 men sentenced transportation. on day before due executed, 29 january, cabinet under lord melbourne took advice of lord chief justice tindal, , asked queen victoria reduce sentences transportation. on 2 february 1840, prisoners escorted chepstow, , put on steamer usk portsmouth, transferred ship spithead on 200 other prisoners , taken van diemen s land.