Overmonnow

Coordinates: 51°48′31″N 2°43′14″W / 51.80861°N 2.72056°W / 51.80861; -2.72056
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Overmonnow
Ward, suburb
Restored mediaeval cross and Green Dragon Inn, St Thomas Square, Overmonnow
Restored mediaeval cross and Green Dragon Inn
,
St Thomas Square, Overmonnow
Nicknames: 
  • Little Monmouth
  • Cappers' Town
Coordinates: 51°48′31″N 2°43′14″W / 51.80861°N 2.72056°W / 51.80861; -2.72056
CountryWales
CountyMonmouthshire
TownMonmouth

Overmonnow is a suburb of the town of Monmouth, in Wales, which is located to the west of the River Monnow and the Monnow Bridge. It developed in the Middle Ages, when it was protected by a defensive ditch, the Clawdd-du or "Black Dyke", the remains of which are now protected as an ancient monument. In later centuries the area became known as "Little Monmouth" or "Cappers' Town".

History

At the time of the Norman conquest, the area to the east of the River Monnow, and north of the

woollen fabric. By the twelfth century, development had taken place beyond the Monnow Bridge at Overmonnow, forming a suburb or faubourg.[1] The mediaeval iron industry at Overmonnow resulted in the wastage of large piles of cinders; these "cinder hills", which gave their name to Cinderhill Street, were removed in the eighteenth century.[2] The area was also known for the manufacture of woollen fabric, particularly Monmouth caps which were popular between the fifteenth and eighteenth centuries, and as a result the Overmonnow area supposedly became known as "Cappers' Town",[3] although this has been questioned.[4]

The area was also known as "Little Monmouth".[5] In the nineteenth century, there was a belief that "Little Monmouth" had at one time been a separate borough from the rest of the town, or "Great Monmouth". This seems to be a legend deriving from a pageant arranged to celebrate the coronation of Queen Victoria in 1838, in which the so-called "mayor of Overmonnow" demanded admittance to the town across Monnow Bridge, and then rode around the town with the (real) mayor of Monmouth.[6] However, the bridge was the scene of annual battles, or "muntlings", between rival gangs from "Up-Town" and "Cappers' Town". These took place on 1 May and 29 May, the youths arming themselves with besoms or "muntles" reinforced with stones. The altercations were banned in 1858.[7]

Substantial development, for both housing and light industry, has taken place in the Overmonnow area since the mid twentieth century. In the

ward had a total resident population of 2,300, within 1,104 separate households.[8] The ward is currently represented on Monmouthshire County Council by Cllr. Susan White, of the Conservative Party.[9] The area is also the site of the Monnow Vale Integrated Health and Social Care Facility
at Drybridge Park.

Clawdd-du

Mediaeval bridge over Clawdd-du
Main article: Clawdd-du

The Clawdd-du, or "Black Dyke", was a linear defensive earthwork or

Grade II* listed building.[11]

Church of St Thomas the Martyr

Notable buildings

The

vicarage with a five-bayed Georgian frontage.[12]

Drybridge House was built in 1671 by William Roberts, on the site of an earlier farmhouse. The house was owned for 400 years by the Crompton-Roberts family. It now houses a community and day care centre. Buildings along the road between Drybridge House and the bridge incorporate in their walls large wooden wallpaper blocks formerly used for hand printing, which were provided in the nineteenth century by the Crompton-Roberts family, who owned a printing business.[13]

Governance

Overmonnow is a community

Labour candidate Su McConnel.[15] However, the Conservatives regained the seat at a by-election in April 2018.[16]

Overmonnow is also a county ward which elects a county councillor to sit on Monmouthshire County Council.[17] At the May 2022 elections the seat was won by Steven Garratt for Welsh Labour.[18]

References

  1. ISBN 1-904396-01-1
    .
  2. ^ Kissack, Keith (1974). Mediaeval Monmouth. The Monmouth Historical and Educational Trust. p. 24.
  3. ^ Kelly's Directory 1901: Monmouth Archived 29 October 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Accessed 28 January 2012
  4. ^ a b "History of St Thomas the Martyr". Monmouth Parishes. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  5. ^ Kissack, Mediaeval Monmouth, p.33
  6. ^ Kissack, Mediaeval Monmouth, p.57
  7. ISBN 1-873827-40-7
    , p.262
  8. ^ ONS Neighbourhood Statistics: Overmonnow Ward. Accessed 28 January 2012
  9. ^ Monmouthshire County Council: Cllr. S White. Accessed 28 January 2012
  10. ISBN 0-7509-0415-1
    , p.3
  11. ^ British Listed Buildings: Clawdd-du Bridge. Accessed 28 January 2012
  12. ^
    ISBN 0-14-071053-1
    , p.410
  13. ^ Kissack, Monmouth and its Buildings, p.60
  14. ^ "Councillors". Monmouth Town Council. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  15. ^ "Independents cause a stir in council elections". Monmouthshire Beacon. 10 May 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  16. ^ "By-election win for Welsh Conservatives' Sue White". Monmouthshire Beacon. 20 April 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  17. ^ The County of Monmouthshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2002. Statutory Instruments. 6 December 2002. Retrieved 3 January 2019. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  18. ^ "Election Results for Overmonnow". Monmouthshire Council. 5 May 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
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