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i L ll n S h The standing stones mark t r Jo e t where the ring of stones from the last National e S t Post Office 7 et Eisteddfod in now stand. Stre Mill Wheel 5 stle The inserts on the stones show scenes from the life of Ca Lady , who promoted the Welsh way of life. Museum She employed harpists and all her servants had to wear King’s Arms P traditional Welsh costume. Can you find the Bee? t 6 Old Court ➜ ➜ e She helped to bring the Eisteddfod to Abergavenny and e To Castle Meadows and River tr House S r was known as the Gwent Bee. o d u The River Gavenny gives Abergavenny its name. T After looking at the stones, cross to the Turn right as soon as you reach the end Abergavenny received grants for building town walls from other path and turning right, return to of the narrow street, and go right again the entrance, alongside the River 1241-6 and 1259-64.The grants reinforced the ditch and down St John's Street.A small lane goes Gavenny. Retrace your steps to the bank enclosure and later the town was walled in stone off on the left. On the corner is St John's Tourist Information Centre, walk along with the help of more grants. the front to the right and up into the Church. 3 Turn left to go along Castle Street. upper car park. Once the Parish Church at one end of Look carefully amongst the bushes for the medieval market place, now a Walk on through the next plaque. 7 Masonic Temple. on the left side to This was the site of the Roman Fort. the Priory Centre Henry VIII founded the grammar school here by giving and St Mary's the old parish church of St. John’s to house the school The excavations here showed that two barrack blocks Priory Church and some of the taxes (tithes) from the closed down faced each other across a street.The barracks had glass (right) and Tithe priory to fund it. windows.A big granary for wheat storage was also found. Barn (left). Remains of metal working and pieces of harness suggest Go along St John's Street to rejoin the this was a smaller auxiliary fort with cavalry. When the Tithe Barn was High Street. Walk further along Castle Street and restored, fire damage was On the corner is the Millennium Mural. into the Castle grounds. found. The town was burnt by Owain Glyndwr ˆ in 1404. Can you see the castle? And the railway? The monks at the Priory stored the tithes (one tenth of The Museum is free to enter and sits on Turn left, go along the High Street to a man's produce) here. top of the Motte the corner with Nevill Street and turn on which the The Priory Church became the Parish Church after left. Henry VIII took over Church properties – known as the original wooden castle was built. Dissolution of the Monasteries. Go along Nevill is Walk past the end of the Tithe Barn to Street looking at the most famous for the Monk Street, turn right to cross at the very old houses here. pedestrian lights. Go left back along Christmas Day Massacre Can you see the Town in 1175, when the Monk Street and turn right up Cross Wall at the back of Street. Norman Lord of any of them? Find the Abergavenny,William de Braose, tricked and murdered Look at the buildings as you pass. Some of them are very plaque of The Wig Maker on the left. 4 Seisyll ap Dyfnwal and many other Welsh chieftains.The old. Can you work out where the Cibi Brook passes Wigs were popular from the 1500’s onwards because you Welsh got their revenge a few years later when they under Monk Street? could shave off your hair to free of nits! In attacked the castle and captured most of William’s men, Opposite you is the Angel Inn, an old coaching inn where Abergavenny, wigs were made from goats hair bleached but de Braose himself was not at home. passengers from London to the with a special recipe invented here. It’s thought to have been in the Great Hall which was West of stopped When they excavated here, the wig curlers were found! probably a timber building on that site. On Christmas overnight. At the end of the street, cross to the Day, the Norman Lord of Abergavenny,William de Go up Cross Street to Post Office. Braose, murdered Seisyll ap Dyfnwal and many other the top. Welsh chieftains. The Market Hall is on Find The Market plaque on the wall half the right. way along. 5 The Welsh got their revenge in 1182 when the castle was attacked. Most of William's men were captured, but de Around 1600 there were markets on Cross the road into Braose was not at home. the pedestrianised Tuesdays and Fridays, with three fairs a area and take the first year at Abergavenny.There are still Returning from the Castle. turning left. markets and fairs nowadays. From the gate, you can walk around to Can you see the copper top of Markets were set up by the Lord of Abergavenny to make the left, outside the walls, down steps to the Market Hall tower? money.The tiles show some of the market trades which Mill Street, where an old mill wheel can It is a landmark for miles around. would have been here at that time. What are they doing be seen and the Cibi Brook rushing under the road. Perhaps, visit the Market Hall and look at the decorations to the pig? Is it a hare or a rabbit in the corner? Go past Tan House, the house of the hanging from the roof, left over from the annual Food Cross over the square to the King's Master Tanner when this was smelly Festival. Arms, a very old pub. tanning pits.Turn right to reach the Then cross the road to the Old Court Walk along this street, now called pedestrian crossing and return up the Flannel Street. Look for the plaque on House and find the plaque 6 at the road to the Tourist Information Centre. the left. 2 West Gate. The West gate is between Tudor Street Abergavenny Flannel was fine and soft. It was made here Alternatively, if you want to revisit the going out of the town and Castle Street – the remains of a loom were found in the roof of the town or the Tithe Barn,retrace your leading to the castle. building behind during alterations. Flannel was also steps into Castle Street.At the first brought into the town from the countryside to be sold at Jasper Tudor was Lord of Abergavenny 1486-95. junction turn right and down the fairs and markets. He was the great-uncle of Henry VIII. narrow pavement to the corner by the This street used to be called Butcher's Row (where all Produce & goods passing through were taxed and the Angel Hotel. the meat stalls were, and the animals killed). It led into walls marked out the trading area, as well as being for Turn left at the bottom for the town. Chicken Street at the top. defence. Cattle, sheep and other animals would be kept in Or turn right, cross over the pedestrian Why do you think the street was called Chicken Street? Castle Meadows or in the Grofields (which were fields crossing, back up Cross Street and Look up on the right. then) and brought through the gate to market, or for turn right into Monk Street for the safety if the Welsh were attacking. Tithe Barn. THE Heritage PLAQUES Plaque 5 St John's Square: Site of Abergavenny's medieval market place.

Plaque 3 Plaque 6 The former St John's Church; Site of the Tudor Street:Abergavenny was a walled first King Henry V111 Grammar School town with four main gates.This is what which was established in 1542. the medieval West Gate looked like. It was supported for many years by tithes gained from the dissolved St Mary's priory and other properties. In 1898, a new Plaque 1 grammar school was built in Pen y Pound, Images on the standing stones show and St John's became a Freemasons' scenes from the life of Lady Llanover Lodge.This school was replaced by the promoting the Welsh way of life. King Henry V111 Comprehensive School on Old Road.

Plaque 2 Abergavenny was once known for its flannel, a soft Plaque 7 woollen cloth. Castle Street car park. Site of the Flannel Street Roman fort of . was the site of a flannel mill in the 18th century. Plaque 4 10-12 Nevill Street: Site where a hair bleacher lived circa 1740.Abergavenny was known for the manufacture of fashionable white periwigs made of goat hair, sometimes sold at 40 guineas each. A method of bleaching the hair was said to have been invented in the town. Time line Follow the Trail... ABERGAVENNY 50-150: Roman Fort known as Gobannium; the place of …for a taster of some of the the ironsmiths of Abergavenny. Find 1090: After the invasion of the Normans, Hamelin de the images which show the Trails and Tales Ballon built a castle and a Norman town research by local schools and 1100s: Hamelin de Ballon gave money and land for the Abergavenny Local Bendictine monks to build a priory at St Mary's History Society, illustrated by Priory local artists on stunning for families 1175: Sisyllt, the local Welsh Prince, and his followers ceramic and stone plaques. were murdered by William de Braose, Lord of The trail takes about an hour Abergavenny, after being invited for Christmas and follows an easy route. dinner at the castle. You can add to it by visiting 1182: The castle was attacked by the sons of Sisyllt in at the Castle, which has activities for revenge. children, or St Mary's Priory Church with its internationally 1241: New walls were built around the bigger town. famous monuments.You might want to visit the Market Hall 1256: Castle accounts refer to the markets in the town. and surrounding shopping areas or end up at the beautifully restored Tithe Barn 1400s: St Mary's Priory church rebuilt on its present site. with its Millennium 1403: Owain Glyndwr ˆ burnt much of Abergavenny, still a Tapestry, historical mainly non-welsh town, but failed to take the displays and Taste of castle, which had recently been strengthened Wales food and drink. 1542: Henry VIII gave St Mary's Priory church to the town and the previous parish church, St John's, Abergavenny Local History became King Henry VIII Grammar School, Society supported the supported by some of the tithes previously paid to project, co-ordinated it the Priory. and raised the money. 1645: The castle was ordered by Charles 1st to be The leaflet is being partially destroyed to prevent it being used in the produced with funds from the European Union and supported by civil war. Abergavenny & District Tourist Association, Collabor8, and the 1658: Oliver Cromwell granted permission for Brecon Beacons National Park Authority. Abergavenny to hold two markets a week and three Research assisted by pupils of: Primary fairs a year. School, Our Lady & St Michael's RC Primary School, Govilon 1863: The cattle market was opened and animals were no Primary School, Gilwern Primary School, Deri View Primary longer sold on the streets of Abergavenny School and Cantref Primary School. 1870: The present market hall, replacing the previous one Plaques designed and created by Ned Heywood (ceramics) and on the same site, was completed. Jane Turner (stone). 1898: King Henry VIII Grammar school moved to a new © Abergavenny Local History Society & Abergavenny & District building on Pen-y-Pound. Tourist Association. 1913: Abergavenny hosted the National Eisteddfod Photographs: Gill Wakley & Zoe Longridge.Text:Gill Wakley 1959: Abergavenny Museum was opened. 2008: The restored Tithe Barn was opened by the Prince of Wales. Wigs,Flannels and Romans