GROSMONT, a market-town and parish in the
upper division of the hundred of SKENFRETH, county
of MONMOUTH, 12 miles (N.) from Monmouth, and
139 (W.) from London, containing 701 inhabitants.
This place, though at present consisting only of scattered
cottages interspersed with a few respectable houses in
the immediate vicinity of the church, and some handsome
mansions in distant and detached situations, was
formerly a town of considerable importance, and of
great extent. Numerous remains of stone causeways,
by which the adjoining meadows are intersected, are,
with a high degree of probability, supposed to indicate
the site of former streets, and the size and architecture
of its church, unconnected with any monastic establishment
of importance, tend to confirm that opinion.
The castle, which, together with those of Llandeilo and
Skenfreth, was erected for the defence of this part of
the country, was, in the reign of Henry III., attacked
by the Welch under Prince Llewellyn, but the king
coming to its assistance with a powerful army, obliged
them to raise the siege. In a subsequent expedition of
that monarch against the Earl of Pembroke, who had
placed himself under the protection of Llewellyn, the
Welch having cut off the supplies of the royal army,
the king retreated to Grosmont castle, and his forces
encamped in the neighbourhood. While waiting here
for supplies, his troops were surprised by a party of
Llewellyn's cavalry, who carried off a considerable booty.
The remains of the castle, which was afterwards the
baronial residence of the earls of Lancaster, form an
interesting and picturesque object, romantically situated
on the summit of an eminence overlooking a beautiful
vale watered by the river Monnow, and bounded by the
lofty mountains of Craig, Saverney, and the Garway:
the walls include an area one hundred and ten feet in
length, and seventy in breadth, surrounded by a moat:
the principal entrance is through an arched gateway;
on the right of which are the remains of the baronial
hall, eighty feet in length, and twenty-seven feet wide,
lighted by three fine windows on one side, and two
at each end; some vestiges of the barbican may still
be traced, and there are slight remains of the intrenchments
to the south; the walls, richly overspread
with ivy, and impending over the stream of the Monnow,
the retired situation of the buildings, and the
scenery of the surrounding country, combine to impart
a powerful interest to this beautiful ruin. The market
is on Tuesday; and fairs are held April 4th, August
10th, and October 9th, for the sale of cattle; the old
market-house has been recently taken down, and a new
one is at present being erected on its site, at the expense
of the Duke of Beaufort. The town, which is governed
by a mayor and burgesses, forms part of the duchy of
Lancaster, and is included within the jurisdiction of
a court baron held occasionally for the three castles of
Llandeilo, or White castle, Skenfreth, and Grosmont:
the petty sessions for the hundred of Ewyaslacy, in
the county of Hereford, are also held here. The living
is a discharged rectory, in the archdeaconry and diocese
of Llandaff, rated in the king's books at £6. 5. 25.,
and in the patronage of the Crown. The church, dedicated
to St. Nicholas, is a spacious cruciform structure
in the decorated style of English architecture, with an
octagonal tower surmounted by a spire: an old tombstone
in the churchyard, near the east wall of the
chancel, without any inscription, is said to point out the
grave of John a Kent, of whom many notable exploits
are traditionally recorded. A free school was founded in
1803, by the Rev. Tudor Price, rector, who bequeathed
£400 for that purpose: in 1812, Miss George added
£400, the interest of which is paid to a master, for
instructing the children of the poor of this parish, and
those of farmers not renting land to the amount of
more than £30 per annum, and six children from each
of the parishes of Rplstone and Skenfreth. A Sunday
school, in which from forty to fifty children are instructed,
is supported by subscription. Grosmont gives
the title of viscount to the Duke of Beaufort.