Nelson Rooms

The Nelson Rooms stands in Monmouth, a town in Monmouthshire, Wales. It is a 19th-century grade II listed building at the corner of Glendower Street and Agincourt Street, within the medieval town walls. The street was once called Grinders Street in the medieval period. The building was originally constructed as the Working Men’s Gymnasium by Lady Llangattock. She gifted it to the town in the late 19th century. The gymnasium later became the Nelson Museum, housing memorabilia collected by Lady Llangattock. The building is worth noting for its connections to Lady Llangattock and her family. She was the wife of John Allan Rolls, 1st Baron Llangattock, and mother of Charles Stewart Rolls, who co-founded Rolls-Royce. After her death in 1923, her collection of Admiral Horatio Nelson’s memorabilia formed the core of the museum. The Nelson Museum operated here until 1969, when it moved to the Market Hall. The building’s exterior has changed little since it was built. Visitors now find the Nelson Rooms converted into residential apartments. The building retains its historic character, with red sandstone rubble walls and Bath Stone trim. The Glendower Street elevation features an oriel window with a castellated parapet, while the Agincourt Street facade has a canted bay. Inside, the space has been reorganised into flats, preserving the building’s architectural details. The site remains within the medieval town walls, close to other historic buildings.