Queens Head

The Queens Head is a public house on St James Street in Monmouth, Wales. The building has been a Grade II listed structure since 1952 and dates from the 16th century. Near the bar, original plasterwork ceilings from the 17th century survive. The exterior has changed over time, with stone added in places and gables removed. In 1922, H.A. Dancey clad the front in mock black-and-white timber. During the English Civil War, Oliver Cromwell stayed here several times. On one visit, an assassin tried to kill him and was chased into the bar before being shot dead. The pub still holds reminders of its past, including hidden spaces used in troubled times. In 2005, local business people turned it into a Community Pub, aiming to welcome everyone. They introduced live music and even a small library. Inside, visitors find a welcoming bar with centuries-old plasterwork overhead. The walls show traces of the building’s many changes through the ages. Outside, St James Street offers a quiet corner in Monmouth’s centre. The pub remains a place where history and community meet.