12–16 Church Street, Monmouth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 12–16 Church Street |
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12–16 Church Street, from No.12
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| Type | Shops / Houses |
| Location | Monmouth, Monmouthshire |
| Built | c. 1837 |
| Architect | George Vaughan Maddox |
| Architectural style(s) | Neoclassical |
| Governing body | Privately owned |
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Listed Building – Grade II*
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| Official name: NOS.12,14 & 16 Church Street, Monmouth | |
| Designated | 10 August 2005 |
| Reference no. | 2253, 85030 & 85038 |
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12–16 Church Street in Monmouth, Wales, is a cool row of three buildings. They are like shops and houses all in one! A famous architect named George Vaughan Maddox designed them around 1837. These buildings are a big part of how Monmouth looks today. Experts say they have the "best preserved" old shopfront in Monmouth from the early 1800s.
Contents
Why Was Church Street Changed?
Long ago, in the early 1800s, Church Street was the main road in Monmouth. It was quite narrow, and more and more traffic made it a bit dangerous. People wanted a new, safer road.
At the same time, the market in Agincourt Square needed a new home. So, in 1834, the town council held a competition. They wanted ideas for a new plan for the town.
George Vaughan Maddox's Big Idea
George Vaughan Maddox won the competition with his amazing plan. He was already a well-known architect in Monmouth. His idea was to build a new road that would go around Church Street. This new road would help with the traffic.
Maddox's plan also allowed for new buildings on Church Street. This is where he built the block of 12–16 Church Street. These buildings even have an entrance to a place called White Swan Court. It's thought that one of these buildings has been a pharmacy for about 180 years!
What Does 12–16 Church Street Look Like?
Numbers 12–16 Church Street look like one big building, even though they are three separate places. They have three floors and four sections. The back of the building faces Priory Street.
You can see special details on the building. There's a strong frame around the windows and doors, called an architrave. There's also a decorative strip along the top, near the roof, called a cornice.
A Special Building
This group of buildings is very important. It's known as a Grade II* listed building. This means it's considered very special because of its amazing design. It's a great example of how towns were planned in the early 1800s in Monmouth.
