Chepstow Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Chepstow Welsh: Cas-gwent
Chepstow Castle and bridge.
Chepstow
Population	14,195
OS grid reference	ST535935
Principal area	Monmouthshire
Ceremonial county	Gwent
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	CHEPSTOW
Postcode district	NP16
Dialling code	01291

Police	Gwent
Fire	South Wales
Ambulance	Welsh

EU Parliament	Wales
UK Parliament	Monmouth
List of places UK Wales Monmouthshire

Chepstow (which is Cas-gwent in Welsh) is a lively town in Monmouthshire, Wales. It sits right next to the border with England. The town is built along the River Wye, very close to where it meets the big River Severn. You can find it near the western end of the Severn Bridge on the M48 motorway.

Chepstow is famous for its amazing castle. This castle is the oldest stone castle still standing in Britain! The town is also well-known for Chepstow Racecourse. This is where the exciting Welsh Grand National horse race happens. While Chepstow is on the west side of the River Wye, nearby villages like Tutshill and Sedbury are actually in England.

Exploring Chepstow: What to See
Images for kids
See also

Exploring Chepstow: What to See

Chepstow is full of interesting places to visit. From ancient walls to beautiful river views, there's a lot to discover.

Chepstow Castle: A Historic Landmark

This ancient wooden door at Chepstow Castle is from the 12th century!

Chepstow Castle is a must-see. It's one of the oldest stone castles in Britain. The castle was started way back in 1067 by William FitzOsbern. He was a close friend of William the Conqueror. It was built to control the important crossing point of the River Wye.

The castle has been changed and added to over many centuries. You can see different styles of building from different time periods. It's a great place to imagine what life was like long ago.

Chepstow Racecourse: Home of Horse Racing

Horses racing at Chepstow Racecourse.

If you love horse racing, Chepstow Racecourse is the place to be. It's a popular spot for races throughout the year. The biggest event held here is the Welsh Grand National. This famous race usually takes place in December. It attracts many visitors and top horses.

Old Wye Bridge: Crossing the River

The Old Wye Bridge, built in 1816.

The Old Wye Bridge is another important landmark. This bridge was built in 1816. It crosses the River Wye, connecting Chepstow in Wales to Tutshill in England. It's a beautiful example of old engineering.

Town Gate and Port Wall: Ancient Defenses

Chepstow Town Gate, rebuilt in the 16th century.

Chepstow used to be a walled town. You can still see parts of its old defenses today. The Chepstow Town Gate is a great example. It was first built in the late 13th century. It was later rebuilt and restored. There are also parts of the old Port Wall still standing. These walls helped protect the town long ago.

St Mary's Priory Church: A Place of Worship

The Norman doorway of St Mary's Priory Church.

St Mary's Priory Church is a historic church in the town. It has a beautiful Norman doorway. This shows how old the church is. It's a peaceful place with a lot of history.

Images for kids

Norman doorway of St Mary's Priory Church
Chepstow Town Gate, originally dating from the late 13th century, rebuilt in the 16th century and later restored
View towards the site of the former National Shipyard No.1, in the area covered by the factory buildings and overgrown slipways in the centre of the photograph
Limestone cliffs seen from the riverside at Chepstow, showing Gloucester Hole, an enlarged natural opening
A map of the bedrock underlying Chepstow.
Two types of limestone exposed beside the A466 link road between Bulwark and the M48.
Chepstow High Street, showing festival bunting
The 1816 Old Wye Bridge
The Bridge and Castle at Chepstow at the end of the 18th century
Horse racing at Chepstow racecourse
Path beside the river, near the start/finish of the Wales Coast Path
Chepstow Museum, in Gwy House, built 1796
Chepstow bridge by Paul Sandby, b&w aquatint 1786
Chepstow Castle; engraving by R. Taylor, ca 1850
Chepstow bridge and castle by George Rowe, c. 1850
Remains of Neolithic chambered tomb at Thornwell
The castle, pictured from the footpath through the Dell, part of the Wye Valley Walk
The Great Tower of the castle, above the Wye
Twelfth-century wooden door at the castle
The castle and Riverside gardens
Decorative ironwork on the Wye bridge
Part of the Port Wall
St Mary's Priory Church
The town centre and war memorial
Continental market in the High Street
Hocker Hill Street, an old cobbled street in the town centre
Houses in Hardwick Garden City
The start (and finish) point of the Wales Coast Path at Chepstow