What makes Monmouth so marvellous?

Well, what does give Monmouth its marvellous feeling?  Well, there are the marvellous shops.....hmm, I can't help but give a long sigh of relief as I come down to this entry, I've really been looking forward to it - some retail therapy!
  Monmouth is like no other shoparama I have ever seen.  On the norm, a shopping place has its own organization, which is quite predictable.  Mostly quite modern, in a lot of modernish buildings, and if a shop is in an old building - the past occupants have usually been totally erradicated out of existence, well that's what i've been use to.
  But here in Monmouth I see something else - a shopping paradise with a difference.
  Yes, we've got many big chain names in Monmouth.  And many independents too...but what hits me is the buildings the shops are now in...which kinda means my blog shoparama will come to you in two parts!  Then on the next blog entry I can really get down to modern Monmouth's retail therapy!
  Looking past these Monmouth shops, I set off on a trek through Monmouth looking for the echoes of these past shops.

Roo Copyright 2013

Monmouth High Street

So I carry on, up to Agincourt Square, by the sunlight filtering through the clouds, I can see only an intoxicating mix of shops.  But when I was researching the history of Agincourt Square before for this blog it seems all these shops use to be pubs! 

Thus started my 'happy hour' search for any relics of the old pubs.  Obviously, three are still going strong (all photos Roo copyright 2013)

The punch house

    The Beaufort Arms

The King's Head Hotel

The King's Head comes complete with its own Civixc Society plaque, giving its history with even a reputed visit by Charles I!

 

Carrying on the hunt above Monmouth Nails looks remarkably like the name of a pub "The Agincourt".

The above Bees for Development, there looks remarkably like the figurehead from another pub!

Again, on the opposite side of the square there is a pub name on a building which is clearly not a pub!

Nearby is one of the many West Country ales signs, which you can find all over Monmouth!

Don't worry bloggers, Monmouth shopping history is not just alcohol based and in a five minute walk through town look at these echoes of the past I saw! (all photos below Copyright Roo2013)

 

I never did find out what the bits from the past came from or what they meant.  Not that it matters now.  Time has moved on, but still in Monmouth a shopper has echoes of the past.  And a modern-day shopping paradise.  That is the only thing that matters...till next time bloggers...Roo