Monnow Bridge and Gateway

Monnow Bridge and Gateway is a Grade I listed structure built from coursed red sandstone rubble, with some areas patched in buff sandstone, and features a stone slate roof on the gateway. The bridge itself has three pointed arches, with cutwaters on both sides of the piers, although the arches are segmental due to outer faces added in the 19th century.

The gate tower, which is elliptical in shape, has two distinct elevations. The west elevation features a tall recessed slightly pointed arch flanked by foot arches; the north foot arch has a pointed head, while the south foot arch has a Caernarvon head and a flat concrete ceiling. Above the main arch, there is an overhang supported by three arches on brackets beneath a wide relieving arch. The structure includes murder holes, and within the main arch, there are grooves for a portcullis. Slit windows are located on either side of the arch, with another window above the center of the relieving arch. A projecting garderobe is found on the north-west side.

The east face of the gate tower is simpler and shows signs of significant rebuilding, with patching around the arch and a round-headed window above the center of the arch. Inside the main arch, there is an oak access door on the south side and a blocked original access on the north side that once led to a spiral stair, which was lost when the north foot arch was constructed. The roof features projecting eaves on corbel brackets and consists of two half cones joined by a central ridge.

The interior reveals more clearly the repairs and raising of the stonework in the 19th century, including several courses of red brick at the eaves. The roof structure comprises principal rafters with ties, all machine cut, along with numerous light secondary rafters and purlins. The garderobe remains intact inside, but there is no stair or surviving second floor.