The Shire Hall

The Shire Hall

This limestone ashlar building of Bath type, finished in Wren Baroque style, was already somewhat old-fashioned when built. It has a hipped Welsh slate roof and stands as a two-storey rectangular block of 6 by 2 bays.

The north front (main facade) is articulated by giant Ionic pilasters, with paired pilasters at either end and none in the centre. A moulded stone cornice runs across, with blocks positioned above each pilaster. At the centre sits a 2-bay pediment; the parapet originally supported four vases, since removed in the 19th century. The ground floor is an open arcade with elliptical arches and keyed heads. The upper floor has pairs of semi-circular headed windows with architraves, imposts and keyed heads, fitted with 12 over 12 pane sashes. These windows are linked to the arches below by raised stone aprons. At the centre of the first floor, in a niche matching the adjoining windows, stands a statue of Henry V in armour with his right arm raised in what has been described as an awkward attitude. An inscription beneath reads "Henry V, Born at Monmouth August 9th 1387". Above the statue, in the centre of the pediment, is a diamond-faced clock in black with gilt figures and hands, which covers the original circular window. A central domed octagonal cupola carrying a lantern with four narrow 10-pane windows and a wind-vane rises from the building; this stands over the 1830 staircase and sits behind the hipped roof. The original 18th-century design placed the cupola behind the pediment in front of the hipped roof.

The east elevation has two plain bays with only keyed and imposted openings, a band between floors, a cornice and a plain parapet. The west elevation includes an additional bay with a recessed tripartite sash below paired sashes above, and a canted wing of four single windows—arched below and plain above, fitted with 6 over 9 pane sashes. An additional understorey compensates for the falling ground. These western additions date to 1830. The rear of the building abuts the Beaufort Arms Centre.

The ground floor is open throughout the original build and was used for market stalls. It is supported on two rows of rectangular piers with elliptical arches and plain circular columns arranged in a cross line between. The floor is stone paved, with entry to basement cells on the right. The rear section has three lower storeys, so rooms there are reached from the half landings. The 1830 staircase rises from the centre of the rear in straight flights back and forth under the lantern, which provides top lighting to the upper flights. The stair is of stone with a heavy iron balustrade; the top level features an unfluted Greek Doric arcade across one side that helps support the octagonal lantern. This lantern has small-pane lights, shell motifs in the squinches and a central feathered flower supported on narrow ribs. A stick baluster back stair with a mahogany hand rail also rises from the ground floor.

The first floor retains the west court complete with Edward Haycock fittings, all in varnished pine; only the pediment over the Judge's seat appears to be later. A small gallery sits to one side, with an opening between massive square piers leading to the former public gallery, now blocked. The way down to the cells behind the dock has been covered over. The east court, now known as "The Henry Room", has been dismantled but retains its small gallery and a framed tapestry completed by the Monmouth Broderers in 2002, depicting the life of King Henry V. Judge's robing rooms survive above the courts. In the rear wing on the second floor are the plain Council Chamber and the Mayor's Parlour, both with 19th-century fireplaces. The cells may survive in the basement but are now unreachable.