Monday 29 October 2018

The Kymin, Museum and Admiral Nelson Gardens in Monmouth.

I've never understood the link with Lord Admiral Nelson and the Kymin as a Naval Temple in Monmouth. Although Lydney Docks are a mere 15 miles away over the boarder in England, there was no Naval Dockyard in Wales until 1815 in Pembroke, some 10 years after Nelson's death and the HMS Victory was built in Chatham Docks in Kent. 

However the nearby Forest of Dean was declared by Lord Nelson to be the 'finest timber in the kingdom'.

Nelson visited Wales to visit Sir William Hamilton and tour his Pembrokshire estates in 1802. The Kymin at the time was a hunting lodge.

At this point Nelson and Lady Hamilton the wife of Sir William, had been having an affair for 4 years.

The Kymin was reached up a very steep and narrow, windy road, it was a nerve wracking drive but worth the trip up the hill for the views alone.


View from the Kymin of Monmouth

Originally a hunting and picnic lodge, an extension was built for someone to live in to look after the property, it's now owned by the National Trust.

Nelson Museum located at the top of town in the Old Market Hall. Entrance is free and there is a magnificent collection of Nelson material. 


The Nelson gardens are one of Monmouth's hidden secrets, located behind lloyds Bank off the high street. It can also be approached via Chippenfield Park which used to be a race course.


Entry is via a10ft-long tunnel leading to the base of the old town wall, which formed the perimeter of medieval Monmouth

It was originally the site of a tennis court in the 17th century and a bowling green in 1718.
Further Roman and Norman remains are thought to be buried deep beneath the lawn.

Maintained by a team of volunteers there is plenty of information to be discovered as you walk round the garden from the people working there and information panels.


The gardens feature a hot wall, heated by hot water in pipes to encourage more exotic plants to grow.

Pavilion

Old town wall.

There's a lot more to see in Monmouth including the Castle which was the birthplace of Henry V and the Llangattock family whose son Charles Rolls was joint founder of Rolls Royce.

20 comments:

  1. I have been here it’s an amazing place to visit #triumpanttales

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    1. I was amazed how much there was to do in Monmouth, I'd never explored it before

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  2. I did not know about the Nelson Gardens! Lovely to discover more secrets about the town where I grew up

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  3. What an amazing view! Such a lovely place to visit, I'm sure my hubby would be interested in all the historical stuff.
    #keepitreal

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    1. the view is stunning and worth the trek up there

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  4. Such rich history! I love the old buildings! #keepingitreal
    Tracy www.viewfromthebeachchair.com

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    1. so do I, especially more so since moving to Dubai where everything is so new

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  5. Interesting architecture and I love the idea of a "hot" wall to grow exotic plants. #keepingitreal

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    1. It does sound like a good idea, the hot wall

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  6. What an interesting and lovely place. Thanks for sharing it with us. #TriumphantTales.

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  7. Hi Suzanne, that view does look worth the hair curling drive... The idea of a hot wall to encourage exotic plants to grow is clever. It sounds like a good area to spend an afternoon exloring and if you get cold in winter there is always the hot wall to lean on!

    Thank you for linking up with #keepingitreal.

    xx

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    1. there's still so much more to Monmouth for me to explore

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  8. This looks like a great place, we've been to Wales a few times and really enjoyed it so I'm sure when we return we'll go here too!
    Thank you for sharing this with us at #TriumphantTales. I hope to see you back next week!

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  9. There's some amazing views there Suzanne, thanks for sharing with #pocolo

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  10. What an amazing place - and it was interesting to read the Nelson-relaed names too as they're familiar as building names from the Medway universities campus. Thanks for sharing with #PoCoLo

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    1. the gardens are a wonderful hidden gem in the town

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