A MONMOUTH councillor is campaigning for the Rolls Hall to be returned to its rightful owners - the Town Council.

Town Councillor Gary Witcombe says the Hall was built as a gift to the town by John Allan Rolls of The Hendre to commemorate the Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. It was opened on May 24th 1888.

A report in The Monmouthshire Beacon of May 26th the same year, reprinted in Monmouth Museum's book Monmouth and the Old River Wye in photographs, records the opening speech. Mr Rolls said: "You will all agree with me that for a number of years we have all felt the inconvenience of the public hall with which this town has been provided (the Shire Hall).

"I have long been wishing to give something to the good people of Monmouth... that would really be useful to them... I hope that the Hall will be useful to all classes, not only for amusement, but for instruction and for improving and enlarging the minds of our younger generation in Monmouth."

The deed of gift said the Hall was given to the Burgesses of Monmouth without any monetary consideration, the only stipulation being that it was not used for any purpose hostile to the Church of England or the Throne.

In accepting the gift the Council asked for permission to name it after him as the Rolls Hall.

Mr Witcombe said he would like to see the Hall returned to the Town Council. The County Council had not been entitled to take it over because the former Council did not have the power to give away gifts.

"It should be returned to the town," said Cllr Witcombe. "If it is I would carry out a referendum to see what the people want to do with it.

"I'd like to see it returned to its former use - somewhere for dances and somewhere for young people to go, but I will carry out a referendum to see what the people want."

Mr Witcombe would also like to see the Working Men's Institute returned to the town.

"That used to be a snooker hall and the old employment exchange.

"All this was taken from the town and should be returned to its proper owners.

"All the villages around here have a community hall. It is only Monmouth that hasn't."