THE Nelson Garden, which recently saw a relaunch following the completion of its Heritage Lottery Fund project, has been the target of vandals.

On Friday 15th June, the garden was vandalised for the third time between the hours of 2.40pm and 3.40pm whilst one of the Friends of the Nelson Garden had locked the doors and gone out.

The newly fitted eco-toilet had been vandalised; the window had been opened and someone had climbed in and damaged the pipework and filled the urinal with soil. The mortise lock lever handle for the door had also been damaged.

The vandals had also managed to set fire to one of the signs that the Friends put out on open days, which is stored in the tunnel access to the garden.

It was only in May that the national ‘Bee Festival’ was held in the Georgian garden, once visited by Lord Nelson, the hero of Trafalgar in 1802.

Having been called Monmouth’s best kept secret, the walled garden was the site of a real tennis court in the 17th century and a bowling green by 1718. It then became an orchard; an example of an 18th century hypocaust (heated) wall still survives. There are traces of the stoking chamber for this wall in a neighbouring garden. Roman and Norman remains lie deep beneath the lawn.

The garden structures, including the pavilion, are Grade II* listed.

The garden is maintained by The Nelson Garden Preservation Trust Committee and the Friends of Nelson Garden who open it to the public every Friday between noon and 3pm during the summer.

Gwent Police said: “At approximately 4.25pm on 15th June we received a report of a non-dwelling burglary and criminal damage within the communal gardens on Chippenhamgate Street in Monmouth.  

“It was reported locks to an eco toilet were broken and plants were damaged within the surrounding area.  

“Officers attended the scene and enquiries are ongoing.”

Anyone with information should call 101 quoting log number 343 15/06/2018 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800555111.