A 17TH Century grade II listed building in Caerwent is to be given a new lease of life by Monmouthshire County Council.

Caerwent House, which is situated in the centre of the village, has recently been acquired by Monmouthshire County Council through a compulsory purchase order.

It will be restored to its former glory with the help of Cadw, the Welsh Government’s historic environment service, and the Spitalfields Historic Buildings Trust.

The trust has an excellent history of breathing new life into historic buildings and is committed to the restoration of the building.

Work will begin on site very soon to make the building safe and then repair work will begin in earnest.

It marks the end an eight year campaign which has involved negotiations and successful sourcing of funding from several bodies and included a complex ‘back to back’ legal arrangement.

The work finally resulting in the safeguarding of this rare historic house for future generations.

This is not the first time Monmouthshire County Council has worked with the Spitalfields Historic Buildings Trust.

10 years ago the partnership linked to save another priceless building, Allt-y-Bela, a grade II listed building near Usk.

Council Leader Peter Fox said: “Caerwent House is within an attractive conservation area so it’s very pleasing to see the restoration of a fine building in one of Monmouthshire’s historic and picturesque villages.” 

A spokesperson for MCC said: “We are currently unable to give figures regarding the compulsory order until the compensation to the owners has been finalised.”