Sir,
Mr Peter Morgan asks Whose dumb idea was it to gate off the Shire Hall arches. Unfortunately the perpetrator cannot reply as he was the borough mayor in 1726.
He signed those dumb minutes, and his successor in 1736 agreed payment for iron rails and gates but they were not installed until 31 years later (well, this is Monmouth) when Peter Embry designed the wrought iron work which the council removed in 1953.
Such newcomers will not know of our popular private campaign to restore the Shire Hall railings in the 1990s, supported by Cadw, which only ceased when Monmouthshire County Council promised that they would be included in a complete restoration programme for the whole building. It took them another ten years to start, but this is now stunningly completed.
The railings are essential to protect the Grade 1 building the part of it under the arches was being used for camping, cooking, skateboarding and unsavoury bodily functions, photographs of which are unsuitable for publication. What is Mr Morgan planning to do under there?
This information can be found on pages eight, 10 and 27 of the new book History of The Shire Hall, containing the archaeology of the site. The book is available for £4.50 from me at Chippenhamgate Street, or from bookshops in the town.
Kirstie Buckland
(Monmouth)