BY THE end of this summer visitors to The Kymin will, for the first time, be able to see inside the Round House, a late 18th century banqueting house built for and by the local gentry.

A major programme of renovation and repair works will culminate in the building being opened to the public for, as far as is known, the first time in its history.

This eccentric yet important building is a highly visible landmark on the skyline above Monmouth and on a clear day the panoramic views it commands across the Wye and Usk valleys and as far as the Brecon Beacons are quite breathtaking.

At the moment this familiar landmark is shrouded in scaffolding to protect the structure and the contractors as it is stripped back to its bare bones prior to reconstruction.

Already there have been interesting and exciting discoveries. One of the original plaster ceilings above the stair well has been found and, above the upstairs dining room, the original roof timbers show that it once had a conical roof not as in the more recent past, a flat roof.

Of course, it's not just the Round House and the views that attract so many visitors. On the same site is the Naval Temple, unique in that it is the only monument dedicated to the glory of an entire navy and once visited by Lord Nelson. Both buildings are set amongst the ancient woodlands of the Wye Valley and are surrounded by lawns and even boast what was once a bowling green.

The 10 acre site on the summit of The Kymin, along with the Round House and the Naval Temple, was given to the National Trust by the people of Monmouth in 1902. Since then the Round House has been home to a succession of caretaker tenants who in return for accommodation have looked after the grounds.

As can be imagined life in a small circular turret on top of an exposed 600 ft high hill may be all right in the summer but can be extremely bleak in the winter. Added to the problems of exposure is the fact that the building was never designed to have someone living in it. It is, in effect, no more than a large and extended summer house. There have been long running problems of damp. It's a very difficult property to keep adequately heated and as it is extremely small inside, with all the rooms having outside walls, it is rather like living in a goldfish bowl. All these factors had to be considered when the National Trust was deciding how the building should be managed for its long term protection and preservation.

In the summer of 2000 the National Trust started on a three-phase programme that will culminate in the Round House being opened for public viewing. Phase One was to convert the old stable block as accommodation for the Custodian. Phase Two will be to renovate the Round House and Phase Three will be to open it to the public. Phase One is now complete and Phase Two started at the beginning of the year.

The Round House will, for the coming six months, be shrouded in scaffolding and lost to view until the summer, with the hope of opening to visitors in August.

Anyone interested in the project, who would like to make a donation towards the work or help with the opening by acting as a volunteer room steward should contact the Property Manager, The National Trust, Dan y Gyrn, Blaenglyn, Libanus, Brecon 01874 625515.