The Kymin Round House could be converted into a holiday let under plans lodged with Monmouthshire Council by the National Trust.

The 226-year-old landmark building boasting stunning views over Monmouth was used for events, parties and weddings, but hasn’t been open since the start of lockdown in 2020.

Kymin custodians Sara Szwer and Martin Kerrigan were forced to leave their on-site cottage home of 17 years in January 2021 as part of widespread NT job cuts.

And now plans have been lodged by the trust, owners of the hilltop woodland and grassland site that also includes the Naval Temple and a croquet lawn, to upgrade the building so it can be rented for use by short-stay holidaymakers.

The proposals include enlarging a first-floor toilet into a small room next to it to provide a new shower, refurbishing the ground floor kitchenette and installing new electric heating.

A heritage statement says the upgrades will make the building suitable for use by holidaymakers, helping to keep it in sustainable use and provide an income for the trust to maintain the site.

“The Trust’s main objective at the Kymin Roundhouse has been to seek to open the building to holidaymakers wishing to experience such a heritage building through a short stay,” the statement says.

“Such a use is encouraged by the local authority’s adopted development plan and is in keeping with the current largely residential nature of the building.”

The site attracts around 65,000 visitors each year and is also home to the Naval Temple, built in 1801, which is believed to be the only monument to an entire navy anywhere in the world.

A year after its opening, in 1802, it was visited by Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton, who also had breakfast at the Round House, as part of their Wye tour.

In its application, the NT says it was “financially unsustainable” to continue to employ an onsite caretaker or warden at The Kymin, which had been permanently manned since its purchase by the charity in 1902.

Former full-time warden Sara Swzer and her volunteer warden husband Martin Kerrigan said they were “devastated” at the time of their axing.

And expressing their fears for the tourism attraction and “hang-out spot”, Martin said: “The Kymin won’t be managed to such a high standard for sure if they are having to send someone from a distance away, and they won’t have the sort of relationship or connection with the community that we have built up.

“We’ve kept people informed here, held talks, exhibitions, events, hosted weddings, and there won’t be that link if it’s unattended.

“The fear is it’s going to be a free for all. There’s been a good reason for having someone on site for the last 100 or so years.”

Monmouth Civic Society urged the NT to reconsider its decision, and said the decision could cost more in the long-run from damage and misuse.

Calling the Roundhouse - built as a gentleman’s dining retreat in 1796 - the town’s ‘crowning glory’, a spokesperson said it would be “a terrible day for Monmouth” if the custodians had to leave.

After their departure, “a huge mess” of beer bottles, cans and pizza boxes were found discarded on the lawn in one incident, while complaints were also made about youngsters driving cars on the hilltop site.

But the town council has backed the new holiday let plan, saying the proposals will protect the future of the building and prevent it from falling prey to vandalism.

Two new part-time cleaning and housekeeping jobs will also be created as part of the plans if it gets the go ahead.