Since moving to Monmouth some three and a half years ago among the other things I have noticed are the ‘red poppy plaques’ afixed to various buildings in and around the town giving details of people, places, things etc associated with that location who/which had a part to play in (primarily) World War One.

The most recent of these ‘plaques’ to be noted is one which apparently gives details don the setting up of a war shop which traded from 22 St Mary’s Street. What is particularly notable about this plaque is that it is actually attached to the front wall between the ‘rub a dub’ launderette and the former ‘Quench Cafe’ (now located on St Thomas Square) - on Cinderhill Street!

Secondly it now appears we must sau goodbye to Barclays Bank in Agincourt Square.

Sixy years ago if you had stood outside the ‘Shire Hall and looked across Agincourt Square towards the (former) location of Barclays Bank you would have seen a very different scene.

If memory serves, to the right would have been Williams & Cotton (grocers and general provisions) and to the left William Hall (wines, spirits, beers).

Despite the names both were part of the United Counties Stores Group which operated W&C stores in Tintern, Monmouth, Ross-on-Wye and almost every town and village in the Forest of Dean.

Sadly within a few years United Counties has ceased operating.

Some of the stores continued to function (Lydney was a car parts shop), some others were converted to residential use and others disappeared altogether (St Briavels bottom of the High Street on the left was demolished and the land behind utilised for residential development).

RJ Powell, Overmonnow Monmouth