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Monnow Bridge & Gatehouse Pub

Monnow Bridge was built towards the end of the 13th century on the site of an earlier timber bridge, the remains of which have recently been discovered. The new bridge had a defensive gate with portcullis and was in turn defended on the Welsh side by a ditch and rampart called the Clawdd Ddu or Black Dyke. It enclosed a faubourg or false borough called Overmonnow. In this it resembled the southern defence of Hereford.

Although the bridge has the appearance of being defensive, it was ineffectual as the Monnow is neither wide nor deep and can easily be crossed on foot upstream. On one of the few occasions it was attacked in the Civil War this is what happened and the defenders found themselves quickly surrounded.