Old Nag's Head, Monmouth - 01600 713782

The Old Nag's Head, Old Dixton Road, Monmouth, Wales, is a nineteenth-century public house, with medieval origins, which incorporates a "stone drum tower of the town defences constructed between 1297 and c.1315." The tower is the only "upstanding remains of the town walls of Monmouth." The pub was designated a Grade II* listed building on 26 April 1955, its "*" rating being due to "its interest as an early C19 public house which retains its character as well as a significant portion of a medieval gate-tower." The pub has live music on a Friday evening.The Dixton GateThe medieval gate-tower itself was taken by Lord Charles Somerset a Royalist on the 17th of November 1644 and around 5am during the Civil War and was the point in which the Royalist entered Monmouth to take the town from the Parliamentarians. Lord Charles Somerset and '40 horses' reached Dixton Gate without opposition. The Guard of six men fled. They then broke the chain of the Dixton Gate with a crowbar and the forces of Lord Charles Somerset entered the town. The action itself saw several members of the Parliamentary Committee for South Wales captured along with 200 officers and men. Arms and ammunition were also taken including some hammer guns.The other tower and rest of the Dixon Gate were removed in 1770 because they were hindering the passage of coaches.PressThe Lonely Planet guide describes the Old Nag's Head as "an old-fashioned, no-frills, neighbourhood pub with friendly staff and a selection of real ales on tap".

Tags: British Restaurant