Once a place of conflict Monmouth is now a gateway between England and Wales. Chris Poole looks at its past and present and meets the people who put out the welcome signs.
Driving out of Herefordshire towards Monmouth it's easy to see why this county town is sometimes called the gateway to Wales. As the road from Ross-on-Wye sweeps through the majestic scenery of the Wye Valley suddenly there is a gap through the hills and the sign "Welcome to Wales" heralds views of the rooftops of Monmouth.
Roman soldiers camped here to maintain control of their conquests in the area. Later, Normans recognised onmouth as a strategic point for expanding trading links. A castle in the town came and went and came again in time to accommodate the birth of Henry V within its walls. A fortified bridge across the river Monnow sought to protect the town.
It was Monmouth's strategic location as a border town that more or less guaranteed a history of skirmishes and conflict. And so it was until the relative calm of the 19th century. The town's military connections continued, and do so today. There is a regimental museum near the remains of the castle where the senior reserve regiment of the British Army is headquartered in the imposing Great Castle House.
The Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers can trace their origins back to Tudor times when the country relied upon the militia system for its defence.
Monmouth also has a connection with Nelson who came to the area in search of timber for his fleet and was, evidently, rather taken with the town. There is a monument on the hilltop to the east of the town known as The Kymin which is described as a 'Temple' to the Royal Navy and which commemorates Nelson's time here as well as the exploits of 15 other admirals. Naval links go even deeper with a long and distinguished line of warships bearing the name HMS Monmouth.
Happily, Monmouth today enjoys a more peaceful existence. Recent surveys show that most here are proud to be Welsh even though the town and the county have suffered some administrative confusion in the past.
The Welsh language is taught in schools although is not widely spoken in this part of Wales