1–6 Priory Street

1-6 Priory Street is a row of interconnected shop houses with a gracefully curved facade running across three stories and featuring nineteen bays topped by a central pediment. Stuccoed walls are divided by decorative pilasters that create rhythm along the frontage while maintaining classical architectural proportions.

George Vaughan Maddox designed this building complex in 1837 as part of a major redevelopment scheme for Monmouth's town center. The project created a new inner bypass route north of Church Street to reshape the town's layout and commercial focus.

The row of shops and homes reflects how Georgian builders thought about town life, mixing places to buy things with places to live above them. Walking past, you can see how the curved front and decorative details show what people valued in their public buildings.

The row sits across from the Market Hall and is easily found while walking through the town center. These buildings still function as working shops and commercial spaces, so expect to see active retail use when you visit.

The curved footprint follows an unusual arc that adapts to the street's natural curve rather than conforming to typical straight rows. This adaptation shows how Maddox worked with the town's existing topography instead of forcing a rigid design onto it.

Location: Monmouth

Location: Monmouth

Architects: George Vaughan Maddox

Elevation above the sea: 26 m

GPS coordinates: 51.81270,-2.71530

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:44