Monmouthshire Archives and Libraries

For a list of archives and libraries on the national level, go to the Wales Archives and Libraries page.

Archives
Following further local government reorganisation, the county of Gwent was abolished on April 1, 1996 and was divided into the newly created county boroughs of:
 * the county of Monmouthshire (which has very different boundaries from the historic county of that name).
 * Blaenau Gwent (county borough)
 * Islwyn (county borough)
 * Newport (county borough)
 * Torfaen (county borough)

- Gwent Archives Steelworks Road Ebbw Vale Blaenau Gwent NP23 6AA UK Telephone: 01495 353363 Email: [mailto:enquiries@gwentarchives.gov.uk enquiries@gwentarchives.gov.uk] Website Archives Collections Local Studies Reference Library Collections Search and copy service Church and chapel

Libraries
Abergavenny Library Baker St Abergavenny NP7 5BD UK Telephone: 01873 735980 Email: [mailto:abergavennylibrary@monmouthshire.gov.uk abergavennylibrary@monmouthshire.gov.uk] Website: Abergavenny Library

Caldicot Community Hub Woodstock Way Caldicot NP26 5DB UK Telephone: 01291 426425 Email: [mailto:caldicotlibrary@monmouthshire.gov.uk caldicotlibrary@monmouthshire.gov.uk] Website: Caldicot Community Hub

Chepstow Library Manor Way Chepstow NP16 5HZ UK Telephone: 01291 635730 Email: [mailto:chepstowlibrary@monmouthshire.gov.uk chepstowlibrary@monmouthshire.gov.uk] Website: Chepstow Library

Gilwern Library Common Road Gilwern NP7 0DS UK Telephone: 01873 833055 Email: [mailto:gilwernlibrary@monmouthshire.gov.uk gilwernlibrary@monmouthshire.gov.uk] Website: Gilwern Library

Monmouth Community Hub Rolls Hall Whitecross St Monmouth NP25 3BY UK Telephone: 01600 775215 Email: [mailto:monmouthlibrary@monmouthshire.gov.uk monmouthlibrary@monmouthshire.gov.uk] Website: Monmouth Community Hub

Usk Community Hub 35 Maryport St Usk NP15 1AE UK Telephone: 01291 426888 Email: [mailto:usklibrary@monmouthshire.gov.uk usklibrary@monmouthshire.gov.uk] Website: Usk Community Hub

Museums
Abergavenny Museum The Castle Castle Street Abergavenny NP7 5EE UK Telephone: 01873 854282 Email: [mailto:abergavennymuseum@monmouthshire.gov.uk abergavennymuseum@monmouthshire.gov.uk] Website: Abergavenny Museum


 * Abergavenny Museum is set in the grounds of a 'ruined' Norman Castle, where you can enjoy a picnic during the summer and a brisk walk on colder days. The museum building was formerly a hunting lodge built by the Marquess of Abergavenny. The displays tell the story of this historic market town from prehistory through to the present day. The displays are on several levels, with some help most areas are accessible to wheelchair users.

Big Pit National Coal Museum Blaenafon Torfaen NP4 9XP UK Telephone: 0300 111 2 333 Email: [mailto:bigpit@museumwales.ac.uk bigpit@museumwales.ac.uk] Website: Big Pit National Coal Museum


 * Big Pit is a real coal mine and one of Britain's leading mining museums. With facilities to educate and entertain all ages, Big Pit is an exciting and informative day out. Enjoy a multi-media tour of a modern coal mine with a virtual miner in the Mining Galleries, exhibitions in the Pithead Baths, and Historic colliery buildings.

Blaenavon Ironworks North Street Blaenavon Torfaen Gwent NP4 9RN UK Telephone: 01495 792615 Email: [mailto:blaenavonironworks@wales.gsi.gov.uk blaenavonironworks@wales.gsi.gov.uk] Website; Blaenavon Ironworks Website #2: Blaenavon Ironworks Website #3: Blaenavon Ironworks


 * The best preserved example of an 18 century ironworks in Western Europe and centre of the Blaenavon World Heritage Site, nominated by UNESCO. The Ironworks retains its original furnaces, cast houses, and restored ironworkers' cottages.

Caerleon Roman Fortress and Baths High Street Newport NP18 1AE UK Telephone: 1633 422518 Email: [mailto:CaerleonFortressBaths@wales.gsi.gov.uk CaerleonFortressBaths@wales.gsi.gov.uk] Website: Caerleon Roman Fortress and Baths Website #2: Caerleon Roman Fortress and Baths Website #3" Caerleon Roman Fortress and Baths


 * This is also known as the Roman Baths Museum.

Chepstow Museum Bridge St Chepstow NP16 5EZ UK Telephone: 1291 625981 Email: [mailto:chepstowmuseum@monmouthshire.gov.uk chepstowmuseum@monmouthshire.gov.uk] Website: Chepstow Museum


 * Chepstow Museum reveals the rich and varied past of this ancient town, once an important port and market centre. The wine trade, shipbuilding, and salmon fishing are among Chepstow’s many industries featured in displays with atmospheric settings. Photographs, programmes, and posters recall the pastimes of local people, whilst 18th and 19th century paintings and prints illustrate the everlasting appeal of Chepstow and the Wye Valley to artists and tourists alike. The Museum is just across the road from Chepstow Castle in an elegant 18th century house built by a prosperous Chepstow merchant family.

Monmouth Museum Market Hall Priory Street Monmouth NP25 3XA UK Telephone: 1600 710630 Email: [mailto:nelsonmuseum@monmouthshire.gov.uk nelsonmuseum@monmouthshire.gov.uk] Website: Monmouth Museum


 * Monmouth Museum is home to a wonderful collection of memorabilia from the life of Admiral Horatio Nelson, including personal letters, pictures, weapons, and commemorative ceramics. There is also a large collection on Monmouth heritage including the only Monmouth Cap in existence.

National Museum of Wales (Amgueddfa Cymru) Website: National Museum of Wales


 * Amgueddfa Cymru is a family of seven museums located throughout Wales. They are the National Museum Cardiff, the St Fagans National Museum of History, the National Waterfront Museum, the Big Pit National Coal Museum, the National Slate Museum, the National Roman Legion Museum, and the National Wool Museum.

National Roman Legion Museum High St Caerleon NP18 1AE UK Telephone: 300 111 2333 Email: [mailto:roman@museumwales.ac.uk roman@museumwales.ac.uk] Website: National Roman Legion Museum


 * Step back in time at the National Roman Legion Museum and explore life in a far-flung outpost of the mighty Roman Empire. Wales was the furthest outpost of the Roman Empire. In AD 75, the Romans built a fortress at Caerleon that would guard the region for over 200 years.

Newport Museum and Art Gallery 4 John Frost Square Newport NP20 1PA UK Telephone: 1633 656656 Email: [mailto:museum@newport.gov.uk museum@newport.gov.uk] Website: Newport Museum and Art Gallery


 * Both the Museum and the Art Gallery are housed in one building, making it a focal point for the visitor. The Newport Museum contains a wealth of superb material from Roman archaeology to natural history. Two notable sections deal with the Chartist uprising and the Roman mosaics at Caerwent. Local history is strongly featured. The Gallery has fascinating collections of historic and contemporary British paintings and an excellent exhibition programme.

Archives
Gwent Archives Steelworks Road Ebbw Vale Blaenau Gwent NP23 6AA UK Telephone: 01495 353363 Email: [mailto:enquiries@gwentarchives.gov.uk enquiries@gwentarchives.gov.uk] Website: Gwent Archives Website #2: Gwent Archives


 * Gwent Archives was established in 1938 as the Monmouthshire Record Office, serving the 'old' county of that name. In 1974, following local government reorganisation, it became the Gwent County Record Office. Further local government changes in 1996 divided the county of Gwent into five unitary authorities. Gwent Archives now serves the areas covered by these authorities: Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council, Caerphilly County Borough Council (former Islwyn Borough area), Monmouthshire County Council, Newport City Council and Torfaen County Borough Council.