Drybridge House, Monmouth

Drybridge House is a large 17th-century Grade II* listed building in Monmouth, south east Wales. It is located to the southwest of the town at one end of Drybridge Street, close to the “dry bridge” over a small stream, which is now buried beneath a nearby roundabout. It is one of 24 buildings on the Monmouth Heritage Trail, and is now managed as the Bridges Centre.History and architectureThe first house on this site was built for John Roberts before 1558 and was probably a large black and white gabled farmhouse. The present house was rebuilt in 1671 by William Roberts of Monmouth, whilst serving as Receiver and Paymaster of the King's Works at Windsor Castle. Parts of its surrounding land and outbuildings were sold off in 1840. A descendant of William Roberts, Charles Henry Crompton-Roberts, was responsible for restoring and enlarging the house, and adding a new south wing, in 1867. Crompton-Roberts was High Sheriff of Monmouthshire in 1877, and later M.P. for Sandwich.The house was owned for 400 years by the Roberts (and Crompton-Roberts) family, who took an active interest in supporting the people and organisations in the town. It has reception rooms with fine plasterwork ceilings, woodcarvings, and specially commissioned grisaille roundels of the Arthurian Legend in the bay windows. The 1867 porch masks a 1671 datestone beneath its pediment. The current house's magnificent interiors still contain items from William Roberts' building, such as the studded door of the tea room, parts of the oak panelling and staircase, and some of the carved fireplaces and Delft-tiled surrounds. Portraits of Charles Crompton-Roberts and his wife Mary can be found in the gallery.