MONMOUTH’S museum and its collection of highly-prized Nelson memorabilia could move 100 yards down the road if a feasibility study backs the proposal.

The Nelson Museum and Local History Centre celebrated its 50th anniversary in Monmouth’s Market Hall two years ago, but council officials are now examining whether it should relocate to the town’s historic Shire Hall.

Those backing the study say the museum in Priory Street is in need of “significant investment to bring the visitor experience up to modern expectations,” while moving to the Shire Hall - location of the Chartist Trial courtroom - would help make the 297-year-old building a more sustainable attraction for businesses and visitors.

But similar proposals in the past have been sunk by concerns over security, particularly over the value of the Nelson collection, with the current building having been made extra secure to hold it, and atmospheric controls to protect heritage documents and other artefacts.

And Charles Boase, chairman of Monmouth Field and History Society, says: “Personally, I think the best place for our museum’s remarkable collection is where it is now. Instead of letting the Market Hall run down so it can be asset-stripped, the county council should be ambitious to make it a national hub of courses and activities.

“If it hasn’t got the imagination to make a go of it, it should think about handing the building and collection over to a trust.

“Monmouth has so many good stories to tell.”

And referring to Geoffrey of Monmouth, who popularised the King Arthur legends, and whose ‘window’ is in the Priory Rooms across the road from the museum, he added: “Geoffrey of Monmouth your time (and King Arthur’s) perhaps has come.”

The Market Hall and museum, which also included the town post office, opened in 1969, after replacing the old Market Hall destroyed by fire in 1963.

Its large collection of Nelson memorabilia, including the admiral’s naval sword and those of the defeated Spanish and French commanders at Trafalgar, was bequeathed by local landowner Lady Llangattock, mother of Rolls-Royce founder Charles Stuart Rolls, in 1923.

It also contains letters from Nelson to his wife and Lady Hamilton and items commemorating his victories, his naval career and his visit to the town in 1802 with the Hamiltons.

Also on display are commemorative silverware, prints, paintings, glassware, pottery and models of the Battle of Trafalgar, while the other section of the museum is dedicated to the town’s history.

The imposing Shire Hall, which looks over Agincourt Square and is fronted by statues to famous town sons King Henry V and Charles Rolls, will be 300 years old in 2024.

In 1839-40, it was the venue for the trial of the Chartist riot ringleaders and saw the last ‘hanged, drawn and quartered’ death sentences handed out, although thankfully they were never carried out.

The courtroom is today a visitor attraction, set out exactly as it was during the trial over 180 years ago.

But despite investment, including the cleaning of the whole facade, council leaders say it has struggled to “attract the expected level of business or footfall” and has been hit hard by the lockdown.

They say the aim of the feasibility study, in line with their Museum Forward Plan, is to “establish a new cultural destination at the Shire Hall Monmouth, celebrating the history and collections of Monmouth and relocating the current Monmouth Museum. The intent being to create a new offer that is integrated, engaging and sustainable whilst retaining the character of the Shire Hall.”

A report to the council says there is “a need to re-provide Monmouth Museum with space to tell the Monmouth and Nelson stories.

“The intrinsic value and history of the Shire Hall presents a strong heritage offer around the assizes, the courtroom, local democracy and the Chartism story.

“This proposed opportunity will ensure that the building is connected with the museum collection in a way that the town can be proud of and a way that delivers a much-improved visitor experience.”

And it adds: “The Market Hall accommodation requires significant investment to bring the visitor experience up to modern expectations.

“The remainder of the principal accommodation at Market Hall is vacant or in temporary use, therefore relocating to the Shire Hall relinquishes the building and provides the council with the opportunity to examine future use and explore opportunities to repurpose the building.”

The report claims it “will enrich the learning offer for local audiences and those from further afield” and “will create a modern attraction that better tells the Monmouthshire story, including the history of the town of Monmouth, the Lady Llangattock/Rolls/Nelson connection, the role of Shire Hall, Chartism, etc, in an integrated, engaging and more sustainable way.

“The precise nature of the initial phase needs further assessment but it is anticipated this could include the local history collection, temporary exhibition space, the Shire Hall courtroom and cells, learning space, shop and tourism information and provision of new museum stores.

“Further phases depend on success in attracting external funding, but should it be successful it would provide the opportunity to expand the offer further and this would include the redisplay and reinterpretation of the Nelson collection.

“Public engagement and the emerging MonLife Heritage Strategy would support these plans.”

It continues: “Better facilities will support the education of our children and young people and developing their sense of place within their communities.

“Creating this new offer will contribute to the economy, add vibrancy to the town centre and support artistic, cultural, heritage and tourism activity.”

The cost of moving the museum and its collections has been estimated at £110,000, and the result of the feasibility study is expected to be presented to Cabinet in the coming weeks.