The Skirrid Mountain Inn

Story

The Skirrid Mountain Inn is a public house in the small village of Llanfihangel Crucorney, just a few miles north of Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Wales. It is claimed to be the oldest pub in Wales and there are many popular legends about its history. Owain Glyndŵr is said to have rallied his forces in the cobbled courtyard before raiding nearby settlements sympathetic to the English king, Henry IV. The first floor of the inn was reputedly used as a Courtroom where criminals were tried and hanged.Claims to fameThe Skirrid Mountain Inn claims to be one of the oldest pubs in Wales and is said to have a history dating back over 900 years. In the ebook, Eerie Britain, author MB Forde points out that the Inn’s claim of dating back to around the year 1110 is exaggerated. Citing work undertaken by the Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust, the Inn is mainly a mid-late 17th century building in construction. Forde presents the theory that an inn had stood on the site previously due to it being situated upon a pilgrim trail that led to Llanthony Priory, although there is no evidence to verify this.A popular legend is that the inn was used as a rallying point for local supporters of the Welsh Revolt against the rule of Henry IV, the uprising being led by Owain Glyndŵr. He is said to have personally rallied his troops in the cobbled courtyard before raiding nearby settlements sympathetic to the English in the 15th-century. However given that the inn wasn't built until the 17th-century this story should be taken with a pinch of salt.