Gateway to the county
There are two things which have put Chepstow firmly on the map - its historic castle and its race course.
But, while both of these are important to the town both historically and economically, there is so much more to Chepstow, as anyone who's ever been there will tell you.
Chepstow is a picturesque market town, rich in cultural heritage and nestled in the valley of the River Wye.
Situated on the banks on the River Wye, the old cast iron bridge provides entry into the town and a gateway to Wales from England. In fact, before the Severn Bridge arrived on the scene back in the 1960s this was the only way in and out of Wales for those crossing the Severn by the ferry.
Chepstow's bridge is an iconic feature, comprising of five cast iron arches carried on stone piers. It was designed by John Rastrick, who worked as an engineer during the Regency period - an era distinctive for its architecture.
So, once you've crossed that bridge what will you find in this historic border town? Well, get your walking shoes on because there's plenty to see.
The name Chepstow derives from the Old English chepe stowe', meaning market place. The town's first market flourished partly because it was exempt from English taxation. The town still holds a regular market in the form of a popular farmers' market in Cormeilles Square, offering a wide variety of fresh local produce from Chepstow and the surrounding area.
There is evidence of the area being inhabited as far back at the Iron Age and beyond in the Bulwark and Thornwell areas of the town.
And history is something which dominates the skyline with the foreboding castle, which sits magnificently on a cliff overlooking the River Wye below.
It's the oldest stone-built castle in Wales, having been built in 1067 on the orders of William the Conqueror. The speed of its construction signifies its strategic importance. It has a rich and varied past, which you can investigate with a trip to this ancient monument.
The Chepstow Society, which trumpets the history of the town, has devised a heritage trail taking you to all the places of interest. Just follow the ceramic disks inlaid into the pavement (see right) and at various intervals around the town there are places to stop and read the plaques about why they are interesting.
Once you've wandered up the hill from the river you'll eventually come to the Town Arch, which was the historic entry to the walled town on the Welsh side. Nowadays the ancient town wall has been breached so that the A48 can bypass the town centre. The arch dates from the early 16th century and was first used to collect tolls on cattle and other goods passing through to the town's market.
Between the river and the arch is the town centre, which recently underwent a redevelopment and which is home to all the usual selection of high street shops along with a range of independents, which are well worth a browse.
Chepstow is also home to a plethora of traditional pubs and stylish restaurants. These range from the modern Mediterranean cuisine and Spanish tapas in Petrus on the banks of the river to the more traditional Coach and Horses Inn, which hosts a popular annual beer and cider festival, boasting a variety of real ale and real pub foods.
The beer festival coincides with Chepstow's folk festival in July, also known as the Two Rivers Festival' because Chepstow is situated on the junction of the River Wye and the River Severn.
The festival, which began in 2003, attempts to promote dance and musical talent over three days packed with concerts and street parades. One of the highlights of the weekend is a special evening concert which takes place inside the castle - Kate Rusby was a sell-out when she played in the town in 2006.
Close to the castle is an elegant late 18th century town house which was used as a hospital for soldiers in the First World War and which is now home to Chepstow Museum. The building, Gwy House, built in 1776 by Warren Jane the Younger. The museum looks back at the history of the area through the growth and decline of the port with its valuable trade in wine and timber.
Chepstow is also the gateway to the beautiful Wye Valley with all it has to offer and is also close to the start of Offa's Dyke - a favourite destination for locals and tourists alike. The colossal linear earthwork outstretches over an extensive 182 miles from Beachley, close to Chepstow right up to north Wales. The dyke was constructed on the orders of King Offa, forming a lineament between the Anglican kingdom of Mercia and the Welsh kingdom of Powys.
Chepstow racecourse sits in the impressive grounds of Piercefield House, once a grand country home which is now in ruins. The racecourse provides an idyllic setting for some of the most exciting events of the year - including the Welsh National which takes place just after Christmas each winter and which attracts huge crowds to the area.
And in recent years the town has seen rapid growth with new housing developments springing up on its outskirts. It is a popular town for people commuting over the Severn Bridge into England and its position close to the M48 also makes it a great location for those wanting to live in a small county town while working in the bigger cities of Wales.
So, if you've not been to Chepstow, we've given you a glimpse of what you could find on a visit. And if you've already been, we're sure there's loads more for you to discover on your next trip to the Gateway to Wales.
12:12pm Tuesday 1st July 2008
Print 
Email this 
Comment
What are these links for?
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
More on Digg
More on del.icio.us
More on Furl
More on reddit
More on NowPublic/
More on Yahoo!
