sounds of the River Monnow, and its view of the local landscape. A visitor could admire the forests, meadows, and cornfields, his vantage point also permitting an appreciation of the setting sun. The National Library of Wales contains an 1808 print (pictured), drawn by artist John Nixon (1760-1818) and engraved by Samuel Rawle (1771-1860). The early nineteenth-century, black and white engraving is entitled "The Town Hall & principal street in Monmouth, from the Crown & Thistle Inn." The scene of Agincourt Square includes people, a horse, and a cart in the foreground. Midground, to the left, the Shire Hall is illustrated. Multiple other buildings are demonstrated as well, including the King's Head Inn to the right, in the background. Freemasonry at the inn The oldest surviving Masonic Lodge in Monmouthshire is the Loyal Monmouth Lodge No. 457, established in 1839, initially as Lodge No. 671. The lodge still has its meetings in Monmouth, at Monk Street's Masonic Hall, the first building in Monmouthshire to be utilized mainly for Masonic purposes. However, one of the earliest Masonic Lodges in Monmouthshire had its meetings at the Crown and Thistle Inn, but the lodge didn't survive. This appears to represent the same lodge mentioned in a September 2000 lecture given by Andrew Prescott of the Centre for Research into Freemasonry. On 2 January 1815, Royal Augustus Lodge No. 656 received its warrant to assemble at the Crown and Thistle Inn. On 22 April 1815, the Monmouth lodge was consecrated. Trevor Philpotts was Master of the lodge during most of the time that it existed. The door to the room in the upper level of the Crown and Thistle Inn that was utilized for early lodge meetings was embellished with Masonic symbols that were still visible in the 1920s. The Freemason of 13 August 1892 reported that the Royal Augustus Lodge No. 656 was created in 1814 at the Crown and Thistle Inn and disbanded in 1830. Another record confirms the 1815 dates for the lodge and indicates that it transferred to the King's Head Inn in 1816. The Royal Augustus Lodge was removed from the Roll of Lodges on 1 December 1830. See also Freemasonry Masonic Hall, Monmouth References External links People's Collection Wales Website of the Province of Monmouthshire Pubs in Monmouth Masonic buildings in the United Kingdom Freemasonry in Wales Former pubs in Wales