The mission to restore Abergavenny’s historic Gunter Mansion takes a big leap next week as interested parties join forces.

Two local organisations are combining with the Welsh Georgian Trust (WGT) to help develop the Cross Street building into a valuable heritage and tourism asset.

Abergavenny Civic Society and the town’s history society will be co-hosting a public meeting next week to map out the future of the historically invaluable building.

The Trust recently bought the mansion after raising £150,000 through grants and fundraising efforts.

Andrew Beckett, chairman of the WGT, is encouraged by the response from local people so far.

“Our fundraising efforts attracted support from all parts of the country, as befits a building of such national significance. However, we want local people to have a chance to shape the future of Gunter Mansion through their knowledge, interest and commitment.

“Establishing a ‘Friends of Gunter’ organisation seems to us to be the best way to do this. We know from our work to date that there is a tremendous amount of local interest in this building and, with the valued support of groups such as Abergavenny History Society and Abergavenny Civic Society, we are looking forward to taking the project forward,” he said.

The Mansion is a Grade II-listed, largely 17th century mansion with deep and rich ties to Abergavenny’s role in Catholic history.

It houses a ‘historically important’ secret chapel which dates back to a period when following the faith often meant death for those caught.

Gunter Mansion houses an ‘extremely rare’ recusant chapel from the 1670s, a pivotal period of British history. Catholic activity at Gunter Mansion was considered so shocking that reports were made to Parliament warning of an uprising; the offenders, it was recommended should face death.

Charles II then issued a warrant for the immediate arrest of all papists and Jesuits deemed to be working against his rule.

Gunter’s priests, Phillip Evans and David Lewis, who often held mass in the Mansion’s secret chapel were arrested by the end of 1678. They were put to death for their crimes. Mr Lewis became the last Catholic martyr of Wales.

The chapel, hidden in the building’s attic, spent two centuries uncovered before being rediscovered in the early 20th century. Gunter Mansion played a huge role within this period.

As well as a particularly fine 17th Century plaster ceiling on the first floor, the second floor chapel contains important graffiti dating from the 17th Century, when the mansion was owned by the Gunter family.

Historians have said this graffiti gives ‘wonderful insight’ into the building’s rich history.

Ruth Coulthard, chairman of Abergavenny Civic Society, said, “Gunter Mansion is a very important part of the history of Abergavenny and our members have followed with great interest the work of Welsh Georgian Trust in rescuing this building. Now that they are the official owners of the building, we are very pleased to be able to host this meeting, and to encourage as many people as possible to get involved.”

The Trust, which works with projects all over Wales, wants to establish a local ‘Friends of Gunter’ group to ensure that any developments — including a bid to the Heritage Lottery Enterprise Fund — reflect local needs and harnesses local expertise.

There will also be opportunities to use part of the premises as a ‘pop up’ exhibition space in the next 18 months, while preliminary work is being done.

“This would enable local groups and organisations to display material on the history of Abergavenny, as well as the specific story of the Gunter Mansion.

The history of Gunter Mansion and the Gunter family involves priests, saints, family feuds, Roman roads, confectioners and royalty. Abergavenny Local History Society has long had an interest in the building.

Chairman of the group, Gill Wakeley added, “As a society we have always been concerned about the state of this important historical building and we are delighted that it has now been bought by the Trust and the work to restore it can begin. I am sure many of our members will want to support a ‘Friends of Gunter’ group and I hope as many as possible are able to attend the meeting on March 7.”

The public meeting, starts at 7pm, with coffee from 6.45pm. Anyone is welcome to attend. ??