A mysterious ancient underground archway which was found by workman carrying out the improvement works in Abergavenny’s St John’s Square has baffled local people and those working on the site.

The renovation of the square is part of the million pound facelift set to revitalize Abergavenny.

The significant revamp is set to transform the Square into a pedestrian-friendly seating area where events can be held.

While the diggers were busy digging and the workmen busy whistling, they unearthed a mysterious archway about five foot underground, which is probably not a portal into another dimension, but nevertheless, looks pretty impressive and strikingly historic.

Work was immediately halted in the wake of the surprise find and Monmouthshire County Council were contacted to determine if the arch was of archaeological importance.

Site Manager James Lawton told the Chronicle that MCC had been informed and they had instructed him to back fill the hole.

This alarmed concerned bystander and Abergavenny woman Andrea Phillips who believes that considering the historically important nature of the site, an archaeological watching brief should have been put in place to monitor the work.

A watching brief is defined by the Institute of Field Archaeologists (IFA) as, “A formal programme of observation and investigation conducted during any operation carried out for non-archaeological reasons. This will be within a specified area or site on land, inter-tidal zone or underwater, where there is a possibility that archaeological deposits may be disturbed or destroyed.

“The preservation by record of archaeological deposits, their presence and nature of which could not be established (or established with sufficient accuracy) in advance of development or other potentially disruptive works.”

Andrea, who is a keen student of the area’s history explained, “My main concern is that considering the historical importance of the entire St John’s Square area, no archaeological watching brief has been put in place, and that any archeological finds could be irreversibly damaged or overlooked

“It is usually standard protocol to have an archaeologist on site in such a sensitive area to observe that the correct measures are being taken.”

Andrea added, “I find it strange that no-one appears to know if the council conducted any archeological studies prior to the work, or that since the discovery, no archeological examination has taken place to determine the exact nature of the find.

“I also find it bizarre how diggers were let loose on the site before any investigation.

“In my experience when carrying out work of this nature, the top soil would be lifted by hand to determine if anything of interest lay beneath, before the heavy machinery was sent it.

“Also, if it is a stone archway leading to rooms or passages deep underground then there’s a health and safety issue at stake too, but above all, I cannot possibly believe the council ordered the workmen to just fill the hole back up.”

The site’s clerk of works Jim Preece, believe the archway could be an entranceway to a cellar or possibly a culvert, but as of yet, it has not been ascertained what the mysterious find which has got the whole of Abergavenny talking could possibly be.

Rumours have long circulated in the town, that there exists an underground tunnel network in Abergavenny which leads to the castle.

Have we just accidentally discovered one such archway that leads to a mediaeval maze of Machiavellian intrigue?

Or perhaps the mysterious archway merely leads to a long abandoned cellar, belonging to one of the many Elizabethan houses which were systematically destroyed during the town’s slum clearances in the 1950/60s to make way for the sharp edged utilitarianism and banal box designs of modernity which transformed Tudor Street and St John’s Square beyond all recognition?

Who know? Perhaps someone at Monmouthshire County Council does? Maybe the relevant authorities had already conducted substantial archeological works on the site prior to the slum clearances of six decades ago and felt no further investigation was necessary.

The Chronicle has contacted MCC to help clarify the situation, but so far they have been unable to comment.

If you can shed a little light on the St. John’s Square mystery, then sound off in the comments section below, or alternately, if you have any pictures or recollections of the way this little part of old mother Aber used to look, then send an email to [email protected].