Chepstow Museum

About the museum

Chepstow Museum occupies Gwy House, a town house built in 1796 for a wealthy apothecary and merchant. The building later served as a girls’ high school, a Red Cross hospital during the First World War and, from 1921, a district hospital. It was converted into the town museum in 1982.

The displays tell the story of Chepstow as a medieval trading port and a market town on the Welsh border. They look at the wine trade, shipbuilding and salmon fishing, and at local pastimes through photographs, programmes and posters.

The Wye Valley attracted many poets and painters, and the museum holds eighteenth and nineteenth century paintings and prints of Chepstow and the valley. Changing exhibitions complement the permanent displays.

The museum is run by the Monmouthshire Museums Service, which is part of MonLife and Monmouthshire County Council. It stands across the road from Chepstow Castle.

Highlights

• Local history of Chepstow as a port and market town
• Displays on the wine trade, shipbuilding and salmon fishing
• Eighteenth and nineteenth century paintings and prints of Chepstow and the Wye Valley
• Photographs, programmes and posters about local pastimes

Permanent exhibitions

• Chepstow: port and market town – Local history of Chepstow with displays on the wine trade, shipbuilding and salmon fishing.
• Chepstow and the Wye Valley in art – Eighteenth and nineteenth century paintings and prints of the town and the Wye Valley.

Founded

1982

Operated by

MonLife (Monmouthshire County Council)

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The ground floor and a toilet are accessible to wheelchair users.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

The museum offers quizzes and worksheets for children as well as workshops and activities. Children are free when accompanied by an adult.

Getting there & parking

The museum is across the road from Chepstow Castle and the Tourist Information Centre.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi is available.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit