Richard Symonds

Find out about Richard Symonds and his fascinating Civil War diary...

It’s strange to think that a little Welsh town like Abergavenny might have a role to play in national affairs, but during the Civil War of 1642-45, it did. King Charles I himself stayed here, planning his next move against the armies of Parliament. St Mary’s was even immortalised in the diary of one of his troopers, Richard Symonds. Symonds was a great fan of beautiful old buildings, and very taken with St Mary’s he was too.