Charles Rolls

Outside the Shire Hall in Monmouth is this statue of Charles Rolls. Today most of us link the name Rolls with luxury cars or possibly aero engines.

Charles was part of the Rolls Royce partnership but his real passion was flying.  The statue in Monmouth was commissioned to commemorate his achievement as the first person to fly non-stop both ways across the English Channel.  In fact by the time it was installed he was dead, and it became his memorial as the first person in the UK to be killed in a flying accident.

Charles was the youngest son of Lord and Lady Llangattock who lived at the Hendre, a large country estate just outside Monmouth.  

The Llangattocks were great benefactors of Monmouth and throughout the town are links with the town, not the least being possibly the best collection of Nelson memorabilia in the the town museum.

Download this guide and follow the footsteps of Rolls through Monmouth.