Len's motor is a sign of old times (From Free Press Series)

Len's motor is a sign of old times

BUILDERS working on a new retail store exposed a part of Monmouth's retail heritage.

The building at 68 Monnow Street is being redeveloped as a Marks and Spencer store, but for most of the last century it was the home of Len Hunt Motors.

The company moved into the premises in 1923 and the business had various shop fascias displaying its name until the shop closed in April 2001.

The developers invited the owners of the family motoring company, Len and Tim Hunt, to watch them unveil the many signage boards that the company had displayed since the late 1970s.

Tim said: "These various signs bring back all the memories associated with the number of different franchises the company has had over the last few decades.

"I knew that a hand-painted sign existed underneath all the modern signs from the time when I joined my father to work at the company in 1979, and the builders have kindly agreed to allow us to keep it."

Meanwhile, the redevelopment of the site has caused great excitement among local archaeologists.

Demolition work required the removal of petrol tanks that had been originally installed during the 1960s. Underneath, material was found dating back to the time when the Romans occupied Blestium (Monmouth).

Chairman of Monmouth Archaeological Society, Stephen Clarke, said: "When the disused tanks were removed, the space they occupied exposed earth levels dating back over the last 2,000 years.

"We also discovered a lot of material that originated as far back to the Norman times of around early 1100, to the Victorian era.

"This was a rare chance to examine some of the town's history. The last opportunity was the demolition of the old Kwik Save building in 1987 which was to make way for the Old Way Centre.

"The knowledge we gained last week will be added to the new book we are working on about the development of the Monmouth."