For much of the 20th century Monmouthshire County Council had held its meetings in the Shire Hall in Newport.

[1] After finding that the Shire Hall facilities were too cramped, county leaders decided to procure modern facilities: the site they selected was open land to the east of Turnpike Road in Croesyceiliog.

[3][4] Following the implementation of the Local Government Act 1972, the new building was destined to become the home of Gwent County Council.

[6][7][8] The design for the seven-storey building involved a two winged structure; each of the wings featured continuous bands of glazing with concrete panels above and below; there was a separate low-rise structure containing the council chamber and there was a bunker in the basement for the use of county leaders in the case of a nuclear attack.

[9] On 1 April 1996, under the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994, Gwent was abolished and the building was acquired by the newly formed Monmouthshire County Council.