Few town houses in Bourne have survived from the eighteen century, either in whole or part. Two that have are Monkstone House, now the home of The Montaz Restaurant, and the building converted for use by the Trustees Savings Bank. Monkstone House is the older building with its rear part dating back to 1620, while the impressive front of the house was erected about 1750. Originally this pair of handsome buildings, rising two storeys, would doubtless be the homes of well-to-do residents of Bourne. J. D. Birbeck who wrote 'A history of Bourne', describes the domestic circumstances of the more affluent citizens of the town. He quotes the inventory of a gentleman dated 1730. 'His house must have been quite commodious, containing on the ground floor, a kitchen, a pantry (large enough to hold a dresser amongst other things), hall (with two tables and ten chairs), parlour closet and cellar. The cellar contained three casks, an iron Barr and other things. Above these were a parlour chamber, a best chamber, a little chamber and passage and passage chamber. Only the last three of these contained beds; the parlour chamber had beams and scales, weights, a saw etc. stored in it. There was also a lumber chamber and a garret; perhaps one or both of these was further storey, above the bedrooms, although this is not certain. As in previous generations, it still seems to have been customary to have beds in the downstairs rooms; indeed there were two beds in the parlour, in addition to those in the upstairs rooms. A spinning wheel is listed amongst the goods in the house, but it had been relegated to the lumber chamber, along with chairs, empty glass bottles etc., so it was perhaps not in frequent use by now. Wheat as well as cheese, was stored in some of the upstairs rooms; while a barn, wood-house and yard seem to have contained nothing but 'spokes, chips' and other fire wood. Attached to the premises there was also a brew house, quite a normal feature of the times. The furniture and other contents of all the rooms and buildings were estimated to be worth £94. This contrasted with the sum of £3,219 18s 0d which the gentleman possessed under the threefold classification - 'purse, apparel and debts'.' Monkstone House is subject to a preservation order. Although decorated to provide a hint of Asia, great care has been taken not to damage the original structure. This includes a wonderful collection of woodcarvings, the work of Jackie Raynor, woodwork teacher at the Robert Manning School in Bourne. The old building, superb carvings and a little decor from India combine to make a unique dining environment steeped in history.