4A High Street

About the building

Source : Abergavenny Local History Society Survey 1980:

Fragments of timber frontage were found during alterations in 1959. Cellars and top storey windows filled in in 1959. Clay pipe found in the cellar. (Mr Dulson)

Possibly established in 1298??? (source : Mr Jackson)

The present Greyhound Hotel (in Market Street, built 1872) was the tap bar of the old Hotel. There are slight remains of hay dispensers and stables in the back yard.

The hotel had 18 bedrooms, 4 reception rooms, a bar and a ballroom. There was a long bar, about 25 yards long, running parallel to Market Street, and it was great meeting place for the rugby, tennis and bowling clubs.

 

Recent history

From 2006 to present     Waterstones book shop*

From ??  to 2006            Ottakers book shop*

From 1983 to ??    George Oliver Footwear Ltd moved here in 1983,  from 20 High Street

1972 : George Masons (Abergavenny Chronicle)

From 1959 to ??  4A High Street : George Masons/International/Pricerite – grocers – this was all the same firm (at that time, on the upper floors was storage for Cavendish furniture (at no.4B) and a private flat which was formed from a block of 5 bedrooms from the Hotel)

To 1959 : Greyhound Hotel

(*Waterstones opened its first branch in London in 1982. Ottakar’s was established in 1987 and expanded rapidly.  By 2006 it was present in 141 locations.   Following a rumoured takeover by HMV and also a possible management buyout by founders James Heneage and Philip Dunne, the company was finally bought by Waterstones who took over on 31 May 2006 source : en.wikipedia.org)

Previous occupiers

Other information

Source : Abergavenny Pubs  Frank Olding

The Tucker family seems to have acquired the Greyhound sometime between 1865 & 1868 and various member of the family were to run the business from then until at least 1882.  By July 1872 William Tucker had extended the hotel & added the new Tap & Billiard Room in March Street, now known as the  Greyhound Vaults.   Behind the Vaults, the hotel even had its own bowling green

Source : Local History Survey 1980

On census night, 1851, there were in residence: Timothy Black, his wife and 5 children, 2 visitors and 5 servants.

Source : Thacker (Abergavenny Local History  Society  Survey 1980)

1794 :  the Abergavenny Improvement Committee met here, to redevelop the decayed Town Hall and Market

1800 : Abergavenny Society for the prosecution of felons met here

1839 : The Greyhound was owned by the Duke of Beaufort

1851 : “Paul Pry” the Daily Coach to and from London, via Gloucester,  Ross & Monmouth, departed 1.30 pm

1854 : There was a horse bus service to connect with trains

1862-65 : also Inland Revenue office

1871 : William Herring, Inland Revenue Supervisor

1927 : The murderers Brown and Kennedy stayed here

Proprietor Philip Morgan, in 1862, also kept the Angel and a farm

Adverts in Abergavenny Chronicle :

1967 : ad for George Masons, wines & spirits

1969 : ad for George Masons, Christmas fare

1970 : ad for George Masons

 

 

If you have any further information about this property please email alhs@live.co.uk