43 & 43A Frogmore Street

Main details

 

Address:
Present Occupier:
Present Owner:
Ground Floor:
Other Floors:
Date when first used by present occupier:

43 & 43A Frogmore Street
Il Gusto , Italian Restaurant

 

opening 3 October 2024

1st & 2nd floors: Gwagle moving here 2022 ?date ?feb/mar

Before and After Images

 

1979/80

 2016


 

About the building

 43A was on the left, 43 on the right separated by an arch which was filled in when occupied by the Co-operative stores in 1967.

In about 1984, the building here was demolished and the present one erected. The front still stands, but the rear was demolished & rebuilt in 1979.

 

 

 

A photograph of the ‘George Hotel’ is in the Abergavenny Museum, showing the proportions of the building have hardly altered. Victorian Neo-Venetian, cast iron framework allows a light & airy building reminiscent of the style of the Crystal Palace. The slender pillars are probably reinforced. (L Hurley)

Advertisement in 1825: To be let….All that Messuage, Tenement and Dwelling House, called the Little George Inn, with suitable offices, Cellars, and 3 excellent stables, eligibly situate on Frogmore Street.

 

Recent history

3 October 2024 : Il Gusto.   New owners

?from approx. 2022 :  Amos Italian/Greek restaurant.   Closed by Sept. 2024

Also 1st /2nd floors : from approx Feb/Mar 2022: Gwagle “flexible shared workspace”.  These floors “empty for decades”

June 2021:  Closed ?? 2022 : Panevino Italian Restaurant ;  already in Chepstow

Prezzo Italian restaurant chain: From ?2016 – Closed April 2018  : Company failing, closing many branches throughout UK including Abergavenny which appeared to be unsustainable.  ( 3 storey building, to rent £50K pa + £32K business rates; 4448 sq ft ground floor; 798 sq ft 1st fl;  812 sq ft 2nd fl  /  emanuel-jones.co.uk)

1979: Kwik-Save Supermarket on ground floor, other floors, offices and stores.

Aug 1972 – Jan 1978: Wasons Decorators Merchants

1970:  No 43A & filled in arch: Co-operative Retail Store store opened December 1970, Jackson & Daly closing down Feb 1970, curtain materials & furnishing frabric.

1968: Jackson & Daly, phone number 4, furniture

1962, 1964, 1967: Jackson & Daly, furniture

1961: Jackson & Daly, family furnishers, 3 Feb page 7 photo Abergavenny Chronicle 43A: The Abergavenny & District Co-operative Society Ltd, dry goods, official opening dry goods store, 28 October.

1952: Jackson & Daly, furnishings

1945- 1970: No 43: Jackson & Daly, Furniture Dealers

1912- 1967:  No 43A: Mr Edward Harrington,, Photographer

 


 

Previous occupiers

Year

Name

Detail

Source

1970

see recent history

Kelly

1937

43: Charles Downes (tel no P/O 103)

43A Harrington, Photographer

Cabinet Maker, furnisher, upholsterer, window blind dealer

Kelly

1934

”        ”

”        ”

Kelly

1930

”        ”

”        ”

Car/Npt & Dis

1926

”        ”

also at 43A: 1927 – 1928: A Lyons, Jeweller

”        ”

Kelly

1923

”        ”

”        ”

Kelly

1920

”        ”

”        ”

Kelly

1914

”        ”

”        ”

Kelly

1910

43: Charles Downes

43A:1901-1912: Eddie Madge, Photographer

Cabinet Maker, furnisher, upholsterer, window blind dealer

Kelly

1909

Kelly

1906

Cooke & Davies

Tailors & Drapers

Kelly

1901

”          ”

”          ”

Kelly

1895

Kelly

1891

Mr Reuben Embrey

Shopkeeper

Kelly

1884

”          ”

Kelly

1879

Mrs Addiss

Laundress

Thacker

1877

Owen

1875

Mer & Croc

1871

Kelly

> 1868

1865

Prop: William George Martin

George Commercial Hotel

1862

Prop: Joseph James Stephens

”          ”

Morris & Co

1858

Prop: Thomas Price

”          ”

Slater

1850

Prop: Henry Sauderson

George Commercial & Agricultural Hotel

Pigot

1845

Pigot

1844

Slater

1841

Slater

1835

Prop: John Holehouse

George Inn & Ball Court

Pigot

1834-45

Pigot

1834

Car/Npt & Dis

1822

Prop: Evan Saunders

Little George Tavern

Pigot

1791

Prop: J Phillips

New George Inn

Pigot



 


 

Other information

Mr Eddie Madge, Photographer, left a great number of photographs of Abergavenny at the turn of the last century. He was winner of two 1st prizes at the Royal National Eisteddfod, Merthyr, in 1901. Also 2nd prize in Thornton-Pickards open competition to the world (first went to New Zealand). He emigrated to USA and his descendants were contacted for the original Street Survey.

1838: The Cymreiggydion Society held dinners here

1839: Rate book shows the premises named the George Inn (owner: Mr John Hobhouse)with a stable and ball court. 1840: Recommended in Cambrian Travellers Guide as one of the principal Inns. 1841: Theatrical performance of ‘The Lady of Lyons’ in Harris’ Ball Court. 1842: A new coach ‘The Prince of Wales’ connected at Bristol with the Londond/Brecon/London coach. 13 hours. daily except Sundays. (South Wales General Advertiser found in Crickhowell 1960)

The inn is not listed after 1895. A/22-71 (Abergavenny Museum) dated to 1875 or before, shows it empty & a poster on the door advertises “The Brooks”, changed to ‘Nevill Court’ in 1875.

 

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