10 and 10A Frogmore Street
About the Building | Recent History | Previous Occupiers | Other Information
| Address: | 10 and 10A Frogmore Street |
| Present Occupier: | Now replaced by 1 Cibi Walk – T.G. Jones |
| Present Owner: | |
| Ground Floor: | stationers/crafts |
| Other Floors: | |
| Date when first used by present occupier: | October 2025 |
About the Building
Originally 17th century, re-fronted early 19th century. Tall 3 storey frontage with centre and right hand pilasters incised coursing and plain band to stucco on left, pebble dash to right. Slate roof, boxed out eaves, brick stack to left gable which is slate hung, rubble and brick to right gable end. Three windows, double hung sashes with glazing bars, windows to first floor with decorative margins and key blocks. Overall modern fascia to separate shop fronts, 19th century double fronted shop with slender columnettes to left. Twin storey gabled ranges at the rear with cemented walls and upper casement windows. W Wing has roof timbers with “wern hir” stops (Fox & Raglan). Remains of stone tiles under present slated roofs.
There was an old cobbled yard at the rear and the outbuildings, including a granary had been demolished.
1984: Listed Building Grade II No.2769
– this building was Grade II listed on 21st August 1984
https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/300002769-nos10-10a-frogmore-street-martins-gwent-abergavenny
There was an appeal against the listing by Associated Planning Consultants 10-14 Macklin Street London WC2B 5NF: Welsh Office ref CL 33/560.
Recent History
From October 2025 :T.G. Jones, Stationers/crafts
Modella Capital, which also owns the craft business “Hobbycraft” bought all
W.H. Smith’s high street stores in April 2025. Smiths has kept its stores inside
railway stations and airports. [Source: Abergavenny Chronicle].
T.G. Jones is not derived from any individual but was invented by Modella to
sound similar to “W.H.Smith [Source : Wikipedia) ]
2025: MCC Planning Application: DM/2025/01087 Alt. Ref. No. PP-14223520 final approval 11/05/2026 for the alteration of shop signage from W.H. Smith to T.G.Jones.
Previous Occupiers
| Year | Name | Detail | Source |
| 1987 – Oct. 2025 | W H Smoth | Martins Jewellers moved to N0. 16 Cibi Walk, Frogmore Street in December 1987. W H Smith took over the shop. | See: Other Information |
| 1983 |
Martins Jewellers
|
Jewellers | Advertisement SW Argus 26/09/1983 P8 |
| 1971-1980 |
Martins Jewellers
|
Jewellers | ALHS Survey 1980 |
| 1969-70 |
No. 10 Douglas Welsh
No. 10A Jefferies & Son |
Martin the Jewellers | Local knowledge |
| To 1969 | Tailor Seed & Corn Merchants |
||
| 1964 | No. 10 Douglas Welsh | Tailor | ALHS |
| 1937 | No. 10 Douglas Welsh | Tailor | Kelly |
| 1934 | No. 10 Douglas Welsh | Tailor | Kelly |
| 1930 | No. 10 Douglas Welsh | Tailor | Car/Npt & Dis |
| 1926 | No. 10 Douglas Welsh | Tailor | Kelly |
| 1923 | No. 10 Douglas Welsh | Tailor | Kelly |
| 1920 | No. 10 Douglas Welsh | Tailor | Kelly |
| 1914 | 10A Jeffreys & Son | Corn & seed merchants | Kelly |
| 1906 | Stead & Simpson | Boot & shoe manufacturers | Kelly |
| 1901 | Straker & Co | Boot & shoe warehouse | Kelly |
| 1900 | 10 Straker & Co. | Boot & Shoe Factors. Anouncement in local press that business would be moving ‘next door’ to this address on Tuesday 6th March | Abergavenny Chronicle 02/03/1900 P4 |
| 1898 | 10A Straker & Co. | Boot & Shoe Factors – Sale of stock ex. Cross Street store | Advertisement in Abergavenny Chronicle 25/02/1898 P5 |
| 1897 | 10A Straker & Co | Boot & Shoe Factors – Moved from 51 Cross Street December 1897 | Article in Abergavenny Chronicle 24/12/1897 P5 |
| 1891 | George James 10A David Scott |
Grocer Confectioner |
Kelly |
| 1882 | Bought by Daniel Ruther? | Fruiterer & grocer | Kelly |
| 1879 | Daniel Ruther | Fruiterer & grocer | Thacker |
| 1877 | Daniel Ruther | Fruiterer & grocer | Owen |
| 1875 | Daniel Ruther | Fruiterer & grocer | Mer & Croc |
| 1871 | John Michael | Auctioneer | Kelly |
| 1866 | J.H.Prosser | Grocer & Tea Dealer. Take over of Mr W. Havard’s business on 12th Dec 1866 announced in Usk Observer advertisement. | Usk Observer 26/01/1867 |
| 1865 | William Havard | Grocer | |
| 1862 | William Havard | Grocer | Morris & Co |
| 1858 | John Havard | Painter, decorator | Slater |
| 1851 | Simon Andrus (a John Michael is listed in the 1851 census at 20 Monk Street as a malster) | Master ironmonger, employing 9 men & 2 boys | Census |
| 1850 | John Michael | Tea dealer & grocer | Pigot |
| 1835 | Simon Andrus (probably at the back of the property) | Ironmonger | Pigot |
| !831 | S&T. Andrus | Ironmonger | Sale of Property Notice – See Other Information |
Other Information
The Martin family of Martins the jewellers, played leading roles in the production of amateur drama and musical productions in Abergavenny after the Second World War. [ALHS Survey 1980]
An old Derringer pistol was found during the demolition of the granary at the rear. Two match boxes marked “Royal Welsh Matches” – The Crown Match Works, Cardiff. [ALHS Survey 1980].
Site address changed to 1 Cibi Walk in date unknown. [Source: ALHS Survey 1980+]
1997: MCC Planning Application No: M01314, Alt. Ref. No: DC/1997/00452. An application to install 3 Off Fascia Signs and 1 Off Hanging sign approved for W. H. Smith 17/09/1997.
1987: Martins Jewellers issued a Recruitment Advertisement in S. Wales Argus for a watchmaker/clockmaker to work at their new shop opened in December. The address was given as CIBI Walk, Frogmore Street [S. Wales Argus 17/12/1987 P14].
1984: Building Grade II Listed. There was an appeal against the listing by Associated Planning Consultants 10-14 Macklin Street London WC2B 5NF: Welsh Office ref CL 33/560.
1971: New Martins shop opened October 1971. In 1978 they were celebrating 50 years in business. [ALHS Survey 1980]
1921: The property was occupied by Mr Douglas Welch, aged 46 with his wife Miriam and daughter Marjorie. Mr Welch was recorded as working from home as a gentleman’s outfitter.[Source: 1921 Census].
1901: An newspaper article printed in September reported that an Application for Patent had been registered by Mr James Leonard Cobon of this address (No:10) for improvements in and relating to leggings. [South Wales Weekly Argus and Monmouthshire Advertiser 14/09/1901P11].
1881: The Census taken that year records that Building No.10A was occupied by Mr George James (Age 45) together with two Assistants/Servants. Mr James occupation was described as Grocers Shop. [Source: 1881 Census].
1867 During April, there was a notice of a forthcoming auction in the Hereford Times relating to this property. The introduction to the article stated that Mr John Michael had been instructed by Mr T. H. Prosser, who was reported to be leaving the neighbourhood, to sell by auction (without reserve) the whole of his grocery and provision stock including fixtures, scales, weights and mills etc. The list of stock to be sold was extensive and included chests and boxes of teas, coffees, casks of sugar, raisins, currants, golden syrup, treacle, foreign and home cured bacon, butter, vinegar, loose tobacco, snuff, cigars, spices, sweets, biscuits, pepper, pickles, sauces, candles, paper bags, blue, starch, cocoa, brushes and many other items. The fixtures included counters, nests of drawers, shelving, handsome canisters for tea, snuff, tobacco, and coffee. The household furniture was also for sale and included amongst other items six Windsor chairs, mahogany and deal tables, wash stands, fenders, dressing tables and two iron bedsteads. A variety of dinner earthenware and glass were also on the sales list. The shop and premises to be let. [Source: Hereford Times 13/04/1867].
1831: The property, then in the occupation of Messrs. S & T. Andrus under lease with ten years unexpired at a yearly rent £27, was advertised for sale by Mr. John Phillips. The Sale by Auction was to take place at the Kings Arms at 3.00pm on Tuesday, 13th December. The property was described as a good dwelling house with yard, garden and blacksmith shop situated in Frogmore Street. [Monmouthshire Merlin 26/11/1831 P2].
If you have any further information about this property please email alhsresearch@email.com