6 Frogmore Street
About the Building | Recent History | Previous Occupiers | Other Information
| Address: | 6 Frogmore Street |
| Present Occupier: | Cafe Nero |
| Present Owner: | |
| Ground Floor: | Coffee shop |
| Other Floors: | |
| Date when first used by present occupier: |
About the Building
6 & 6A were one building – the Golden Lion. See also 6A.
Originally a half-timbered building. The rear with original oak beams, floors, stairways etc was demolished in the 1960s and extensively modernised. This was repeated in the 1970s to include modernisation of the front interior. The present half-timbering is ersatz, but a nicely proportioned building (L Hurley) [Source: ALHS Survey 1980]
There was a large cellar with tunnels? bricked up for safety.[Source: ALHS Survey 1980]
Large cobbled yard at rear where horse sales were held. [Source: ALHS Survey 1980]
1979: Prior to 1979, it was the Golden Lion and gave its name to Lion Street
Further information about the Golden Lion can be obtained from the following publication: OLDING Frank, “Abergavenny Pubs”, The History Press, 2005 Reprinted 2024, P31-34.
1906: In February of that year The Golden Lion was advertised ‘To Let’ in the Western Mail. In the advertisement the property was said to comprise a bar, a private bar, commercial room, large club room, stock room, nine bedrooms, bathroom and usual office; good covered yard, stabling for 80 horses; saddle room and coach houses. [Source: Western Mail 03/02/1906].
Recent History
Previous Occupiers
| Year | Name | Detail | Source |
| 1979 – 1986 | Prop: Not Known | The Sugar Loaf Inn | Closed 1986 |
| 1944-1963 | Prop: Wilfred Charles Walbyoff & Lena May Walbyoff | Golden Lion Hotel | Local knowledge |
| 1937 | Prop: Amos Jones | Golden Lion Hotel | Kelly |
| 1934 | Prop: Amos Jones | Golden Lion Hotel | Kelly |
| 1930 | Prop: Amos Jones | Golden Lion Hotel | Car/Npt & Dis |
| 1926 | Prop: Amos Jones | Golden Lion Hotel | Kelly |
| 1920 | Prop: Walter Hall | Golden Lion Hotel | Kelly |
| 1910 | Prop: Edmund Evans | Golden Lion Hotel | Kelly |
| 1906 | Prop: James Harding | Golden Lion Hotel | Kelly |
| 1901 | Prop: James Bell | Golden Lion Hotel | Kelly |
| 1891 | Prop: Charles Knight | Golden Lion Hotel | Kelly |
| 1879 | Prop: Edward Lewis | Golden Lion Hotel | Thacker |
| 1877 | Prop: Edward Lewis | Golden Lion Hotel | Owen |
| 1875 | Prop: Edward Lewis | Golden Lion Hotel | Mer & Croc |
| 1871 | Prop: Edward Lewis | Golden Lion Hotel | Kelly |
| 1865 | Prop: Mrs Amelia Drew | Golden Lion Hotel | Webster |
| 1862 | Prop: Mrs Amelia Drew | Golden Lion Hotel | Morris & Co |
| 1851 | John Tucker (run with the farm across the road at no 5) | Golden Lion Hotel | Census |
| 1830-1844 | Prop: William Crump (on the jury of the William Frost Trial) | Golden Lion Hotel | Slater |
| 1828 | Thomas Jones of Colebrook | Golden Lion Hotel | Pigot |
| 1822 | Prop: E Taylor | Golden Lion Hotel | Pigot |
| 1667 | Elizabeth Rumsey & her daughter Katering | Golden Lyon | Wills & Probates |
Other Information
1921: The Golden Lion Hotel was occupied by Mr Amos Levy Jones (Aged 28) with his wife Mary Jane (Aged 29) together with Mr Jones sister and a servant. Mr Jones was the proprietor of the hotel. [Source: 1921 Census].
1919: Mr Walter Hall, Licensee of The Golden Lion Hotel was summoned before the Abergavenny Police Court for selling whisky above the maximum price under the Spirits (Prices and Description) Order No.2 1918. [Source: Abergavenny Chronicle 14/01/1919].
1901: The property was occupied by Mr James Bell (Aged 41) and his wife Elizabeth (31) and their daughter together with a Mr Bell’s cousin and two servants. Mr Bell was the Licensed Victualler for The Golden Lion Hotel. [Source: 1901 Census].
1893: October – Mr Charles Knight of the Golden Lion was one of the judges at the Usk Shire Horse Show [Source: Star of Gwent 03/11/1893]
1873: The land at the back was known as the Old Fish Pond or Piscodlin Field.(Gabb Collection).
1850’s : Advertisements were printed in Monmouthshire Merlin (and other newspapers) for coaches departing from the Golden Lion to link with Steam Packets The ‘Swift and Dart’ which sailed from Newport to Bristol. Same day return tickets cost 3s for Aft Deck and 4s for Fore Deck. [Source: Example Advertisement – Monmouthshire Merlin 19/01/1850]. There were also advertisements for coach and train excursions to Chepstow with coaches leaving the Golden Lion at 06.45am to connect with a steam train leaving Newport at 10.10am to arrive at Chepstow at 10.45am. The return coach arrived back at Abergavenny at 10.40pm. The fare was 10s.[Source: Example Advertisement – Hereford Times 31/08/1850].
1840: The Golden Lion was mentioned in the Cambrian Travel Guide as being one of the four principal inns. Coaches were sent daily to meet the packet boat from Bristol – Newport.
1687: David Lewis (alias Charles Baker) was arrested at Llantarnum and conducted by six armed men to the Golden Lion Hotel where he was examined by John Arnold and later committed to death for conducting Roman Catholic services. See Gunter House, Cross Street.
1685: at a public meeting held here, in the reign of William & Mary, there was an enquiry into the setting up of a public market in the village of Pontypool.
The property was first purchased by John ap William Pang of Pen-y-Clawdd from William Lloyd in the early 17th century.
More information about the Golden Lion appears in Abergavenny Pubs, by Frank Olding, published by Tempus Publishing Ltd, Stroud, 2005.
If you have any further information about this property please email alhsresearch@email.com