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Introduction to St John’s Street and Square
A map from 1760 shows the poultry market in St John’s Street. There is evidence to suppose that the triangular area enclosed by Nevill Street (Rother Street until the 19th century) High Street and St John’s Lane (Chicken Street on the 1834 map) was the original market of the town. It includes St John’s Church which was probably there before the town wall was built and the Bull, Cow and Vine Tree Inns. Butchers’ Row (now Flannel Street) may also have been part of this complex as areas of cobbling were found by the Vine Tree Inn and in the Flannel Street excavation area (see Monmouthshire Antiquary Vol III pt 2 1972-3 and Discovering Abergavenny Archaeology and History by Frank Olding, published by the Abergavenny Local History Society). The haphazard development of this area is typical of later encroachment into a market.
House numbering in St John’s Street: number 1-4 only on the south side. (1980)
The 1939 Register St John’s Street: Nos 1, 2, 4, 12
The October 1945 Monmouthshire Electoral Roll shows St John’s Street: Nos 1, 2, 4, 12, 14, Vine Tree, which was an Inn.
Note added October 2026:
St John’s Street
In the 1950’s slum clearance took place and this demolished part of St John’s Street which adjoined St John’s Square.
In the 1970’s some buildings on the High Street between Flannel Street and St John’s Street were unsafe and so demolished. If you look at the depth of the new building, it now includes Parsons bakery (2 St John’s Street) within its footprint. An older photograph shows that the original building on High Street wasn’t as deep it now is and shows that No 2 St John’s Street with a lower roof line. From the photo comparison it appears that No 1 St John’s Street was demolished and the land incorporated into the new High Street building.
St John’s Square
In the 1950’s buildings on the east side of St John’s Square were demolished during slum clearance. In the 1960’s part of this land was used to build the Post Office.
The Y Fenni (Abergavenny) Mural on the Post Office Wall was commissioned by Abergavenny Town Council. Created by local artist, Danielle Farrington, and Completed in April 2026.
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