15 Frogmore Street
About the Building | Recent History | Previous Occupiers | Other Information
| Address: | 15 Frogmore Street |
| Present Occupier: | Mezze Me (Turkish) |
| Present Owner: | Mehmet Muftuoglu |
| Ground Floor: | |
| Other Floors: | |
| Date when first used by present occupier: | August 2018 approx |
About the Building
The cottages, now shops, along Whitehorse Lane, were turned into business properties in 1924. The entrances to this property are on Whitehorse Lane, although it bears the number 15 Frogmore Street. The shops were occupied by J Batten, hairdresser, John Jones, bookmaker and E Loxley, shoe repairer.
2019: Mezze Me won the title of “Best Turkish Restaurant in Wales”. [Source: Article in South Wales argus 12/12/2020]
2018: Mezze Me incorporated as a registered Limited Company on 14th September, 2018.[Source: Companies House].
2017: MCC Planning Application No: 28624 Alt. Ref. No: DC/2017/00639. An Application for a New Shop Front was issued to Mr Muftuoglu on 12/07/2017. ( This application references St. Mary’s Bakery but the business was being taken over at this time by by Mezze Me, Turkish Restaurant}.
Recent History
August 2018 : Mezze Me – Turkish style mezze food, building owned by Penny Lewis
June 2018 : Corner Cafe appeared closed but sign in window requesting licence
From 2017 : “Corner Cafe” (New owners from previous?)
2016 : Building appeared empty in July 2016 [Source: Google Streetview Images]
Information in Italics to be checked – Conflicts with Previous Owners information
1980: May’s fashions (with no 14-16)
1979: May’s fashions (with 16)
1972: May’s fashions (there in January) but opening at no 18 at Easter
1971; May’s fashions
Previous Occupiers
| Year | Name | Detail | Source |
| 2011-2015 | St. Mary’s Bakery | Bakery Products | Google Streetview Images |
| 2009 | St. Mary’s Bakery | Bakery Products | Planning Application DC/2009/00391 for installation of roller Shutter Blinds refused 08/06/2009 |
| Dates Unknown | Ferrari’s Cafe | See Other Informatiom | |
| 1993 | A. G. Pinch & Sons | Bakers (Branch also in Cross Street) | ALHS Survey 1980+ |
| 1990 | A. G. Pinch & Sons | Bakers | Advertisement in Gwent Gazette 29/11/1990 |
| 1976 | Gordon Court | Gents outfitters, other floors stock rooms | ALHS Survey 1980 |
| 1970-76 | W H Lewis | Gents outfitters | Local knowledge. ALHS Survey 1980. |
| 1969 | H Lewis & son | Men’s clothing. Double Two Shirts | ALHS Survey 1980 |
| 1937 | W H Lewis | Gents outfitters | Kelly |
| 1934 | W H Lewis | Gents outfitters | Kelly |
| 1930 | W H Lewis | Gents outfitters | Car/Npt & Dis |
| 1926 | W H Lewis | Gents outfitters | Kelly |
| 1923 | Lewis & Powell | Tobacconist & laundry agents | Kelly |
| 1920 | Brown & Seymour | Tobacconist | Kelly |
| 1914 | Brown & Seymour | Tobacconist | Kelly |
| 1910 | Charles Ross | Tobacconist & hairdresser | Kelly |
| 1908 | W. J. Hodges | Hairdresser | Report of Court Case – See Other Information |
| 1906 | W. J. Hodges | Hairdresser | Kelly |
| 1901 | F W Newton | Hosier | Kelly |
| 1900 | Fred. W. Newton | Hatter, Hosier & Gent’s Mercer | Advertisement in Abergavenny Chronicle 07/12/1900 |
| 1891 | J Crosby | Fish & Game dealer | Kelly |
| 1879 | Miss Harrhy | Tobacconist & stationer | Thacker |
| 1878 | Thomas Harry | Hair Dresser, Tobacconist, Jeweller etc. | Advertisement in Abergavenny Chronicle announcing opening of shop |
| 1877 | James Williams | Grocer | Owen |
| 1875 | James Williams | Grocer | Mer & Croc |
| 1871 | James Williams | Grocer | Kelly |
| 1865 | James Williams (was in 56 Frogmore Street in 1862) | Grocer | Webster |
| 1851 | Margaret Chinery | Charwoman | Census |
Other Information
William Henry Lewis, acquired the property after the First World War in 1924 and set up business as a gentleman’s outfitter. He may well have been the Lewis in the Lewis and Powell who were in the premises in 1923, but I am not sure about that.
He and my grandmother, Joyce Augusta Lewis (nee Roberts) lived over the property initially, as many people did then when starting out in business. My grandmother had been a bookkeeper and had worked in Bank House when it was a drapery store, Bank House now being part of the King’s Head, I believe. Her father, Charles Augustus Roberts, was a cabinet maker and upholsterer and also traded on Frogmore Street at some point, but I don’t know which number.
Once my grandparents’ business was established, my grandparents moved to live at Lynwood on the Hereford Road, then to Parkside on the Hereford Road and eventually they built a bungalow, again on the Hereford Road, which they called Mardyville.
My grandfather initially traded as W.H.Lewis, but he was eventually joined in the business by my father, Richard John Lewis, and they traded as W.H.Lewis & Son. When my father became ill, the family ceased trading and my mother turned the property, which then included as one building the former cottages 1, 2, and 3 Whitehorse Lane, into three rentable commercial properties. Number 1 Whitehorse Lane is now a part of 15 Frogmore Street, while 2 and 3 currently house a barber’s and music shop respectively. (The fourth shop on the lane was a building conversion by David James.)
At my father’s death, 15 Frogmore Street & 2 and 3 Whitehorse Lane passed to my mother, Mabel Ada Lewis (nee Price) and on her death in 2009 to me, Penny Lewis.
The current tenant in 15 Frogmore Street is Mehmet Muftuoglu. Prior to that in reverse chronological order, tenants in the property KC’s Cafe, St Mary’s Bakery, Ferrari’s Cafe, Pinch the Baker and Gordon Court, gentleman’s outfitter.
The account on your website says that May’s, ladies fashions, was in 15 Frogmore Street, but I do not remember that being the case. It may be that someone has confused my mother with Mrs Griffiths who owned May’s. They were a bit facially alike and my mother was running the business in the 1970s, but as far as I am aware, May’s always traded out of the property next to the Old Post Office which is now Nicholls.
Information from Kathryn Barnett:
I hope you don’t mind me contacting you with a little more information about 15 Frogmore St, my dates are a little different than yours for one ownership. You have WH Lewis there up to 1976 and then Gordon Court……. But my belief is that Gordon Court had the business from 1972.
Leaving school at 17, I was too young to start my nurse training and worked in Gordon Court Outfitters until I turned 18. Mr Court had his original shop at Ebbw Vale and expanded into the Frogmore St shop after the Lewis family ceased business. I turned 17 in 1972 and left for Birmingham in early 1973, so was with Gordon Court from mid-1972- 1973. The Manager from WH Lewis stayed on with Mr Court, I’m sorry but I can’t remember his surname, only his first name – Cecil. I remember that when Mr Lewis’ widow came into the shop, Cecil treated her like royalty! He held her in very high regard.
It was a very small shop, and very old fashioned. Lots of wooden drawers on the walls behind the counters containing shirts, socks, underwear, handkerchiefs etc. Halfway down the shop was a staircase set into the back wall, very tight and turned as it went up. Upstairs was used for stock, but to my very young eyes it seemed very old, dusty, and creepy.
1908: There was a report in the Gloucester Journal of a Court Case heard Gloucester Police Court in which an individual was found guilty of stealing £3 from Mr William James Hodges of 15 Frogmore Street, Abergavenny. The individual was sentenced to 6 months hard labour.[Source: Gloucester Journal 25/01/1908].
1906: A ‘Wanted’ notice was printed in the South Wales Daily News requiring a hairdresser ‘at once’. Applicants were asked to write to M.E.Thomas at 15 Frogmore Street stating ‘wage and references’. [Source: South Wales Daily News 19/10/1906].
1881: The house was occupied by Mr John Watkins (Age 46) with his wife (Betsy) together with two sons and two daughters. Mr Watkins occupation was recorded as Painter & Decorator. [Source: 1881 Census].
1865: A Bankruptcy Notice was printed in Monmouthshire Merlin relating to Mr Timothy O’Regan of N0.15 Frogmore Street, Abergavenny described as grocer, baker and shopkeeper who was adjudged Bankrupt on eighth of December 1863. The Notice advised creditors that a meeting would be held in the County Court Office at Abergavenny on 7th March, 1865 at which Creditors should provide evidence of debts incurred. [Source: Monmouthshire Merlin 18/02/1865].
If you have any further information about this property please email alhsresearch@email.com