25 Frogmore Street
About the Building | Recent History | Previous Occupiers | Other Information
| Address: | 25 Frogmore Street |
| Present Occupier: | Auberge Wine Bar |
| Present Owner: | |
| Ground Floor: | |
| Other Floors: | |
| Date when first used by present occupier: |
About the Building
For most of its life from 1842, this building was a hostelry known as “The Old Herefordshire House”. More information about the hostelry can be found in the following publication: OLDING Frank, “Abergavenny Pubs”, The History Press, 2005 Reprint 2024, P55 – 57.
The original building had a thatched roof but was rebuilt in the 1960s.
You could walk down the lane under the arch to the right. This was also the entrance to the stables, to the Cibi Brook, and along the brook to the back of the White Horse. There was a court to the rear containing cottages which have all been demolished.
1976: In 1976, there was a shop under the arch (the Card & Gift Cavern, previously a cut-price shop).
1949: A/144 1985 Abergavenny Chronicle Oct 7th 1949. This shows a drawing of Frogmore Street with a small house, prior to the building of the archway on the left of the present building.
1929: An advertisement was printed in the South Wales Argus requesting tenders from Builders and Contractors for extensive alterations and remodelling of “The Old Herefordshire House” for Messrs. Ind Coope & Co. Ltd. Interested parties were asked to contact Geo. H. Davies, Chartered Architect at 12 Cross Street, Abergavenny. [South Wales Argus 20/02/1929 p4].
Recent History
2021: MCC Planning No: DM/2021/01532. Approval issued to Helen Bennett 0n 20/12/2021 for the conversion of an old storeroom that was no longer in use into a small hair studio. The planning application related to a store room on the first floor of the Auberge.
Alongside Auberge (which is no.25) is a very small property, with various uses over many years, latterly a ladies clothes shop
In October 2021, it opened as V24 cocktail bar. Apparently owned by “Casa Bianca” Italian Restaurant (no 51Frogmore Street). V24 property is not really no. 24 (which is currently “ZaZa Barber”); could be called “24A”; has never had a separate entry on the street survey.
Previous Occupiers
| Year | Name | Detail | Source |
| 2006 | Auberge | Bar & Nightclub | ALHS Survey 1980 |
| 1993 | New Management – Sept. | The Old Herefordshire House | Gwent Gazette 23/09/1993 |
| !976 – 1989 | The Card & Gift Cavern | Cards & Gifts (Building 25A under the arch) | ALHS Survey 1980+ |
| 1947 | from 1973: Prop Mr & Mrs Harding | The Old Herefordshire House | Rate book |
| 1937 | Prop: Bernard Hall & Llew Ashcroft | The Old Herefordshire House | Kelly |
| 1930 | Prop: Bernard Hall & Llew Ashcroft | The Old Herefordshire House | Car/Npt & Dis |
| 1926 | Prop: Llew Ashcroft | The Old Herefordshire House | Kelly |
| 1923 | Prop: C Jones | The Old Herefordshire House | Kelly |
| 1920 | Prop: George Evans | The Old Herefordshire House | Kelly |
| 1914 | Prop: George Evans | The Old Herefordshire House | Kelly |
| 1910 | Prop: George Evans | The Old Herefordshire House | Kelly |
| 1906 | Prop: George Evans | The Old Herefordshire House | Kelly |
| 1901 | Prop: Elizabeth Maddocks | The Old Herefordshire House | Kelly |
| 1891 | Prop: William Day Jnr. | The Old Herefordshire House | Kelly |
| 1879 | D R Jones | Brewer | Thacker |
| 1877 | W Williams | Tailor & Woollen draper | Owen |
| 1852 | John Jenkins (Victualler) | The Old Herefordshire House | Lascelles |
| 1851 | David Harris | Tailor | Census |
| 1850 | Prop: David Roger Jones | Crown & Sceptre | |
| 1822 | Prop: David Roger Jones | Herefordshire House | Pigot |
| 1769 | Crown & Sceptre | Pigot | |
| 1741 | Prop: Peter Powell | Rose & Crown |
Other Information
2010: MCC Planning No: DC/2010/00061. Approval granted on 27/05/2010 to Punch Partnerships Ltd. for the erection of a New projecting Pub Sign (0.94m x 1.25m) for the ‘Auberge’ together with two A0 size unilluminated poster cases.
1938: In December, Mr L Ashcroft, proprietor of The Old Herefordshire House, wrote a letter to the South Wales Argus complaining about the closure of public houses in Monmouthshire on Sundays whilst clubs were still allowed to serve alcohol. He was particularly critical of the Free Church Council who had championed the closure, pointing out that licensees must prove that they are people of exemplary character before they are granted a licence. His plea was for a ‘square deal’ for all. [Source: South Wales Argus 17/12/1938 p16].
1921: The Licensed Victualler at the Hotel was Mr George Evans (Age 80) who lived at the property with his wife Sarah (Age 60) and daughter Constance. [1921 Census].
1901: The Hotel proprietor was Mr Charles Prosser (Age 30) who lived at the property with his wife Sybil (Age 31) with a young son and daughter and three servants who worked as a Barmaid, Domestic Servant and Ostler.[1901 Census].
1887: There was a report of a “Trotting Match” printed in the South Wales Daily News in which Mr James Holly of Brynmawr accepted a challenge for his black mare ‘Polly’ to trot from the Bear Hotel in Crickhowell to Herefordshire House in twenty six minutes. The distance covered would be six miles. The mare was driven by the owner in a sulky and completed the challenge in twenty two minutes therefore having four minutes in hand. The stake was £10 and what little betting took place was in favour of the mare.[Source: South Wales Daily News 29/10/1887].
1881: The death of Emma, wife of Mr. D. R. Jones of Herefordshire House, Abergavenny was announced on 11th January at the age of 44 years. [Source: Abergavenny Chronicle 114/01/1881].
1872: During January, there was a shocking fatal accident reported at this hostelry. A man called James Maloney was assisting in the weekly brewing process and whilst lifting some of the wort into the coolers he fell into the boiler full of boiling liquor. He was rescued but found to be horribly scalded. Despite the attention of a Dr. Steele, he died shortly afterwards at the Workhouse to where he had been removed. At the subsequent inquest, the Coroner Mr E. D. Batt returned a verdict of “Accidental Death”.[Source: Monmouthshire Merlin 19/01/1872]. (Commentary – Modern day Health & Safety regulations would surely have questioned why such a dangerous method of work had been deemed acceptable and why no safety barrier existed to prevent workers falling into the boiler.)
1864: In July, there was an Announcement of a birth of a baby daughter to the wife of Mr. Thomas Pritchard of the Herefordshire House, Abergavenny. [Usk Observer 30/07/1864].
1741: 1741 is the earliest mention of the Rose & Crown Prop: Peter Powell. He is described as the ‘late Peter Powell’ in a mortgage dated 23 May 1769. The pub was then known as the Crown & Sceptre. It is first referred to as Herefordshire House in 1822, although it reverted back to the crown & Sceptre between 1834 & 1839. It is first called the Old Herefordshire House in 1842, but as the Crown & Sceptre in 1850. It became the Colonial Inn in 1997, and is currently known as the Auberge.
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