5 Frogmore Street
About the Building | Recent History | Previous Occupiers | Other Information
| Address: | 5 Frogmore Street |
| Present Occupier: | The Portico Lounge |
| Present Owner: | “Loungers” |
| Ground Floor: | Cafe/bar |
| Other Floors: | |
| Date when first used by present occupier: | 17 July 2019 |
About the Building
A refurbished building ?date on this site. See sketch of the properties adjacent and opposite in Lion Street.
A picture in Abergavenny Museum shows the Flour Mills in 1880, with a tall brick chimney, 8 millstones, carts & waggons, etc. The mill was four storeys high. A steam pipe ran across the road to the Steam bakery in Lion Street which was known as The Lighthouse.
Engraving by A Tucker show the premises were part of a considerable complex including the mill, mill staff houses, blacksmiths etc. Photographs in the Museum show that Ruthers used the Lion Street frontage as the greengrocers and the fishmongers frontage was in Frogmore Street.
1994 Aug: Change of Use of Fist and Second Floors from Vacant Ex-dental Surgery to Class B1 or A2 Offices. [Source: MCC Planning Ref: 37734 Alt. Ref: DC/1994/00870].
1993 Mar: Proposed New Shop Front & Entrance Door to 1st & 2nd Floor Areas. [Source: MCC Planning Ref: 35951 Alt. Ref: DC/1993/00218].
Recent History
July 2019 : The Portico Lounge Cafe/bar; sister business to Estero Lounge in Monmouth (from 2016)
2018 Aug: Change of Use from Use ClassA1 (Retail) to Use Class A3 (Cafe/Restaurant), the installation of an extraction system and shopfront alterations. Applicant Loungers Ltd. (Portico Lounge).[Source: MCC Planning Ref: PP-07233405 Alt. Ref: DM/2018/01382].
2018 : New Look : as with all High Streets, many retailers facing difficulties with increased rents and business rates. The company started in the UK in 1969 and now have “over 890 stores in UK and across 21 countries” (New Look website). However, New Look in Abergavenny closed in September 2018 (?? date opened) [Source: ALHS Survey 1980+]
Previous Occupiers
| Year | Name | Detail | Source |
| c1988 – 2018 | New Look | Ladies Clothing | ALHS Survey 1980+ |
| 1989 Oct – Date Unknown | Oxfam | Charity Shop | ALHS Survey 1980+ |
| 1970-1979 | Fosters Menswear Ltd | Menswear | ALHS Survey 1980 |
| 1965-1970 | Bradley’s | Gent’s Outfitters | ALHS Survey 1980 |
| 1962-1965 | Macfisheries | Fishmonger | ALHS Survey 1980 |
| 1947 | Ruther & Son | Fishmonger | Rate book |
| 1937 | S J Ruther & Son | Fishmonger | Kelly |
| 1934 | S J Ruther & Son | Fishmonger | Kelly |
| 1930 | S J Ruther & Son | Fishmonger | Car/Npt & Dis |
| 1926 | S J Ruther & Son | Fishmonger | Kelly |
| 1923 | S J Ruther & Son | Fishmonger & greengrocer | Kelly |
| 1920 | S J Ruther & Son | Fishmonger | Kelly |
| 1914 | S J Ruther & Son | Fishmonger | Kelly |
| 1910 | S J Ruther & Son & Herbert Gale |
Fishmonger Boot repairer |
Kelly |
| 1907 | Mr Horsington | Blacksmiths | Kelly |
| 1903 | Tucker Bros, Abergavenny Ltd | Seed & Corn Merchants | Kelly |
| 1901 | Tucker Bros, Abergavenny Ltd | Seed & Corn Merchants | Kelly |
| 1895 | Tucker Bros, Abergavenny Ltd | Seed & Corn Merchants | Kelly |
| 1891 | Tucker Bros, Abergavenny Ltd | Seed & Corn Merchants | Kelly |
| 1884 | Tucker Bros, Abergavenny Ltd | Seed & Corn Merchants | Kelly |
| 1879 | Tucker Bros, Abergavenny Ltd | Seed & Corn Merchants | Thacker |
| 1877 | Tucker Bros, Abergavenny Ltd | Seed & Corn Merchants | Owen |
| 1875 | Tucker Bros, Abergavenny Ltd | Millers, seed & corn merchants | Mer & Croc |
| 1871 | Tucker Bros, Abergavenny Ltd | Millers, seed & corn merchants also Insurance agent for Liverpool & Globe | Kelly |
| 1865 | Tucker Bros, Abergavenny Ltd | Millers & corn merchant | Webster |
| 1862 | Tucker Bros, Abergavenny Ltd | Millers & corn merchant | Morris & Co |
| 1858 | Tucker Bros, Abergavenny Ltd | Millers & corn merchant | Slater |
| 1851 | John Tucker farmer | also ran the Lion at no 6 | Census |
| 1844 | John Tucker farmer | also ran the Lion at no 6 | Slater |
Other Information
2019 Apr: Installation of new fascia and hanging sign for Portico Lounge.[Source: MCC Planning Ref: PP-07708046 Alt. Ref: DM/2019/00400]
2018: New Look : As with all High Streets, many retailers facing difficulties with increased rents and business rates. The company started in the UK in 1969 and now have “over 890 stores in UK and across 21 countries”. However, New Look in Abergavenny closed in September 2018 (Date opened Unknown) [ ALHS Survey 1980+ -New Look website]
1988 Feb: New Shop Fascia Sign and Art Work for New Look approved. [Source: MCC Planning Ref: 28764 Alt. Ref: DC/1988/00145].
2003 Jan: New Non-illuminated Fascia Signs for New Look. [MCC Planning Ref: M08075 Alt. Ref: DC/2003/00003].
1970-1979: Fosters Menswear Ltd, menswear. Other floors: D M Parsons, Dental surgery. [Source:ALHS Survey 1980]
1968: Bradley’s menswear, “Bri-nylon shirts 59/6d [Source:ALHS Survey 1980]
1962: MacFisheries ltd. Advertisement “Young lady 16-19 to train as cashier/assistant bookkeeper [Source:ALHS Survey 1980]
1921: The property was occupied by Mrs Emily Ruther (aged 84) with her daughter Emily with Great Niece Eleanor Brown, boarder, visitor and servant. Ms Brown was working at the premesis as a Clerk for S J Ruther Fruit Merchant.[Source:1921 Census Report]
1905: The results of a second sale by auction of the Abergavenny Steam Corn Mill, including No.5 Frogmore Street, appeared in the local press. The Sale took place on Tuesday 8th July. The Freehold Shop and premises described as having a ‘return front and dwelling house in Lion Street was sold to the Newport Trading Company for £2,000. [Source: South Wales Weekly Argus and Monmouthshire Advertiser 22/07/1905 P11].
1904: The Tucker Brothers Ltd. business was offered for sale by auction as a Going Concern at The Angel Hotel on November 1st. The sale included the Freehold Shop and Premises at No.5 Frogmore Street which was described as a sale shop of 30ft. by 21ft., with a convenient range of offices and storerooms etc. and connected to the Mill (Lion Street) by a covered walkway. The Dwelling house was was reported to have two sitting rooms, six bedrooms and ample domestic accommodation. The area of the property was reported to be 259 sq. yards. The frontage to Frogmore Street was reported to be 28ft.6in. and 84ft.9in. to Lion Street.[Source: Western Daily Press 22/10/1904]. N.B No reports of the auction being completed or cancelled have been found but a second auction took place during the following year.
1901: The property was occupied by Mr David James (aged 46) with two sons and a servant. Mr James and his eldest son worked at home as seed and corn merchants for Tucker Bros [Source: 1901 Census Report].
1888: Tucker Brothers became a Public Company with registered office at 5 Frogmore Street. The Vendor was Mr Thomas Tucker who was the sole partner. The value of the assets including freeholds, leaseholds, milling machines and works machinery alone was valued at £22,150. Mr Tucker agreed to act as managing director for a period of 5 years at a basic remuneration of £300 a year with a bonus scheme based on dividends exceeding 5%. The share prospectus was advertised in local press. [Source: South Wales Daily News 27/06/1888.
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