39A Cross Street

About the building

Part of Gunter House.  16th century

Source : Abergavenny Local History Survey 1980

Listed ceiling in plaster “cherub’s ceiling”.  Circular staircase.  Old oak doorway and window frames.  Probable old chimney and fireplace. Gas was being installed in 1984.

The oak spiral staircase is built out from the north-east corner of the room and projects into the neighbouring house, no.40.  In the first floor room, stretching from front to rear of the house is a plaster ceiling, divided into panels with 44 cherubs’ heads, the whole bordered with a running pattern of single roses, thistles and pineapples.

 

Recent history

Janus DVD rental from ?? until 2016/17?? when Gunter Mansion taken over by Welsh Georgian Trust (?)   Ground floor exhibition space from September 2017.  Upstairs for archeological survey and eventual restoration

Source : Abergavenny Local History Survey 1980

See also no.39 Cross Street

1984 : known as “Allsorts” selling fancy goods

In 1975 : Rented by John & Paul Philips, Photographers (The Criterion Studio).  Owned by Cardiff Royal Exchange Co Ltd.   Flat over.  Photographers closed in 1983

From 1947 – 1975 : Brian Searle, Carpet Shop, also Bernard Thorpe & Partners, Estate Agents (1967Abergavenny Chronicle)

From 1937 – 1947 : Mrs Parry, Residence

(information on original survey also states occupied by Linden Alcock – Manager William Evans, Estate Agents.  It is not clear which year this refers to)

Previous occupiers

Other information

For this property (39A), see also no. 39 Cross Street which was the Cardiff Arms from 1898 – 1907 and, before that, Parrot Inn from 1864 -1898.  The Cardiff Arms went bankrupt in 1907 and the whole property was bought by Thomas Smith Foster.

In the 1920/1930 period, it is uncertain whether the occupiers of this property were in no.39 or 39A and vice-versa for those listed under 39, as during this period nos.39 and 39A were separated.   It is also not clear how long Mrs Lewis’s shop was in no.39 and 39A as well as no. 38

Adverts in Abergavenny Chronicle

1968/1969/1971 :(no.39) ad for Bernard Thorpe & Partners, also agents for Monmouthshire Building Society

1970 : (no.39) ad for Yeoman Miller Travel, travel agent promoting holiday travel films to be shown in the Angel Hotel in January 1970

1972 : both Brian Searle and Yeoman Miller Travel have adverts from 39 Cross Street

1974 : ad shows now known as Yeoman, Miller & Co.

January 1978 : ad for Gwent Tools “new premises” -in the same year, they are advertised at no.44 Cross Street, ?did they have two shops, or had they moved from one to another (?which direction).  Gwent Tools are still advertising at no.39 in August 1978

1978/1981/1988/1991/1993 : ads for Terry’s Menswear (“Now Open” July 1978)

November 1978/1979/1980/1981/1982 : ads for Criterion Studios, photographer at no.39 also

 

Source : coflein.gov.uk

re nos 37-40 Cross Street (Gunter House) : “One building 16th century rubble stone, stucco, 2 storey.  Rear mullion and transome windows. Formerly Parrot Inn.  Interior oak, circular stairs.  Medieval frescos and carving 16th/17th century plaster ceiling.  Wallpaintings;  Magi (in oils) on ceiling of private chapel: Graffiti and date 1640.  Above window to Cross Street “L.H.S” within rays;  cherubs.  East wall : date 1640 (Roman figures?).  Fragments of floral trellis design”

 

If you have any further information about this property please email alhs@live.co.uk