60 Cross Street – King’s Head Hotel

About the building

Source : Abergavenny Local History Society Survey 1980:

A much older building, refaced in 1836.  Barn and cobbled yard at rear, also court and stables.  In the lounge is a framed map of projected 1855 railways Abergavenny-Brecon (stated in original text “now almost certainly in County Archives”)

Also 1843 sketch of building when it was William Watkins, woollen draper and silk mercer.   At the time of last survey, a laundrette was also part of the property (see no.59 Cross Street)

A glimpse of the pre-1836 frontage can be seen on the 1826 print of the Market Place, now in the Museum.  On 8 April 1836, the Commissioners consented to Mr Williams Watkins proposal to bring forwrad the old Archway over the entrance leading from Cross Street to the Market Place and the back way of the King’s Head, to the front of the street, and to continue the wall above the Arch to a level with the intended New Front of the late King’s Head (source : Minutes of the Improvement Commissioners)

The Improvement Commissioners met here from 1797 – 1827 to decide what needed doing in the town and to pay the tradesmen who did it.  In 1827, they moved into the room over the wheat market – the start of the Town Hall.

Until the late 1920s, the stables ta the back were used on Market days to accommodate about 40 horses;  their carts were packed tight along Cross Street “like supermarket trolleys”.  The gardens are now derelict

Recent history

King’s Head Public House  since at least 17th century.   See “Other information”

Previous occupiers

Other information

Source: Carla Smith : information from relative provided in March 2016 :

“I refer to the King’s Head Inn as a coach house, because it was described as such.   My great grandmother, Margaret Cordelia Barge, nee Matthews, married Tomas William Barge in 1893.  (the family of Margaret Matthews were ironmongers for over 200 years at The Chestnuts in Raglan)   Thomas Wm Barge’s father, Thomas Barge Sr owned the King’s Head in Abergavenny, Wales.  I am not sure when he purchased the property but I know he owned it when he was 55 years old, according to the census.   As he was born in 1825, he owned it in 1880”

“When he died, ownership passed to either his wife, Elizabeth, or his son, Thomas W Barge, my great grandfather.  He died in 1899 at the age of 30 and his wife,  my great-grandmother moved in with their daughter, my grandmother, to live with her brother, James Matthews.   Her mother-in-law was still living, but the property was probably sold.”

Source : Abergavenny Local History Society Survey 1980:

A threepenny brass check was found in 1963 showing “Joseph Brown, King’s Head” with a stage coach on the reverse

In 1803 the long room was used for committee meeting of Abergavenny Loyal Volunteer Infantry, raised to combat possible French invasion

In 1810 the Turnpike Trust met here

In 1839 : James Cole, proprietor, was a juror at John Frost’s trial

In 1883 : “Annual Games Supper”

In 1667 : A trade token of Edward Lewis, grocer of Abergavenny.  He died in 1689 “He likewise kept the still extant Kings Head Tavern at Abergavenny” (Probate document in the Nation Library of Wales)

From an 1840s bill-head, it is clear that the first rebuilding, c.1836, had a paned glass window  shop front.  The stone arches were put in after this date, or were concealed behind the frontage – the sills were certainly lower than at present.  The join between the new position of the old arch and the wall of the King’s Head can be plainly seen, so it looks as if this wall belong at least to the 18th century King’s Head

 

 

Source : coflein.gov.uk

(heading for this is “58 and 60 Cross Street” but this should probably read “59 and 60″)

“These two in-line properties, The King’s Head and Bank House are probably of one build, as they once shared the same late seventeenth century projecting stair-wing at the rear.  A reference to the King’s Head in 1689 would be about the earliest date for the building of a dog-leg stair.   The north gable-end of the King’s Head is built up against the present late nineteenth century Market Hall on the site of Nash’s Market Hall which is shown on an 1801 map of Abergavenny by W Coxe.  The remains of one arch of the medieval Corn Exchange noted in 1906 by Bradney was moved out and incorporated in the King’s Head facade.  A straight joint in the masonry defines the facade’s former extent.   The upper floors are built over the Corn Exchange’s elaborately moulded 2-centred arch to front and a wide, semi-circular, plain voussoir arch at the rear with access to yard and former stables.   The whole building was altered internally in the early 19th century and its roof raised with king-post trausses.  A number of iron columns support ground floor ceiling beams, probably indicating the site of former partitions.  (RCAHMW April 2009)”

 

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