2409

47  

II  

Designated  

01/11/1974  

10/11/2005  

47 Cross Street  

47 Cross Street  

Monmouthshire  

Abergavenny  

Abergavenny  

Abergavenny  

330007  

214096  

NE  

Situated on the main commercial street which runs from south-east to north-west across Abergavenny.  

Commercial  

 

This is an architecturally remarkable building which, for its grandeur of scale, is unlike anything else in Abergavenny. It is extremely difficult to date because it has design characteristics from either the later C17 or early C19, but appears to have been built as a unit and so is much likelier to be nearer the latter date than the former. The use of the giant order in the manner of Inigo Jones is unusual, but a part of the remarkable effect created is because the ground falls on both elevations, with the Monk Street one in particular resulting in a giant doorway at the far end of the elevation. None of the joinery is earlier than c1820, so perhaps c1825 is the best estimate for the whole. The maps of 1760 and 1801 both show the site as built on, Coxe in 1801 shows a large building as now but apparently with a central courtyard suggesting that it has been replaced (but see Interior). Further evidence supporting c1825 is suggested by the clear heightening of the chimney stack of the adjoining but much lower No. 46, which probably dates from the C17. Since the early C19 there has been little alteration above the ground floor, and that has two C20 and one late C19 frontages. No. 47 is recorded as being a shop in 1851.  

 

Interior not inspected at resurvey but it is reported that there is timber framing surviving about 2m behind the present facade, which would suggest that the building's origin is in the C16 or C17.  

Included for its special interest as a probably early C19 development of considerable architectural value which is part of a strong group with the other historic buildings in Cross Street.  

Nos. 47-49 Cross Street with No. 1 Monk Street The elevations are wholly rendered and painted, Nos. 47 and 49 are smooth stucco while No. 48 is roughcast, natural slate roofs with red brick stacks. L-shaped plan to the whole block, double depth, three tall storeys, the second storey being lower, seven windows to Cross Street and three to Monk Street. Nos. 47 and 48 are two windows wide, No. 49 is three windows with a blind bay to Monk Street and No. 1 is three windows. The Doric giant order stands on a band at first floor level, although this is partly disguised by the shopfronts. The Cross Street elevation has clasping corner pilasters and another set in between Nos. 48 and 49, in fact with four windows to the right and three to the left. No. 47 has a narrow band between floors and also between it and No. 48. The Monk Street elevation shows the whole of the first floor band and it also shows the pilasters descending to the plinth. There is a central pilaster with two bays on either side and the final pilaster to No. 1 is a quoin but does not clasp the corner. The ground floor has a probably c1920 shopfront to No. 47; display window with slim mullions and curved glass, house door to left with 6-panels and panelled reveals. A photograph of 1909 shows a different frontage with the house door to the right, one of 1934 shows it as now. The first floor has 8 over 8 pane sashes, the second 4 over 8. No. 48 has an extremely plain late C20 shopfront with single pane display window and door on left. Windows above as with No. 47. No. 49 has a late C19 public house frontage with arched heads, 2-light - door - 2-light - door - single light. This frontage continues round the corner into Monk Street with another 2-lights. The first floor has windows as before but the centre first floor one is a narrow 6 over 6 pane sash and the 1909 photograph shows this as having a pedimented architrave and possibly went originally onto a balcony above a porch of a type used for election addresses before the Reform Act, being directly opposite the other premier hotel in the town. The architrave has been removed since 1934. The Monk Street elevation has single light windows with transom on the ground floor and a giant doorway to No. 1, panelled door with transom light, panelled architrave and flat head supported on carved brackets. Six over 6 pane sashes on the first floor and 3 over 6 on the second. Deep eaves on brackets to both elevations, roof hipped at both ends to Cross Street, but with a gable end on Monk Street, six massive brick stacks, two on each ridge and one at either end of the block. The rear elevation has both dormers and roof-lights indicating that part of the attic is usable rooms.