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Radstock Court, ABERGAVENNY, NP7 5BQ

This building was said to be built as the George Inn. Gwagle who rent the upper floors claim it to be over 220 years old and Pigot's list a New George Inn in 1791. However it seems all but the façade was rebuilt about 1979-1984. In an 1825 advertisement the building is to let as "Tenement and Dwelling House, called the Little George Inn, with suitable offices, Cellars, and 3 excellent stables". As far as I can tell, the George Inn is not listed in 1871, 1880, 1895 or 1907 (47 Frogmore Street was rebuilt c.1905 as the George Hotel). A photograph dated 1875 or before shows 43 empty. Apparently occupied by 1879 a 1901 directory lists 'Cooke & Davies, tailors & drapers, 1a, Victoria street & 43 Frogmore street'. By 1910 it is split into 43 (right half) and 43A (left half) and carrying the name 'Frogmore Buildings'. I'm not sure how the upper floors were split but 43A seems to have the room with the arched window. Eddie Madge, Photographer was in 43A and Charles Downes Cabinet Maker in 43. By 1912 Edward Harrington, Photographer had replaced Eddie Madge. Jackson & Daly replaced Downes in c.1945. In 1961 Abergavenny & District Co-operative Society are in 43A and when Jackson & Daly closed down in February 1970 the Co-op took over both shops and the arch was filled in. 1972 to 1978 Wasons Decorators Merchants are here and in 1979 Kwik-Save Supermarket. More recently, before 2009 it was 'Farmfoods' then in October 2015 Google shows it clad in scaffolding and soon after Prezzo Italian restaurant chain moves in until they closed this branch in April 2018. Oakbridge Property Ltd purchased the building in May 2021 and in June Panevino Italian Restaurant had the ground floor. Described as “empty for decades” in March 2022 a "major property refurbishment" enabled Gwagle to expand its operation offering flexible shared offices and workspace in the upper floors.

A very interesting war memorial; the figure of the soldier is not standing with head bowed, as so many war memorial statuary figures are portrayed, but he leans on his rifle in a war weary manner looking every inch the battle hardened veteran. His level gaze is into the heart of town. The 'war to end all wars' was sadly not the last conflict to claim the lives of men from this town.

His body language and expression seem to say 'war is the last resort' or 'war is a waste of lives' or that the real burden of war falls on the ordinary man, conscripted or volunteering to rectify the failings of his government, diplomats, policies etc. His stance also seems to say 'a job well done - now let's never let war happen again'.

A slightly haunted expression of a veteran. A 'thousand yard stare' I believe it's called. This face has looked out over town since just after the Great War - almost a century in which maybe only the geography and scale of the battlefields has changed.

Viewed across the A40. The War Memorial https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6378447 dominates the view.

Located here. https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6378439 Unveiled on October 29th 1921 as a Great War Memorial for the Monmouthshire Regiment.

The War Memorial stands at the top of Frogmore Street, opposite the Abergavenny Baptist Church (Image]). The memorial consists of a statue of a soldier resting on his rifle. The statue is on a stone column with the inscription: 1914 - 1918 TO THE OFFICERS N.C.O.s AND MEN OF THE 3RD BATTALION MONMOUTHSHIRE REGT WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR

The Barber Shop is next door to Sigma 3 Kitchens.