THIS REMARKABLE building, dating back to the 17th Century, is first recorded as a public house in 1787.

John Hurcum, landlord of The Bull Inn between 1842 and 1844, also ran a brewery at this site in Nevill Street, Abergavenny.

In 1852 the publican, William Williams, was noted as being "a victualler and carrier, licensed to let horses," according to local historian Glyn Harris, who has researched old Abergavenny in minute detail.

A large yard at the rear, which came in from Castle Street through double doors, housed all of the horses.

The yard was also at some time to become the scene of cockfights. It must have been a pub of "some rowdiness" because in 1897 the police opposed the renewal of the licence on the grounds that there had been eight convictions recorded against the house.

The tenant at the time was fined 20 shillings plus costs for being "excessively drunk".

Later, in the 1920s, Mr Charles Price recalled that on one holiday weekend when the town was full of miners and steelmen, "tremendous commotions" were going on in St John's Square.

His bedroom was on the top floor of No16 Nevill Street, but the row woke him up and he could see that the square and the bottom end of Nevill Street was teeming with people.

The publican of The Bull had kicked one of the miners and caused him "some serious injury to an eye," says Glyn.

Consequently, all the miners in other pubs in the town joined up for revenge on the publican, Mr Edwards, yelling: "Crucify him, crucify him."

Edwards had to barricade his doors and windows to keep the mob out.

The Bull Inn and adjoining houses in the picture are now Abergavenny's main post office.