The former Drug Stores

Cadw's description

Location

Situated on S side of A40 just SW of the Usk & Railway Inn.

History

Former shop built c1898 as an agricultural seed store and chemists for John Parry of Talgarth, run by his nephew W.J. Davies. The shop had flats above, with five families there until 1926 when bought out by W.J. Davies, died 1958.

Exterior

Former shop and house above, squared grey rubble stone with blue brick dressings and slate roof overhanging at eaves. Yellow and blue brick end chimneys. Three-storey, four-bay front with centre two bays close-spaced. Cambered headed windows to upper floors in brick surrounds with slate sills. horned 6-pane sashes, the outer panes narrow. Ground floor has a timber lintel right across, over a similar sash with brick sides to right. Adjoining is tall doorway with big consoles framing a fascia on line of timber lintel, with thin cornice over. Four-panel door with big overlight. The left two bays have shopfront framed by piers with console brackets similar to those on doorway, fascia between with blind-box over. Fascia is painted with 'W.J. Davies & Sons' between 'Drug' and 'Stores'. Shop windows have grey stone below, a basement cambered-headed entry below left window. Windows each have two long panes to front and one canted inward to recessed shop door. Panes have cambered-headed tops. Double half-glazed shop door with overlight. Broad flight of stone steps to right of basement entry extending as far as house door. Small iron railings on low retaining wall to garden in front of right window. Windowless gable ends. Large rear wing.

Interior

Interior not inspected.

Reason for designation

Included for its special historic interest as an unaltered late Victorian house with rare example of an original shop-front.