The Corn Exchange, Crickhowell

PWMP logobutton_lang_welshbutton_lang_frenchThe Corn Exchange, Crickhowell

crickhowell_corn_exchange_innThis building mostly dates from around 1800, but incorporates some of an earlier building from the 17th century. It was a pub until 2015. The old photos (courtesy of Crickhowell District Archive Centre) show the building c.1900 and c.1915.

Herbert Lovesey became licensee of the Corn Exchange Inn in 1917. He was summoned to a military tribunal in August 1918 for avoiding conscription into the armed forces. The 43-year-old father of five had a widowed mother, aged 80, to support. He did munitions work in Ebbw Vale and felled timber, as well as keeping the inn. The tribunal ruled that he should join the armed forces.

In the 1920s, William Jones became licenscrickhowell_corn_exchangeee of the Corn Exchange Inn. His son, also named William, later took over the license although he had been injured in the war and suffered from a large wound to his left thigh. His wife Katie had to dress his seeping wounds every morning.

Known as “Billy the Corn”, he died in 1937. A post mortem in Cardiff found the cause of death was exhaustion, following chronic discharging from wounds “caused by injuries received during military service”. Billy’s siblings had already died (three in infancy, one in childbirth). His parents, William and Mary, outlived all of their children.

The Corn Exchange was owned by a succession of breweries, including Cardiff-based Hancock’s in the early 20th century. In 2015 Punch Taverns said it would turn the building into a supermarket, but traders and residents protested over the impact the shop would have ocrickhowell_corn_exchange_prince_charlesn the town’s independent businesses. A limited company was formed, with 180 local shareholders. More than £750,000 was raised to buy and renovate the building.

The Corn Exchange was reopened in July 2018 by Prince Charles (pictured left). It now has shops on the ground floor and flats above.

With thanks to the Chris Lewis Collection of the Crickhowell District Archive Centre, and to Tim Jones

Postcode: NP8 1BH    View Location Map

Website of the Corn Exchange

To continue the Crickhowell in WW1 tour, walk down High St to Tower St. The next QR codes are on the signpost at the street corner
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