A 500-YEAR-OLD former pub and a Victorian high street chapel which stand opposite each other on a town high street are both going under the hammer this week.

The Grade II-listed former Vine Tree pub on Monnmouth’s Monnow Street and the 155-year-old Hebron Hall, which backs onto the Waitrose car park, are being sold at auction by Paul Fosh Auctions on Thursday (September 12), and could be converted into shops, offices or accommodation.

The former alehouse, which was formerly known as The Coach and Horses, was one of the town’s oldest pubs, but poured its last pint in 2012.

The front of the building on Monnow Street is Georgian, but the rear still has late Medieval windows dating back to the 1500s.

Renamed The Vine Tree in 1820, it was made up of a brewhouse, stables, cellars and gardens, and 1842 details of occupations of people living in the lane at the rear of the inn revealed a gunsmith, a cabinet maker, a tailor, a flax dresser, a baker, a glazier and a tea dealer.

The property is set over three floors within “a large plot including a good-size rear garden providing side and rear access”.

Ryan Saunders, of Paul Fosh Auctions who is handling the sale, said: “This former public house, which has substantial parts dating from the 16th century, is in a prominent position on the high street in Monmouth.

“It’s a significant, historic building in the heart of the border town which must have witnessed all manner of comings and goings in the county town over the past centuries.

“Most recently, the property has operated as the All Our Yesterdays shop selling antiques, jewellery, trinkets, retro collectables and vintage clothing.

“This generous-sized property would offer huge potential for conversion, subject to planning. Planning permission has previously been granted for the property to be converted to a pair of shops on the ground floor with a separate flat above.”

A timber storage unit, large former toilet block, off-road parking are also at the rear of the building, which is listed with a guide price of £620,000-plus.

The property has an entrance hall, former bar areas, lounge area, two additional rooms and a kitchen on the ground floor. On the first floor are six further rooms and a bathroom and on the second floor are four more rooms.

As regards Hebron Hall, where the original Primitive Methodist congregation vehemently opposed the drinking that went on at The Vine Tree on the other side of the road, Mr Saunders said: “The substantial former chapel has direct access onto Monnow Street and also has access to the rear to a large car park.

“The property and land would be suitable for development as apartments, for office use or retail subject to obtaining the necessary planning consent.

“The gated former chapel is located on Monmouth’s main shopping street and is therefore close to a huge range of major retailers, independent shops, restaurants, supermarkets and has good road links.”

The pub and chapel, which has a guide price of £200,000, are both auctioned at Cardiff North Hotel in Llanedyrn tomorrow at 5.30pm