Abenhall is a hamlet is about half a mile to the south of Mitcheldean, on the road to Flaxley beyond the Dene Magna Community School. John Gwilliam is recorded as landlord at the Rising Sun in 1839. The ‘Gloucester Journal’ reported of a serious fire in 1865 which completely gutted the premises, describing the Rising Sun as a basic thatched cottage. Presumably it was not rebuilt and closed thereafter, although it was apparently insured. There are now two semi-detached stone-built cottages in Abenhall Road, with the address of 1 & 2 Sun House, which presumably have been built on the site of the Rising Sun. (GL17 0DY). The building stands alone with panoramic views over the surrounding countryside looking over to Plump Hill to the North-West. There would have indeed been spectacular sunrises looking east towards Blaisdon.
When one of the properties was put on the market in July 2001 it had an asking price of £195,000 and the particulars of sale gave the information that it had five bedrooms (with one en-suite). ‘This spacious semi-detached home is situated in a rural location in the historic Flaxley Valley. It was formed by conversion of an old public house and has large rooms and a split level format.’
