Building record 3884/0/61 - No.2 Gold Street (Dunn Cow Inn & Outbuilding)

{1} 'Ye Dunn Cow Inn' on Gold Street - shown as public house on map of 1926 - and earlier? Now painted pink and blue, but building retains traditional public house / inn style. Film 21 photo 18.

{2} The Dun Cow Inn has at least five key stages of development. The core of the building appears to date from the second half of the C19th.
First Edition OS maps indicate that the north-west to south-east gable range has been heavily modified or possibly completely rebuilt. Because the style and decoration of the whole of the north-west facing elevation is generally matching it seems likely that in addition to rebuilding the gable-ended range, the rest of the elevation was also remodelled at this time too. These modifications rebuilt the staircase to the first floor and increased the width of the catslide style roof to the rear of the building.
The next phase seems to have come after 1925 when the two-storey flat roofed extension was added to the south-western side of the pub. This attempted to maintain the decoration and style of the main front elevation but in a slightly cheaper fashion.
During the late 1950s the north-eastern downstairs rooms were increased in size by the addition of the single storey shallow roofed extension which has now been opened out into the large bar room.
The final significant alteration to the layout of the building came in the late 1960s or early 1970s when the single storey range at the back of the pub was added to house the new toilets and kitchen. This also had the effect of bringing the cellar hatch within the building.
The outbuilding has survived most of the alterations and phases of demolition which have taken place around it. Buildings such as this one are difficult to date as they lack dateable stylistic features and use locally sourced materials. The roof covering is modern but is likely to have been pan tiles originally, which are commonly used on agricultural buildings in this area. The presence of pegged roof timbers might indicate an early C19th date for the building. The iron strapwork within the south-west room suggest the presence of machinery rather than animals. The small opening and brick wall in the north-west room may be for animal feeding purposes.
The pub is a typical example, built on the outer edges of Wellingborough, probably relying on passing trade into and out of the town. The proximity of Broad Green and its cattle market would also have helped trade as would the ironstone quarrying to the north-east of the pub. The rebuild between 1888 and 1900 reflects the increase in housing around the area at this time, and possibly the growth of the boot and shoe industry, both of which would have increased trade. The continual growth of the town appears to have been matched by gradual additions to rooms and facilities.
Report includes detailed records of the two buildings: descriptions, plans, elevations and photographs, as well as a historical background.

<1> Ballinger J., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Wellingborough (Industrial), (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN100290.

<2> Hyam A., 2013, An Archaeological Building Record (Level 2) at the Former Dun Cow Public House, 2 Gold Street, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, p.5-46 (checked) (Report). SNN109718.

Record last edited

Feb 16 2015 1:40PM