Building record 727/31/1 - No.187 Watling Street West (Sponne House)

Bank and shops, formerly inn. Mid C18, altered C20, with earlier origins. Red brick in Flemish bond, slate roof, brick ridge stack. L-plan. Until 1960 the Talbot Hotel. Before 1643 known as the Tabard, at least as early as 1440, when purchased by Archdeacon Sponne as part of the endowments of his charity. Remained in the ownership of Sponne charity until 1895

{1} Building shown on maps as hotel or public house. Large red brick structure with a central archway and some classical detailing in stone. Is now in use as entrance to Sponne Shopping Centre. Has a range of shops along one wing to the rear. Film 2, photo 17.

{2} Bank and shops, formerly inn. Mid C18, altered C20, with earlier origins. Red brick in Flemish bond, slate roof, brick ridge stack. L-plan. 2 storeys and attic; 5-window range. Central carriage arch with depressed-arched- ead and imposts. C20 canted bay window to right, C20 door to left with panelled reveals, reeded pilasters and cornice/hood. 12-pane sash window to far left with moulded stone sill, gauged brick lintel and keyblock. Similar windows to first floor except for central Venetian window with open pediment. Moulded stone eaves. Wing to rear right with many C20 alterations. Optician's shop in this wing has large open fireplace with cambered ogee-stop-chamfered bressumer inscribed TO 1707 GS with a central carving of a talbot dog. Until 1960 the Talbot Hotel. Before 1643 known as the Tabard, at least as early as 1440, when purchased by Archdeacon Sponne (q.v. Church of St. Lawrence) as part of the endowments of his charity. Remained in the ownership of Sponne charity until 1895. (A Towcester Trail (leaflet) 1983; Guide to Towcester Parish Church 1984).

{3} Mid 18th century inn, altered 20th century, with earlier origins. L-plan. 2 storeys and attic; 5-window range. Central carriage arch. A datestone in wing has TO 1707 GS with a central carving of a talbot dog. Before 1643 known as the Tabard. At least 1440 when purchased by Archdeacon Sponne as part of the endowments of his charity. Remained in the ownership of Sponne charity until 1895. Remained a hotel to 1960. Now bank and shops.

{4} References to named inns can be found from the early 15th century. In 1410 William lord Clinton granted an annuity of 40 shillings to John Porter payable by the tenant of the Tabard in Towcester. This property was purchased by William Sponne in 1440 and a few years later, in accordance with his last wishes, it was vested in trustees and the rents used to pay the fifteenth when it was demanded, to repair the Tabard, to repair the pavements in Towcester, with any remaining funds to be distributed to the poor.
A plan of proposed alterations to the Talbot (as the Tabard was known in later years) in 1855 shows the main rooms extending back from Watling Street and linked by a side passage. This plan form may have mirrored that of earlier centuries. In 1855 the rearmost rooms were the service rooms and included the pantry, cellar and kitchen. No evidence survives which records the location of the kitchen and brewhouse in the later medieval period. In 1485 the brewhouse was furnished with a great brewing lead, three ‘wort’ leads and two vats. Three years later work on the louver in the kitchen cost 7s 6d, and an additional nine pence was paid to a smith for the necessary iron work. Repairs to the louver were carried out in 1496-7, and two pence was spent on cord for it. There was a fireplace in the kitchen with a reredos, and also a dresser. Other service rooms included a larder house and a buttery, for which a lock and key were purchased in 1495-6.
In 1485 there were more than a dozen ‘standing beds’ at the Tabard: two in the chief chamber, three in the ‘drawhte’ chamber, two in the cross chamber, four in the ‘wyne seler’ chamber, and two in the chamber over the stable toward the Angel. The chief chamber was furnished with a cupboard and there was a wooden screen by the door. The accounts of 1485-6 recorded considerable refurbishment. A new parlour was built, complete with a stone chimney, mantelpiece and bay window. The window was impressive, furnished with glass costing ten shillings and with a lattice painted with verdigris and red ochre. This parlour may have faced onto Watling Street. Two years later an oriel was made over the stair foot leading to the principal chamber. There was mention of an oriel chamber with two windows in 1495-6; in the same year the great chamber was whitelimed and painted within and without. The accounts indicate the ongoing efforts made to provide accommodation attractive to visitors. In 1502-3 the chimney and the bench in the hall were repaired, a glazier from Daventry worked on the hall window, and three chambers were painted with pictures of coloured flowers. In 1507-8 a painter received 5s 4d for painting the Tabard with the ‘standard and legger’. In 1533-4 the man who painted the Tabard sign was paid 7s 6d, and a man from Potterspury was paid 16 shillings for painting the ‘signe beame poste’. A local smith received three pence for mending the iron work of the sign board and two pence was spent on ale when the sign was set up.
(Ref 3.5.2)The Tabard accounts recorded much work on chimneys. In 1485-6 Richard Mason was paid 4 shillings for making the chimney in the new parlour; in 1502-3 a tiler mended the chimney in the hall and the chimney in the chamber towards the Angel; in 1547-8 the old chimney in the hall was taken down and a new one built with 500 bricks purchased from a Lillingstone man. In c. 1580 John Slatyer agreed to build a chimney to serve as a double chimney for the ‘spyninge howse’ (which was to be made into a kitchen) and the buttery.
(Ref 3.5.4)There is little evidence to draw upon for trading links in the medieval period. The Tabard Account Book listed payments for sedge from Alford, haulm from Pattishall, straw from ‘Potte Kote’, stone from ‘pery delf’ and from Harlestone. Tiles came from ‘Betylysden’ and from Alderton, lime from Cosgrave, and more tiles and bricks from Lillingstone.
The Tabard Account Book recorded details of building work and repairs carried out in the years 1482-1566. The only indication of a cellar on the premises dates from 1485-6, when 4 standing beds were listed in the ‘wyne seler chamber’. It is possible that cellars were not a characteristic feature of the medieval town.
On the Tabard lands stood various outbuildings including a great stone barn, at least three stables including the Great Stable, Long Stable and Ostery Stable, a thatched hog sty. The Ostery Stable had its own kitchen, from which it was sperated by a jetty and a chamber known as the Ostery Chamber.
Other facilities offered by the Tabard included a well in the court. In 1484-5 a stone 'house' was built over the well and over twelve pence was spent on an iron winch.

{5} Undated photo;

<1> Ballinger J., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Towcester (Industrial), 3.4.2 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN100255.

<2> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 13/193 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<3> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), F08 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN45262.

<4> Taylor J.; Foard G.; Laughton J.; Steadman S.; Ballinger J., 2002, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Towcester, 3.5.3, 3.5.2, 3.5.1 (checked) (Report). SNN103132.

<5> Photographs of buildings in Towcester (Photographs). SNN114425.

Record last edited

Jan 4 2023 2:58PM