Building record 2416/0/230 - The Talbot Hotel, Stables & Barns at Rear & Mounting Block Near Main Carriage Entrance

Established in 1552 on an earlier site and rebuilt in 1626. It is believed that stone from Fotheringhay Castle was used in the rebuilding and that the fine 16th century staircase was brought from there also. There are some good fireplaces and original 17th century panelling, and much work in 'style' of a more recent date. The plan of the main building is roughly L-shaped with modern extensions at the rear, and an extensive range of stables and barns reaching back to and along Drumming Well Lane. The New Street block is two storeys and attics in ashlar with very steep stone slate roofs with ball finials on the kneelers and apex of all gables including the three dormers on the front. Massive chimneys with six flues, 2 by 3, with entablature topping. All windows have stone mullions or mullions and transoms except the window over the archway in the main front. The main front is asymmetrical, there being 1 extra window to both main floors at the south end, three-light to the ground floor and six-light mullioned and transomed to the 1st floor. Band at eaves and above ground floor openings. Apart from the windows already noted, the rest of the openings are symmetrically disposed. Two three storey canted bays with five-light window to the ground floor, 10-light mullioned and transomed window to the 1st floor with a raised lozenge below, above is a massive gabled dormer with a flush face (not canted) the full width of the bay with deep up-cut and curving shoulders, where it spreads beyond the width of the front face of the bay. The attic windows are 3-light with heavy label and there is a raised lozenge above and below. 3-light window to semi-basement in north bay. In the centre another dormer similar in detail to those above the bays rises flush with the main face; semi-circular headed window with architrave and archivolt to 1st floor, the architrave reaching down to the band above the ground floor; carriageway with a curved head through the ground floor.

{1} Established in 1552 on earlier site and rebuilt 1626. It is popularly believed that stone from Fotheringhay Castle was used in the rebuilding and that the fine C16 staircase was bought from there also. There are some good fireplaces and original C17 panelling, and much work in "style" of a more recent date. The plan of the main building is roughly L shaped with modern extensions at the rear, and an extensive range of stables and barns reaching back to and along Drumming Well Lane. The New Street block is 2 storeys and attics in ashlar with very steep stone slate roofs with ball finials on the kneelers and apex of all gables including the 3 dormers on the front. Massive chimneys with 6 flues, 2 by 3, with entablature topping. All windows have stone mullions or mullions and transoms except the window over the archway in the main front. The main front is asymmetrical, there being 1 extra window to both main floors at the south end, 3-light to the ground floor and 6-light mullioned and ransomed to the 1st floor. Band at eaves and above ground floor openings. Apart from the windows already noted, the rest of the openings are symmetrically disposed. Two 3 storey canted bays with 5-light window to the ground floor, 10-light mullioned and transomed window to the 1st floor with a raised lozenge below, above is a massive gabled dormer with a flush face (not canted) the full width of the bay with deep up-cut and curving shoulders, where it spreads beyond the width of the front fac of the bay. The attic windows are 3-light with heavy label and there is a raised lozenge above and below. 3-light window to semi-basement in north bay. In the centre another dormer similar in detail to those above the bays rises flush with the main face: semi-circular headed window with architrave and archivolt to 1st floor, the architrave reaching down to the band above the ground floor; carriageway with a curved head through the ground floor. Lower 2 storey extension to the north end, roughl in style, appears to be a new face on an old restored wing. Also stone mounting block to left of centre carriage archway on main front elevation. All the listed buildings in New Street form a group.

{4}Talbot Inn
An old established inn in the town - part of the frontage and the stairs are believed to have been taken from Fotheringhay. Much of the present building dates from 1626. Used for a wide variety of functions and activities inclidng the Duke of Montagu's Court, the drawing of names for the militia and also for concerts. The building is still in use as a public house / hotel of the same name. Number of buildings on Drummingwell Lane have now been taken over for use by the hotel. Film 1, photo 19 - 22.

{5}By 1565 the number of inns in the town had apparently increased to at least six, judging from the names of the tenements: le Bull, The Crown (first mentioned in 1516-17 and said formerly to have been held by Richard Rawlyns for 23/6d ), The Harts Head, Le Lyon, Le Talbret, and The Swan (first mentioned in 1471-2 when it is described as an inn held as a virgate tenement

{8} Five undated photos, one also shows post office;

{11} Pamphlet of lithographic views in Oundle and Fotheringhay wich includes a view of the Talbot Inn;

{12} Photo dated February 1964;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 1/22 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), H16 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN41470.

<3> Fletcher T., 2012, The Talbot Hotel, Oundle: Historic Building Recording and Archaeological Monitoring, (unchecked) (Report). SNN108099.

<4> Ballinger J., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Oundle (Industrial), (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN100257.

<5> Foard G.; Ballinger J.;, 2002, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Oundle, Section 2.5.3 (Report). SNN102637.

<6> Widd Signs, 1993, The Talbot Inn, Oundle- Architects Plans (Plan). SNN111498.

<7> Hall D.N., 1960-1999, Rockingham Forest Project: Archaeological Sites Recorded by David Hall, (unchecked) (Database). SNN102279.

<8> Photographs of buildings in Oundle (Photographs). SNN114658.

<9> Fletcher, T., 2009, The Talbot Hotel, Oundle, Northants: Desk Based Assessment (Report). SNN106610.

<10> Historic England, THE TALBOT HOTEL, OUNDLE, BF094500 (Archive). SNN115156.

<11> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/205/4 (Archive). SNN115.

<12> Miss June Swann, 1960s- 70s, Miss June Swann Photographic Archive (Photographs). SNN116665.

Record last edited

Feb 12 2025 12:42PM