Building record 1679/16/1 - Green Dragon Hotel

Hotel. Early C18, mainly mid and late C18, partially remodelled late C19. Squared coursed limestone with slate roof.

{1} Hotel. Early C18, mainly mid and late C18, partially remodelled late C19. Squared coursed limestone with slate roof. Three-unit plan with carved arch to right of centre. 2 storeys. 5-window range of sash windows with margin lights, shallow arch heads and C19 rusticated ashlar surrounds. C20 door to left of centre has tiled surround. Carriage arch to left of centre has shallow arch head. Bay to far left is probably C19: irregular straight joint between this and the main range. Brick stacks at ridge. Rear yard is flanked by ranges of buildings of early C18 origins. Those to right are attached to No. 2a (The Old Forge House), College Street (q.v.). Interior: entrance hall has late C19 staircase. Rooms to rear have large chamfered spine beams. Included for group value.

{3} Early 18th hotel, mainly mid and late 18th century remains. Partially remodelled late 19th century. Three unit plan with carved arch to the right of centre. Two storeys. 5-window range. Included for group value.Stables to the right attached to 2a College Street may have originally been part of the hotel-stable blocks. (G07 DOE greenback page 14).

{5} Green Dragon / Commercial Inn, High Street
Used as a staging post for coaches during the great coaching era. The building is still standing and in use as a public house of the same name today. It is at stone building with a tiled roof. There is an archway leading through to the back and there are some outbuildings (probably stables) at the rear. Film 2, photo 15,16,17,20,21.

{5}, {6}, {7} It may be expected that there were several inns at Higham in the later medieval period. As yet the distribution of most of the inns and alehouses has not been established although several have been located. It is clear from the survey of 1737 that some at least of the inns and alehouses were distributed through the town from North End to the southern end of Newlands.

{8} Two undated photos, also two photos of dovecote at rear of Green Dragon dated January 1964;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 18/27 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), G07 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN41470.

<3> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, p.15 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN45409.

<4> Ballinger J., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Industrial Period, (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN4.

<5> Foard G.; Ballinger J., 1999, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Higham Ferrers (Medieval - Industrial), (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN100543.

<6> COLBECK J., 1737, Higham Ferrers, 1737 (NRO Map 1004), (unchecked) (Map). SNN100548.

<7> 1730, Higham Ferrers Burgage Rental 1730, (unchecked) (Document). SNN100552.

<8> Photographs of buildings in Higham Ferrers (Photographs). SNN115452.

Record last edited

Sep 27 2023 2:22PM