Building record 3320/0/4 - The Falcon Hotel

Late 17th century inn, altered in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Attached to the hotel is an 18th century coach house.

{1} Hotel. Late C17 altered and extended C19 and C20. Coursed squared limestone, piain-tile roof, brick ridge and end stacks. 2-storey, 4-window range. Panelled door to right of centre in gabled timber porch. 2-light leaded windows to ground floor far left and to right of door to ground and 1st floors, otherwise similar 3-light windows; all have wood lintels. Stone-coped gables with kneelers. Lower 2-storey extensions to left and right, that to left with further C20 extension. Interior has chamfered spine beams and open fireplace with chamfered bressumer.

{2} All buildings shown on the 1840 Tithe Map. The Falcon is, at its core, a three-bay two-storey structure typical of 17th and 18th century Northamptonshire construction. Hotel sign claims a founding date of 1594, but evidence for this is unclear. The upper floor is carried on a central spine beam which spans the full length of the building, though later truncated by the stair. It is suggested that the use of spine beams became general practice from c1600.
The building appears to have been built with a tile roof though it shares features often associated with thatched roofs of the same period.

{5} Undated photo;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 12+13/49 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), F12 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN45262.

<3> Bassir A., 2017, Historic building recording at the Falcon Hotel, Castle Ashby, Northamptonshire, May 2017 (Report). SNN110808.

<4> Crank, N. (Editor), 2019, South Midlands Archaeology (49), p. 75 (Journal). SNN111755.

<5> Photographs of buildings in Castle Ashby (Photographs). SNN111838.

Record last edited

Jan 22 2020 12:18PM