Monument record 4679/5 - C18th Inn (Formerly The Duke's Arms & The Grafton Arms) & Possible Later Farm

{1} Said to have been a farm on the Grafton Estate, it then became Blisworth Mill (qv) owner's house and John Westley is listed in Kelly's Directory in 1898, as living at Grafton House.

{3} By 1808 the western part of Blisworth had undergone significant development, mostly associated with the creation of the canal. The Grafton Arms with its range of outbuildings is shown. The east to west range of barns still on the site appears to be part of this early configuration.

{4} There is little change in 1838 from the earlier map of 1808. There seems to be a small pond or trough to the north of the site on an open area to the north of the barn range. Some small extensions to the inn and outbuildings are also visible and a small building at the south-west edge of the site appears to have been demolished.

{6} By 1884 the inn has been converted into the private residence known as Grafton House. The U-shaped range of buildings to the rear of the house and further buildings abutting the southern boundary have been demolished, although the range of barns within the site appears to have extended further westwards. A small range has also been added to the south and two adjoining enclosed stock yards are visible.

{8} In 1793 Simon Stubbs sought permission from The Duke of Grafton to build an inn on the land, probably as a response to the start of canal construction opposite. Additionally the road through Blisworth was registered as a turnpike in 1794, due to the expected increase in traffic from the new canal.
The inn was initially known as The Duke's Arms, but quickly seems to have become The Grafton Arms. Stubbs leased the inn from the Duke of Grafton in 1798 for a period of 21 years. The lease mentions that Stubbs had built the inn, stables and other outbuildings out of his own pocket. A further barn was built in 1800. It is not known whether the barns on the current site were contemporary with the inn or were built at this slightly later date. Certainly by the 1808 Inclosure Map they are in existence.
The Grafton Arms closed within a few years after the end of the turnpike system in 1873 and the house was converted to a private residence by Joseph Westley, who was listed in the 1881 census as a miller, farmer, baker and merchant. Blisworth corn mill was built in 1879 by Westley opposite the house, replacing the old mill and bakehouse, which had been damaged by fire.
The Grafton Estate encountered severe difficulties after WWI and Grafton House was sold to the Westley family in October 1919.

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 10/10000 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), F10 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN45262.

<3> 1808, Blisworth Draft Inclosure Map (NRO Map 2931), (unchecked) (Map). SNN109658.

<4> 1838, Grafton Estate Map (NRO Map 4220), (unchecked) (Map). SNN109659.

<5> Clark G., 1857, The Grafton Arms, (unchecked) (Drawing). SNN109656.

<6> Ordnance Survey, 1884, First Edition OS 6 Inch Mapping Series (51SE), (unchecked) (Map). SNN107146.

<7> 1919, Sale Catalogue For Grafton House, (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN109657.

<8> Walker C., 2011, Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment of Land at Gayton Road, Blisworth, p.3-6 (checked) (Report). SNN108139.

Record last edited

Feb 25 2015 11:45AM