Monument record 1255/0/32 - The Black Horse Inn

Former inn on Watling Street first mentioned in 1783. Now demolished

{1} The Black Horse Inn once stood on the site, and was depicted on the First Edition Ordnance Survey map of 1884.The buildings associated with the Black Horse Inn remained extant on the site until at least 1958, when they were still shown on Ordnance Survey mapping, although the label for the Black Horse Inn disappeared by the publication of the 1925 OS map. By the publication of the 1970 OS map, the buildings had been removed.
Throughout the groundworks a series of structural features were found consisting of stone constructed walls, brick walls, and a brick and stone constructed wall. Two brick surfaces were exposed along with stone drain and brick and stone drain. A stony deposit was also found both underlying and beyond brick surface that may have acted as a base layer, and a further stony deposit was found in service trench 2.
The structural features found, in particular those of brick, were constructed with un-frogged bricks bonded with lime mortar suggesting a pre-19th century date and are thought to form part of the buildings originally associated with the Black Horse Inn. One surface also included a number of stable bricks inscribed with the word ‘Doulton’ which were believed to have been manufactured by Henry Doulton and Co, a pipe maker and brick agent of High Street, Lambeth, London established in 1846 (http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Henry_Doulton_and_Co).

{2} At the western end of the village, on the Passenham side of Watling Street, a building stood in the early 17th century on the site later occupied by the Black Horse inn, which in 1871 was said to have been licensed for over fifty years. The pub lost its licensed in 1920 and two years later the owners, Phipps of Northampton, sold the building, which was subsequently demolished.

{3} The inn was described as 'ancient, good accustomed Public House, known by the Sign of the BLACK HORSE, with a Close of Pasture Ground adjoining' in 1781.

{4} Sales particulars of 1836 describe the inn as 'all that substantial, old-established, freehold public house, brick built and tiled, called The Black Horse inn, situate at Old Stratford, now in full trade; comprising parlour, tap room, bar, back kitchen, three comfortable sleeping rooms, with closets, and two attics, brewhouse, and excellent cellarage for upwards of forty hogsheads of ale; coach-house, and stabling for eight horses; large yard with pump of good water; pigsties, large garden and orchard, well planted with choice young fruit trees. And also two cottages, brick built and tiled, adjoining the above, one of which is occupied with the Public House, and the other is let to a respectable Tenant.'

<1> Summerfield-Hill, C., 2016, Archaeological Observation and Recording Report: Land Adjacent to 47 Towcester Road, Old Stratford, Northamptonshire, (checked) (Report). SNN110259.

<2> Riden P.; Insley C., 2002, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire (Series). SNN102540.

<3> 1781, Northampton Mercury, (unchecked) (Article). SNN110260.

<4> 1836, Northampton Mercury, (unchecked) (Article). SNN110261.

Record last edited

Feb 25 2025 8:00PM