George Hotel and Pilgrims' Inn, Glastonbury

The George Hotel and Pilgrims' Inn in Glastonbury, Somerset, England, was built in the late 15th century to accommodate visitors to Glastonbury Abbey. It has been designated as a Grade I listed building.[2][3] It is claimed to be the oldest purpose built public house in the South West of England.[4][5][6]

George Hotel and Pilgrims' Inn
Main façade of the building in 2009.
Location within Somerset
General information
TypeLate medieval courtyard inn
Town or cityGlastonbury
CountryEngland
Coordinates51.1462°N 2.7098°W / 51.1462; -2.7098
Completedc.1475[1]
Listed Building – Grade I
Official nameGeorge Hotel Pilgrims Inn
Designated21 June 1950
Reference no.1345455

Having once been the Pilgrims' Inn of Glastonbury Abbey, by the mid-nineteenth century the building was known as the George Hotel.[7] The current name preserves both. The first record of the building is from 1439 when the tenant was N. Kynge. In 1493 Abbot John Selwood gave a "new" building to the abbey chamberlain.[8] After the Dissolution of the Monasteries it became the property of the Duke of Somerset. By 1562, when a 21-year lease on the building was taken out by George Cowdrey, it was described as "in such great ruin that it is likely that in default of repair within a few years the rent will not be answered" but included "six featherbeds".[9] In 1658 the property was divided and a horsemill installed to grind malt. The building was also used for meetings and inquiries for example by Royal Commissioners (in 1672) and the Quakers (in 1691).[10]

The front of the three-storey building is divided into three tiers of panels with traceried heads. Above the right of centre entrance arch are three carved panels bearing the coats of arms of the Abbey and of King Edward IV.[2] The building is pannelled and stone faced,[11] with the stone work resembling that normally created in wood at the time of its construction.[12] The stone columns reflect the arrangement of halls and chambers within the building.[9] In front of the roof gables is a crenellated parapet with a small bell tower above. The interior includes a stone newel staircase and beneath the bar are large cellars.[3]

It is believed to be haunted.[13][14]

See also
  • List of Grade I listed buildings in Mendip

References

Notes

  1. Harper 1906, pp. 107–108
  2. "George Hotel and Pilgrims' Inn". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 11 November 2006.
  3. "George Hotel and Pilgrims' Inn". National Heritage List for England. Historic England. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  4. "The George and Pilgrim". RelaxInnz. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  5. "The George and Pilgrim". Britain Express. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  6. Rogers, Joseph (2016). A Spectrum Of Settlements. Joseph Rogers. p. 66. ISBN 9781364234751.
  7. Rev. John Williamson, Glastonbury abbey: its history and ruins (1865), p. 69
  8. Dunning, Robert; Penoyre, John; Penoyre, Jane (1997). Glastonbury Tribunal. Glastonbury Tribunal Ltd. pp. 3–4.
  9. Siraut, M.C.; Thacker, A.T.; Williamson, Elizabeth. "Glastonbury: Town In: A History of the County of Somerset: Volume 9, Glastonbury and Street". British History Online. Victoria County History. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  10. Dunning, Robert (1994). Glastonbury: History and Guide. Sutton Publishing. pp. 47–49. ISBN 978-0750904216.
  11. Steane, John M. (1985). The Archaeology of Medieval England and Wales. University of Georgia Press. p. 118. ISBN 978-0820307558.
  12. Watts, Andrew (2013). Modern Construction Handbook. Birkhäuser. p. 46. ISBN 9783990434550.
  13. "Has ghost of Glastonbury pub been caught on camera?". Somerset Live. 11 May 2012. Archived from the original on 17 September 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  14. "The George and Pilgrims Hotel". Fright Nights. Archived from the original on 4 September 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2016.

Bibliography

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