Somerset pub oldest in England
The George Inn, in Norton St Philip, was originally built in the late 14th century
Last updated 22 hours ago
A pub in Somerset has been deemed to be the oldest in England.
Pubs are fertile ground for tall tales, with many claiming to be the oldest pub in England.
Historic England says the dates painted on pub signs can be inaccurate. Some pubs are on old sites, but their structures were rebuilt later. Others were built for a different purpose and were later converted into pubs. Where evidence is absent, the imagination often fills in the gaps.
Public houses evolved gradually, over the centuries, in England. The traditional pubs, which we experience today, are mainly a product of the 19th century. Yet, lodged within the DNA of the humble pub are the alehouses, taverns, and inns of the medieval period.
Using a combination of written records, observing the fabric of the structure and scientific analysis, through tree-ring dating (dendrochronology), building archaeologist Dr James Wright believes that the George Inn in Norton St Philip, Somerset, has the strongest claim to be England’s earliest surviving purpose-built inn.
Inns appeared from the late 12th century onwards and some later examples are still trading today. They were often founded by religious or educational institutions to cater for travelling pilgrims, merchants, and elite households.
Their structures were usually built around galleried courtyards and had impressive street frontages, intended to impress wealthy patrons. They have the best survival rate from the medieval period and offer the best opportunity to answer the question ‘What is the oldest pub in England?’
The George Inn was originally built in the late 14th century, for the Carthusian monks of Hinton Charterhouse, to provide accommodation for merchants attending the monastery’s markets and fairs.
Many of the inn’s structures were added during the 15th century, including the timber frame and roof at the front of the building. This was added using timber felled between 1430 and 1432.
Head of Places Regeneration North at Historic England, Julie Griffiths, said: “Re-using historic buildings is one of the most effective ways to support thriving towns and high streets. By giving valued heritage assets a new future, we can attract investment, increase footfall, create spaces for businesses and communities and build local pride, while retaining the character that makes places special.
“This lovely former pub sits within the Middleton Town Centre Conservation Area, where many historic buildings help define its distinctive local character. As the building is not listed, the scale and nature of the works did not trigger Historic England's statutory involvement in the proposals.”