Cupid's Hill Inn

Cadw's description

Location

At Cupid's Hill on S side of minor road to Kentchurch, approximately 1 km NE of Grosmont.

History

A probably early C18 inn, to which a stable block was added in mid C18. The building was extended again in the late C18/early C19 when a parallel range was built in the former courtyard at the back. At time of resurvey (August 1999), the stable block had been converted and integrated with the inn, and the early C18 inn was unoccupied.

Exterior

Early C18 inn and attached stable block are at right angles to road. Painted rubble stone; slate roof with tile ridge. Former Inn (to left) has end-stack with brick flue; converted stable block (to right) has projecting gable stack with stone base, raking offsets, and brick flue. Former Inn is two storey plus attic. E front roof has flat-headed dormer window with 3+3 pane casement. First floor has three 12-pane hornless sashes; segmental arched window heads with stone voussoirs. Ground floor entrance doorway is central with C20 boarded door. To left is a late C17 2-light transom with segmental voussoired arch and keystone. To right, small projecting canted bay window, stone slab to roof and 3+3+3 paned fixed lights. Present inn (former stable block) to right, has lower roof line. Ground floor windows are segmental arched with keystones: 3+3 pane fixed light (left), 6+6 pane fixed light (right). First floor has 4-pane horned sash. N elevation has twin gables fronting roadway. Gable of former stable (to left) has projecting stack,as described. Gable of late C18 parallel range (to right) has openings with cambered stone voussoirs: on ground floor (l to r) is entrance doorway with 4-panel door and 16-pane hornless sash; with similar window on first floor.

Interior

At time of resurvey, the early C18 inn was unoccupied, but has a well-preserved interior which survives largely unaltered. Entry into larger of two ground floor rooms. Gable fireplace and (to right) boarded door to stair. Former arched openings (now blocked) visible on back wall. Smaller room (to left) has boarded half door. First floor partitioned. Attic of two bays; framed trusses ceiled at collar. Entry to present inn is directly from road into passage, with four panel door to bar (left) and half door with 3-pane light and partition with 6-pane window (to right). Passage leads to back kitchen, and beyond arched cellar.

Reason for designation

Unusually well-preserved C18 inn with later additions forming an attractive group.