Description from record TR 15 NW 387:
No 7 St Dunstan's Street [TR14565813 sited from OS 1/1250 1971]. Grade II. An 18th century front to an older building. (1) No 7 St Dunstan's Street. Timber framed building, probably medieval. Much altered in 18th and 19th centuries. (2)

The Canterbury UAD states that this ancient inn was situated at 7 St. Dunstan's Street adjacent to the Falstaff Inn on the Westgate side (now 2002 occupied by Corals Bookmakers).

The first known record for the inn appears in the Churchwarden of St. Dunstan's Accounts giving the cess or rate levied upon the inn in 1490, 'Item the tenement of Master John Fyneux called the Thorne'. In 1492 the innkeeper was Mr Fenex and in 1508 Sir John Fyneux paid the excess for the Thorne. In 1524 the accounts read, 'Item rec of My Lord Chefe Justice for rent of the Thorne and for the rerage of a gud oke'. In 1525 rent of 'vjd' was received from Lady Feneux for the Thorne, presumably Sir John had died.

By 1684 the Thorne had its name changed to the Greyhound; and is listed as The Gray Hound in the Licensing List of 1692. By 1706 it was called the Hound. Later its name was changed yet again this time to the Gun. In 1838 the Landlord was G. White; 1846 G. Whiting; 1848 Clara Newport (spinster); in 1849 Henry Bridges; 1851 James Dodd; and in 1865 T. Newman. Sometime about this date c. 1866-67 the inn closed and the licence for The Gun was transferred to the opposite of the street at 92 St. Dunstan's Street. This new inn, also called the Gun, closed in 1912.

The Gun or Cannon was the cognizance of Edward VI, Mary Queen of Scots and Queen Elizabeth I and was a frequent sign at the beginning of the 18th century. (3)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
1. 944 ST DUNSTAN'S STREET (North East Side)
No 7 TR 1458 SE 2/316 3.5.67.
II GV
2. An C18 front to an older building. 3 storeys painted brick. Slate roof. Rainwater head. 2 to 3 windows with glazing bars intact. Overhang of timber framed building is visible, supported on brackets. Later shopfront.
Nos 5 to 16 (consec) form a group.
Listing NGR: TR1456058133 (4)

<1> DOE (HHR) City of Canterbury Kent Sept 1973 209 (OS Card Reference). SKE40041.

<2> Hist Builds Survey Cant City Council/ RCHME 57035 2 of 29 (OS Card Reference). SKE43832.

<3> Enderby, H. M., 1950, The Inns of Canterbury Parts I & II, Lecture to the Canterbury Archaeological Society (Unpublished document). SKE29964.

<4> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.