Description from record TR 15 NW 357:
No 24 Watling Street, The Queen's Head Hotel [TR 14795764 sited from OS 1/1250 1974]. Grade II. A timber-framed building refaced in the 18th century. (1) Late 15th to early 16th century. (2) 24 Watling Street, The Three Tons formerly the Queen's Head. Examination of the roofs and first floor, during renovation work, revealed no work earlier than the 17th century. An inspection of the modernised ground floor displayed clear evidence of four separate timber frames, the central two of which, toward Castle Street, are clearly medieval. (3)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
1. 944 WATLING STREET (South West Side)
No 24 (The Queen's Head Hotel) TR 1457 NE 4/221 3.5.67.
II GV
2. A timber-framed building refaced in early C19. 2 storeys, fire left side is stuccoed, part of the right ride is brick. 0versailing lst floor. Old tiled roof with part slate. Stone coping. Windows are sashes with some glazing bars intact. Shutters to some ground floor sashes. Rear has 1 sliding sash. 1st floor tile-hung.
Nos 24 to 27 (consec) form a group.
Listing NGR: TR1478857644 (4)

The Canterbury UAD states that this is a Whitbread House inn.

This is an old inn, built within the area of the old Roman amphitheatre. It has however, only been an inn since about 1600 and was then known as The Three Tuns.

The Billeting List of 1693 listed the Three Tuns for 12 men. (Three Tuns appear on a chevron in the arms of the Brewer's Company, granted in 1470. Samuel Pepys visited 'the old three tuns' at Charing Cross in 1660).

Dr W Urry late Cathedral Libraian and City Archivist wrote a picture of social life in the 16th century through an episode in the life of Luke Courtoff, the grocer.
'He went one evening to the house of Edmund Clarkson (in Castle Street) and stayed about two hours drinking in the company of Cockes the coalman. He left them still drinking but later found Cockes "lying sleeping on the ground beside his sackes of coles". Around him was his cash which Courtoff picked up and went off and spent in the Three Tuns when the Constable of the Watch caught him later'.

In the 18th century the name of the inn was changed to Queen's Head and a picture of the inn sign has been seen where the head appears to have been that of Queen Bertha, wife of King Ethelbert.

The Queen's Head was badly damaged during the air raids in 1942 by fire and flying fragments. The inn's name was recently changed back to the Three Tuns. (5)

<1> DOE (HHR) City of Canterbury Kent Sept 1973 276 (OS Card Reference). SKE40086.

<2> Historic Buildings Survey City of Canterbury/RCHME 57038 1 of 7 (OS Card Reference). SKE44075.

<3> CAT Ann Rep 8 1983-4 48 (T Tatton-Brown) (OS Card Reference). SKE38699.

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

<5> Wilmot, E., 1988, Inns of Canterbury (Monograph). SKE29737.