Monument record TR 15 NW 2037 - Royal Fountain Hotel. 16 St Margaret's Street
Summary
Location
Grid reference | Centred TR 1490 5771 (28m by 20m) |
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Map sheet | TR15NW |
County | KENT |
District | CANTERBURY, KENT |
Civil Parish | CANTERBURY, CANTERBURY, KENT |
Map
Type and Period (1)
Full Description
The Canterbury UAD states that the Royal Fountain Hotel was an old inn and later a coaching hostelery situated on the east side of St. Margaret's Street. It is believed to have origins dating back to at least c. 1300, if not earlier. It is often claimed that this was the lodging of the knights who murdered Beckett although no clear evidence can prove this. The inn was included in the Licensing List of 1692 and is mentioned in the Carpenter's Company Accounts of 1712 as, '...at the fountaine when witnesses were examined'. Also the inn is mentioned in the Holy Cross Accounts of 1725. The Anniversary Meeting of the Gentlemen Educated at the King's School is reported to have been held at the inn in the Kentish Post of 1727; and later in the same year the same newspaper advertised the inn for sale.
In 1740 the Kentish Post records that the Mayor and Aldermen met at the Fountain Tavern to celebrate the anniversary of the Discovery of the Gun-powder Treason Plot. The Corporation Accounts for 1807 records the costs for the Mayors' banquet as £35. 7s. 0d. and in 1810 a feast for the Archbishop costing £69. 7s. 0d. is noted. In Robinson's 'Life of Sir Thomas Picton' it is recorded that he stayed here before his overseas battles and his body rested here when it was brought back for burial.
The inn was a large building situated on the east side of St. Margaret's Street, with a coach gate leading to a rear coachyard and stables; and the Fountain Tap, provided for the coach drivers and less important persons, stood to the left corner of the entrance to the main inn. The yard could house 4 horse stage coaches with a coach house flanking one side of the yard and the stables opposite. A right-of-way led through the yard from Rose Lane to St. Margaret's Street. In 1842 Queen Victoria and Prince Albert patronised the inn, the only inn in the City to receive such custom.
Some known innkeepers: 1725 Mr Albun; 1727 Mr Agar; 1792 William Miles; 1802 John Taylor; 1806 Samuel Wright; 1860 William Finn; 1880 Horatio Ward; 1931 F C Large
Sadly the inn was destroyed during enemy bombing during 1942. The site is now occupied by the Marlow Shopping Parade.
Anon, 1924, The Royal & Ancient City of Canterbury - Official Guide (Monograph). SKE30128.
Enderby, H. M., 1950, The Inns of Canterbury Parts I & II, Lecture to the Canterbury Archaeological Society (Unpublished document). SKE29964.
Sources/Archives (2)
Finds (1)
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (3)
- Intrusive Event: 12-16 Marlowe Arcade (Marlowe Two), 1978 (Ref: CAT: 115) (EKE13554)
- Intrusive Event: Excavation at 12-19 Marlowe Arcade, 1948-1955 (Ref: CAT: 115) (EKE13553)
- Intrusive Event: OLD FOUNTAIN HOTEL,ST MARGARET'S STREET (Ref: EI 15460) (EKE4299)
Record last edited
Mar 23 2015 10:00AM