History

Though claimed to be the oldest pub in Ruthin, with a history traceable from 1401, the present form and fabric suggest a building date of the C16-C17. It appears to represent a hall and cross-wing house, and the wind-braces recorded at the last resurvey may suggest an open hall; the position of the stack may be indicative of its insertion into a former cross-passage, perhaps when ceilings were inserted into the hall. The building was once known as the Ruthin Inn, apparently after its owner, but more likely a pun. The pub had closed by 1773, and the building was a draper's shop in 1850, and the Post Office until 1904.

Exterior

Main range and projecting cross-wing to L, the latter 2-storeyed with gabled front to road. The main range is of one-and-a-half storeys but both main range and wing have the same eaves height. Chimney to left of main range suggests lobby entry plan, perhaps the result of inserting a stack into a former cross-passage. Mid C20 shop front across whole of ground floor, including a flat-roofed block to R, in angle of main range and cross-wing. Upper storey is roughcast over brick, except gabled front of cross-wing, where timber-framing is exposed; slate roofs, rendered ridge stack to main range, in angle with wing. The timber-framing consists of close-studding, with slightly raked posts supporting a cambered tie-beam, a cambered collar, and king-post. The framing is also visible in the L-hand return, above stonework at ground floor level. Upper storey of cross-wing has early C19 2-light iron casements with lattice glazing, to front and R-hand return. Main range has gabled attic dormer, with 2-light iron casement with small-pane glazing. C20 shop-front is rendered, with parapets to block in angle. This block has a small-pane tripartite sash to front and a 16-pane sash to R-hand return. Ground floor of cross-wing has half-glazed panelled door to R and 3-light window to L, articulated by plain pilasters supporting a deep fascia and moulded cornice.
Rear of main range is rendered and lined. Entrance to flat above shop, with C20 part-glazed panelled door with plain sidelights; gabled attic dormer with small-pane iron casement, as front. Rear wing to R, a separate property, is 2-window, single-storey with attic, rendered under a slate roof. It has irregular C20 small-pane wooden windows including gabled attic dormers.

Interior

Interior of shop is open-plan with false ceiling, and contains no features of historic interest. Upper storey not seen.

Reasons for Listing

Listed for its special architectural interest as a C16-C17 timber-framed building retaining its early character. Group value with surrounding listed buildings in Well Street.

External Links

• Cadwr Listing
• Wikidata Q29481390

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)
• 
  Oxfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Lancashire: Liverpool and the South-West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cambridgeshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)