The Old Crown

The Old Crown is a former public house, now a house, with a late 16th century core that was largely rebuilt in the 18th century and substantially extended in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The building features coursed and squared sandstone rubble in the earlier north-west block, while the later additions are made of brick with tiled roofs. The original block is aligned north-west to south-east, with its gable end facing the road. The later extensions project from the north-east side to the east and north-west. There is a lateral stack on the original block, but the entrance is now obscured by the later additions, with the present entrance located on the north-east side.

The building is two storeys high with cellars. The north-west gable end of the earlier block facing the road has a 4-light wooden cross mullioned and transomed window on the first floor, and a 6-light stone mullioned and transomed window on the ground floor. The gable end of the forward projecting later addition to the left features sash windows, with additional similar windows on the lateral side of the later addition facing the road.

Inside, the main room of the earlier block retains fine panelling, including an upper frieze and an enriched cornice. The over-mantel has enriched arcaded panels and originally displayed four shields of arms, though only two remain. The fine cross-beamed ceiling features three bosses at the intersections, bearing the arms of William Paulet, the first Marquis of Winchester, John Skippe, Bishop of Hereford from 1539 to 1552, and the quartered coat of Scrope. The house was originally built by Richard Harford, whose initials are inscribed in a cartouche on the over-mantel. Harford was the steward of the manor, and his tomb is located on the south side of the chancel of the Church of Holy Trinity.