The Bay Horse Inn

The Bay Horse Inn, Nos. 19–21 High Street, Bromyard

A public house originally comprising two separate buildings, both dating from the 17th century, with later alterations and extension.

The building comprises two distinct ranges. Both are constructed with timber framing to their front facades and brick to the rear extension. The main roof is slate, whilst the extension is clay tiled, with brick chimney stacks throughout. The building is oriented north-west to south-east along the line of the road, with each of the original buildings two bays wide and two rooms deep. A substantial extension extends to the rear of No. 19.

The principal facades of both buildings display exposed timber framing, though constructed quite differently from each other. No. 19 is divided into two distinct facets. The left part is stepped forward and features a large four-over-four sash window to the left of a solid panelled door with a rectangular two-light fanlight. To the right of the door are two six-over-six sash windows, one of which extends onto the return. At first-floor level, the left side has a six-light casement, whilst the right side has a three-opening casement with four lights each; a further four-light casement appears on the return. On the projecting part of the facade, timber framing is only visible at first-floor level; the remainder of No. 19 displays small framing at ground floor and small panelling with ovolo moulding at first floor. No. 21 features largely close-studded framing. Its roughly central front door opens into the right-hand bay and is a solid six-panelled door with a pilastered surround terminating in moulded consoles supporting a cornice. To the right of this door is a canted bay window with one-over-one sash windows in moulded panelled surrounds. To the left is a tripartite mullioned window with six-over-six inserted sashes. At first-floor level are two twin-casement windows, each with four lights and scrolled consoles supporting moulded cornices; above each sits a double two-light casement. Evidence suggests the eaves across the length of the building have been raised.

The interior contains chamfered and stopped ceiling beams and exposed timber framing throughout both buildings, though this was not formally inspected for listing purposes. The description derives from historic buildings research undertaken in 2009. Substantial internal subdivision and rearrangement has occurred, sometimes reusing old timbers. No. 19 contains an inserted fireplace behind the front wall and elaborate, finely-executed plaster mouldings in the right-hand bay. A dog-leg stair with broad square newels with moulded tops is present. The projecting bay appears to be a later refronting based on physical evidence.

Bromyard is a small market town first recorded around 840. High Street, where the Bay Horse stands, was known as Novus Vicus in the late 13th century and recorded as Newe Streate in 1575. The street was fully built up by the early 17th century, though some plots have been subsequently redeveloped. Nos. 19 and 21 appear to have been constructed separately but close in date. It is unclear whether they were originally a single property, but they were certainly two separate public houses—the Black Swan and the Castle Inn—which were merged and began trading as the Bay Horse in the early 19th century.

Significant later development includes internal reordering, insertion of partition walls and fireplaces, raising of the eaves, and refronting of part of the principal facade. A rear extension was added in the 20th century. Despite these changes, the majority of the 17th-century timber frame of the front range remains intact, including the unusual ovolo-moulded panelling to one bay. The building retains ornate plasterwork in one of the principal ground-floor rooms and a good 17th-century stair with elaborate newel posts. It contributes positively to the street scene and holds group value with surrounding listed buildings.