The George Inn

SOUTHWARK

TQ3280SE BOROUGH HIGH STREET 636-1/17/89 (East side) 02/03/50 No.77 The George Inn

I

Inn. C17. Timber-frame and brick. Tiled roof. Present structure formed the south range of a coaching inn ranged around a quadrangle. EXTERIOR: 3 storeys with dormers. The west half has 2 tiers of galleries at the 1st and 2nd floors, the lower supported on cantilevered beams and the upper on wooden Doric columns. The wall behind is partly brick and partly timber. There are windows overlooking the gallery and a staircase at the eastern end. The eastern section, with a 9-window range, is chiefly of limewashed bricks with storey bands. A variety of glazing patterns, including flush C18 sashes, sliding sashes, casements and windows with mullions and transoms. Boxed eaves to the brick range; the galleried section terminates in a 4-part fascia. The rear or south is reported to be brick faced and features a large projecting stack. The windows here appear to be the remnants of an earlier phase of construction. INTERIOR: early C18 staircase, reset as dogleg staircase c1730, has barleytwist-on-vase and column-on-vase balusters on closed string with moulded handrail and heavy barleysugar newel post. Ground-floor room to front right with fielded panelling, moulded dado and cornice and bolection-moulded overmantel over fire-place; simpler panelled room with straight-cut panelling and moulded cornice to rear right; similar panelled room with cupboard adjoining early C19 marble fireplace to front left; similar panelling to three 1st-floor rooms, with early C19 fireplace to front left. Attic has C18 common-rafter roof, with halved collars; C17 plank door to cellar, which has reused medieval beams and squared stonework of possible medieval origins to left side wall. HISTORICAL NOTE: the original inn dates back at least to the C16. In addition to its functions as a coaching inn, part of it came to be used as offices for the Great Eastern Railway Company, which eventually acquired the entire site from Guy's Hospital. The north range was pulled down by the Company in 1874. In 1937 it was given to its present owner, the National Trust. (The Buildings of England: Cherry B: London 2: South: England:

1983-1984: 588; The National Trust: The George Inn: An Illustrated Souvenir: 1989-; Survey of London: Darlington I: London: 1955-: 16-21).

Listing NGR: TQ3266180089