George Hotel

The George Hotel, located on Broad Street in South Molton, dates from the 1730s, replacing an earlier inn on the same site. The present building is constructed of painted brick, with a slate roof and a moulded eaves cornice. Full-height pilasters run along the façade. The building has three storeys and five sash windows, each featuring a grotesque mask as a keystone, these masks originating from Stowe, a demolished Charles II mansion in Cornwall. A porch with a cambered arch and keystone provides access. A two-storey dining room addition from the early 19th century is set back, built above an original carriage entrance. Inside, there is an 18th-century "Chinoiserie" fretted staircase. The dining room was used as a theatre in the 19th century. Notable visitors included the Reverend Jack Russell, known for his association with the Jack Russell terrier breed. The hotel is referenced in R.D. Blackmore’s novel, Lorna Doone.