Bear Inn

SO 8502 RODBOROUGH HOUNDSCROFT

17/119 Bear Inn

II

Former coaching inn, now hotel. Late C17; late C18 and early C19 additions. Large addition of c1920. Coursed rubble limestone, mostly roughcast rendered; ashlar and rubble chimneys; stone slate and plain tile roofs. Two-storey with attic; two-storey extension of range to north, linking with large 3-storey with attic block. Two-storey with attic rear wing. East front: late C17 building with 2 gables to left has 2-window fenestration, 3-light chamfered mullioned casements with hoodmoulds to ground and upper floors; 2-light attic casements. Central doorway with flat- roofed lobby addition. Ridge-mounted chimneys at original gable ends of building. Early C20 extension to right with large segmental arched entrance beyond gabled bay with low eaves; later infill with doorway below. Projecting mullioned window above corbel table set over entrance, with small gable over. Round end of large early C20 block projects forward to right with hipped roof and curved mullioned window to ground floor. North side: 5- window fenestration, timber cross windows to arcaded ground floor, cross windows in plain openings on middle and upper floors. Four hipped attic dormers. West side: return end of main block to left with 4-window fenestration, partially obscured on ground floor by C20 flat-roofed addition which is not of special interest. To right is early C19 projecting wing with single-window 12-pane sash fenestration, attic gable with small-paned casement and doorway with stone lintel and 6-panel door in north side. West gable end has 2-window 8-pane sash fenestration and outshut to right with upper floor 3-light stone mullioned casement. Block set back to right is part of C20 enlargement. An important coaching inn, forming the base of the Niblett family's carrying business in second half of Cl.8. Occupies a prominent position on Rodborough Common. (Illustration of building before c1920 additions in S.J. Gardiner and L.C. Padin, Stroud and the Five Valleys in Old Photographs, 1984; and N.M. Herbert, 'Rodborough' in V.C.H. Glos. xi, 1976, pp.218-234.)

Listing NGR: SO8536502650