163/5, Watling Street West

This building, located at 163/5 Watling Street West in Towcester, was originally a coaching inn and is now used as offices and a store. It dates from around 1770 and has undergone alterations in the 19th and 20th centuries. The structure is made of red brick laid in Flemish bond with flared headers and features a plain-tile roof, brick ridge, and end stacks. It has a three-unit plan and is three stories high with a six-window range. There are wide 20th-century double-leaf doors to the left of center in the original carriage arch, along with four shallow canted 19th-century bay windows on the ground floor. A door that was once in the space between the bay windows to the right of center is now blocked. The first floor has 12-pane sash windows with gauged brick lintels and keyblocks, while the attic features 9-pane sashes. The building has a rendered plinth, serrated brick storey bands, and corbelled brick eaves. Inside, there are two open-well staircases located in stair turrets at the rear, which have turned balusters. This building was formerly known as the White Horse Inn and served as the town's principal coaching and posting inn.