The Hanbury Arms PH

The Hanbury Arms is a public house, likely dating back to the 16th century, with later alterations and extensions, situated on the quay. The building is constructed of local rubble stone, completely rendered and limewashed, and has Welsh slate roofs with lead valleys. It is shaped like a “L”, with the main section facing the quay and a rear wing projecting from the right side. The main range is two storeys and has attics over cellars, while the rear wing, built into rising ground also has two storeys and attics.

The main elevation facing the quay features three wide bays. The undercroft has three square-headed doorways leading to vaults. The ground floor has a small window to the left, then a double window with 6 + 6 pane casements and a 2 + 2 casement, all 20th century replacements. Next is an early 19th century sash window with 8 over 8 panes. A projecting bay, supported on the quay, follows, featuring 1 + 2 + 1 sashes, each with 4 over 4 panes. The upper floor of the main range has original 16th century windows with stone frames featuring hollow chamfered mullions, 4-centred heads, a label mould, and are 3-light, 3-light, and 4-light in configuration. The roof is steeply pitched with projecting eaves and a stack positioned between the first and second bays.

The elevation facing Hanbury Close has four bays, with the first bay, belonging to a 16th century house, being notably wider. It contains an 18 over 18 sash window on the ground floor and an 8 over 8 sash above. The second bay features the main entrance with a panelled door and a later segmental hood over. Above this entrance is an 8 over 8 sash window. Four more 8 over 8 sash windows complete the elevation, all dating to the early 19th century. The roof is hipped with a ridge stack positioned between the first and second bays and a large wall stack on the right-hand hip.

The rear elevation is simpler in design. The main range has a modern pentice along the ground floor and a single 20th century window above. The gable end abuts a medieval tower and has a plain attic window. The rear of the secondary wing has two small lean-tos and just one plain window in the original back wall; the gable end is blind.

An area of pitched cobbles exists along the river frontage, and it is likely that more are concealed beneath the tarmac covering most of the quay surface.

During a recent inspection, only the cellars under the main wing and the interior of the ground floor were visible. The three cellars have stone barrel vaulting that opens directly onto the quay. The ground floor has been opened into a single bar space, combining both wings, and the original structural features such as beams are now significantly altered and unclear. The upper floors were not inspected but are reported to have no notable features beyond the interior of the 16th century windows. The staircase has been rebuilt and the roof timbers are not visible.