High Street, no. 25, The Feathers Hotel

South North

The Feathers Hotel is the main coaching inn in Ledbury, located in a central position on the High Street close to the Market House. Until the early C20th the timber-framed front of this building was hidden by plaster that had been applied when it was remodelled and the sash windows inserted in the C18th. There are two major building phases, the south block being built around 1560-70 and the north block in the early C17th. It has been recorded that the north half used to be the Corn Exchange Hotel and, "its hall or entrance lobby still used as a small corn exchange" [RCHM notes 1930]. The South Range is of three bays and four storeys, each level built with a shallow jetty. The front has close studding with a double rail set slightly above the middle of each storey. The attic storey with its five gables does not fit neatly with the three bays of the building and is reported to be a later addition carried out in the early C17th.

The remarkable feature on The Feathers is the decoration on the principal posts at first and second floor level which has survived in good condition, probably due to being covered for many years when the front was plastered and pilasters formed over the carved decoration. At the same time a deep moulded cornice was added at bressumer levels. This covered decoration was somewhat similar to that which survives on 22 High Street.

At ground floor level between the two later bay windows is the feathers motif. The hipped roof is of late C18th or early C19th date. It is possible that the north range originally had gables.

Property Occupiers (Census data)

Date Name No in Family No of staff Business type or name 1841 Eliza Taylor not recorded not recorded Feathers 1851 Fred Deakin 7

9

Hotelkeeper (Feathers)

1861

Francis H Deakins (Probably same person as above)

8 7 Hotelkeeper Farmer 1871 James Stevens 6 5 Hotelkeeper (Feathers) 1881 Frederick Rayer 2 7 Hotelkeeper (Feathers) 1891 Emily Palmer 0 6 Manageress, Feathers Hotel 1901 Sophia J Edmunds 0 8 Hotelkeeper Pub

Sources:

RCHM Herefordshire vol II  East 1932

NGR SO 7110 3762

Herefordshire Historic Sites and Monuments Record number 25994