The Hundred House Hotel, Great Witley

Image: © Alan Murray-Rust Taken: 2 Sep 2016

Built in the late 18th century by Lord Foley of Witley Court. The local village history website http://witleysoralhistory.org/ page for the building gives the following details: “The hotel name originates from centuries ago when the Hundred House was a collecting house for the tithes gathered from districts in the Doddingtree Hundred, which covered approximately forty villages in the north-west of the country (In the Domesday Book the Doddingtree Hundred consisted of thirty-eight manors). Ancient hostelries in the country were of special importance. To a wide district they were the ‘hub of the wheel’ of social activity where meetings, dances and sporting events took place. The Hundred House served a large area between the river Severn and the river Teme and was recognised as one of the most popular hotels in the country – it was a noted land-mark, being indicated on the-signposts and milestones within a wide radius. The present building was presumably built by Lord Foley to provide more convenient and up to date premises for the gentry who were attracted to the district with the expansion of Witley Court. . . . The Hundred House was also the place where county justice was dispensed. There was a court room and cell accommodation from 1790, and was the petty sessional court was held there until 1872 when a new court house was built by Lord Ward. All parish meetings, including vestry meetings, were also held at the Hundred House until 1880.” After a period of closure the hotel was purchased in 2013 clearly with a view to refurbishment, but at the time of my visit there was no evidence of any progress. The building is Listed Grade II.

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