Former Crown Inn, 44 and 45 High Street, Canterbury

Image: © Jo and Steve Turner Taken: 5 Jul 2016

Grade II* Listed former inn also known as Queen Elizabeth's Guest Chamber. The date on the front refers to the date of Queen Elizabeth's visit to Canterbury from 3rd to 16th September 1573 and the supposed meeting there between the Queen and the Duc d'Alençon. The pargeting (plaster work) is dated to 1698. Going back to the 19th century, number 44 has been a Boot & Shoe Warehouse, tea warehouse, grocers and fruiterers. Number 45 has been a Glass and China Warehouse, meat stores and fruiterers and greengrocers. In 1946 an advert. for 44 and 45 declares 'This fine old 16th Century building is open for Morning Coffee, Luncheons & Teas'. In 1971 the Queen Elizabeth's Guest Chamber Restaurant sign is still present but 44 is a fruit merchants and 45 a butchers. Since 2002 44 is a Nero's Café and in 2016 45 is Cancer Research UK and prior to that Thorntons (possibly from 1994) but more recently it is empty and 119.57 Sq M of retail space to let. As far as I can see the Crown Inn occupied number 44 (possibly the upper floors of 45) and is included in the 1692 Licensing List and in 1693 the Billeting List offered the inn sixteen soldiers. The landlords listed are 1838-47 William Newport and 1864-69 James Pearce. By 1885 44 is listed as Boot & Shoe Makers so the inn must have relocated to No.43 by then. Number 45 shows China, Glass & Earthenware Depot in 1858 so can't have been part of the inn on the ground floor at least. In 1926 the Pilgrim's Guide to the Royal and Ancient City of Canterbury said that the inn was once of great repute and extensive accommodation and built by Prior Chillenden for the accommodation of the pilgrims. It is likely the late 15th or early 16th century timber frame extended to the rear but has been replaced by a late 17th or early 18th century extension. In 1899 the first floor was separated from the ground floor shops. Later this allowed the development of the first floor into a single large room, known since 1904 as “Queen Elizabeth's Chamber”.

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