The Moat House Inn |
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History of the Moat House Inn |
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The Moat House Inn is the oldest building still remaining in the hamlet of Kings Coughton. Although there was a plaque on the front of the building with the date “1478” it is more than likely that the building dates from the early sixteenth century. The hall-house and wing are both timber-framed constructions, but most of the black “timber” now seen is actually paint. Although the panels are now mainly infilled with brick and the roof is of tile it is likely that at first the house had wattle and daub infill with a thatched roof.
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The name “Moat House” suggests that this was once a moated farm-house which were fairly common in the Midlands during the late mediaeval period. These moats tended to be constructed as a status symbol rather than as defence in a time before swimming pools, second houses in the country or flashy sports cars
For much of its history the Moat House was a farm, but in the mid nineteenth century the original house was split into two cottages, the larger house providing four separate tenements. The property was run as a private residential hotel from 1931, with the cottages being rejoined to make one building. From around 1970 the Moat house has been operated as a restaurant and a public house. There are many local rumours of the building being run as a private “Gentleman’s club” after the war with lots of theories about the kind of activities that used to take place!
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| Site by CrackerIT | Birmingham Road, Kings Coughton |
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