The Radnorshire Arms is a well-preserved Jacobean building in the Welsh border town of Presteigne, in Powys.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/The_Radnorshire_Arms%2C_Presteigne_%28geograph_2469033%29.jpg/220px-The_Radnorshire_Arms%2C_Presteigne_%28geograph_2469033%29.jpg)
The building has the date 1616 over its door[1] but it is claimed it dates to the 16th century, once owned by Sir Christopher Hatton, a lawyer and politician, Lord Chancellor of England and rumoured lover of Queen Elizabeth I.[2]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/Radnorshire_Arms_Presteigne_%281294841%29.jpg/220px-Radnorshire_Arms_Presteigne_%281294841%29.jpg)
In 1616 it became home to a local man, John Bradshaw.
The building became an inn in 1792 and had several additions around 1875.[1] There are also many anomalies inside the Hotel itself, caused by the large number of changes and additions to the original structure. In 1875 a secret chamber was discovered off of what is now the Resident's Lounge, which turned out to be a Priest Hole. Behind one of the panels was the diary of a Catholic Priest who had been hiding there for two years. [2]
Originally a private residence, the hotel is a Grade II* listed building.[3][4] The hotel was sold out of administration to Allworks Properties in 2020.[5]
References
edit- ^ a b Silvester, R.J. & Martin, C.H.R. CPAT Report No 1088: Historic settlements in Radnorshire. Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust, March 2011. Retrieved on 6 December 2014.
- ^ a b About "The Rad", Radnorshirearmshotel.com. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
- ^ "Radnorshire Arms (81498)". Coflein. RCAHMW. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
- ^ Radnorshire Planning Sub-Committee. "July 2007 meeting minutes". 4 July 2007, p. 3. Retrieved on 6 December 2014.
- ^ "Radnorshire Arms sold out of administration". The Caterer. 2020-04-29. Retrieved 2020-05-04.