Description

James Thomson, dated 1905, possibly incorporating 1647 fabric. 2-storey, 3-bay (above ground) gabled public house with mock half-timbering, in irregular terrace to W. Painted ashlar and harl. Base course, deep ground floor frieze and cornice, and eaves course. Architraved windows to 1st floor N. Stone mullions.

N (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: broad dividing pilasters with wall-shaft and thistle-carved corbel dividing recessed bays. Panelled timber door with multi-pane fanlight immediately right of centre, canted window with round-arched centre light in bay to right, and similar window with 2 centre lights in bay to left; painted sign in further bay (blocked door?) to outer left. Full-width frieze with traditional lettering giving way to cornice with cartouche-style stops, that to right with 'MCMV', that to left with '?KJ'. 1st floor with small carved stone (base for statue or sundial?) to outer left; centre bay with single window over carved stone dated '1647' and with 'RSY/I?', abutting jettied base (with arrowslit) of shouldered stack piercing gable above; flanking bays each with bipartite window and half-timbered gablehead. 2 small modern rooflights.

E ELEVATION: broad gabled elevation with single window high up at 1st floor.

S (REAR) ELEVATION: variety of elements to asymmetrically-fenestrated elevation including forestair to 1st floor timber porch and decoratively-astragalled barred window to right also at floor.

Fixed glazing with multi-pane top lights to ground and uPVC glazing to 1st floor N, 12-pane glazing pattern in modern timber sash and case window at E. Grey slates. Cavetto-coped harled stack to N and truncated gablehead stack to E, both with cans. Ashlar-coped skews with moulded skewputts; mutuled bargeboarding and spike finials; cast-iron downpipe with decorative rainwater hopper.

INTERIOR: largely non-traditional later 20th century decorative scheme but retaining some timber panelling at ground, and moulded cornices at 1st floor.

Statement of Interest

Local architect James Thomson designed a number of shop and tenement blocks in South Street, as well as the fine Post Office at East Pier Street. Established in 1647, the 'Carriers' was a posting inn with stables (much altered and converted to a store) at the rear. Tradition says that the licensee was obliged to provide hay and water at no extra charge for all lodger's horses. During refurbishment circa 1995, a journal (or sweetheart's book) was discovered hidden in the rafters.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q77780296

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  England's Post-War Listed Buildings
• 
  Staffordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Worcestershire Revised Edition (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)