History

C17 lobby-entry building, said to bear a date inside of 1639. Two-unit front range, with further unit to rear. The rear wing appears to have been extended later, probably in the C19. Exterior remodelled in C18-19, but probably retains timber-framing beneath render. An Inn since at least the C18, its position opposite Ruthin Gaol significant; both wardens and prisoners are said to have drunk here until the 1830s.

Exterior

Two-storey 2-window range with central entrance; roughcast on a plinth under a slate roof, with renewed brick ridge stack. Shallow open-fronted gabled wooden porch with chevron boarding to gable, moulded barge boards and finial, containing double panelled doors, reached by 1 stone step. To L, C19 wooden window surround, consisting of panelled pilasters with decorative scrolled brackets supporting a moulded cornice; it contains a 3-light wooden window with central top-hung pane. To R of entrance, a large C20 3-light wooden window. Upper storey has shallow 3-light wooden casements, that to L offset towards end. Mounting block against far R of front, consisting of 2 stone steps. West gable end is heavily battered, with double boarded doors to R, and top-hung light to upper storey. Lower 2-storey 2-unit rear wing adjoining to R; an offset suggesting that the R-hand unit was added later. Stone ridge stack (probably an end stack to C17 unit), and brick end stack to S. Irregular wooden windows, 2 to ground and 3 to upper storey, those to R with segmental heads. Single-storey lean-to against S end of wing.

Interior

Lobby-entrance with rooms to L and R. Back-to-back fireplaces, rebuilt in stone with small grates. The ceilings are mainly altered, some of the cross- and spine-beams probably re-set from elsewhere, and with plain joists. Rear room to R, containing bar, has original ceiling with medium-chamfered spine-beam and chamfered joists with run-out stops; large stone fireplace to rear, with original timber lintel.

Reasons for Listing

Listed for its special interest as a C17 lobby-entrance building with integral rear wing, possibly a purpose-built Inn, retaining its plan-form and historic character. Group value with surrounding listed buildings in Clwyd Street.

External Links

• Cadwr Listing
• The Morning Star, Ruthin at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q18162259

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

• 
  County Durham (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England) by Elizabeth Williamson Nikolaus Pevsner(1983-03-11)
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects, Supplement 2014
• 
  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas
• 
  Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)