Reading Dickens > Coaching Inns
- The Old Crown Coaching Inn in the market town of Faringdon, Oxfordshire is a former coaching inn that dates back to the C16th. It has retained its original features, including a cobbled courtyard and fountain. A heritage plaque on the front wall notes that this inn provided quarters for Royalist cavalry during the Civil War (1644-6).
- The 19th-century former coaching inn has 26 calming bedrooms that are fresh and light, and are styled in white, grey and lilac tones. Times, Sunday Times (2016) Its 26 rooms, in an 18th-century coaching inn.
Coaching Inn Group - Apps on Google Play. Use the Coaching Inn Group app to order your food, drink or hot drinks directly to your table right from your phone or tablet. Its never been easier to. Boasting a restaurant, bar and views of sea, The Britannia Coaching Inn is situated in Aberdyfi, 1.6 miles from Aberdyfi Beach. The accommodation features free WiFi throughout the property. All rooms in the inn are fitted with a kettle. At The Britannia Coaching Inn.
Taken from Sketches by Boz - The Great Winglebury Duel
Oxford Arms Inn-Warwick Lane, London by John Charles Maggs 1910
The day was hot and sunny, the town in the zenith of its dulness, and with the exception of these few idlers, not a living creature was to be seen. Suddenly the loud notes of a key-bugle broke the monotonous stillness of the street; in came the coach, rattling over the uneven paving with a noise startling enough to stop even the large-faced clock itself. Down got the outsides, up went the windows in all directions; out came the waiters, up started the ostlers, and the loungers, and the post-boys, and the ragged boys, as if they were electrified – unstrapping, and unchaining, and unbuckling, and dragging willing horses out, and forcing reluctant horses in, and making a most exhilarating bustle. ‘Lady inside, here,' said the guard. ‘Please to alight, ma'am,' said the waiter. ‘Private sitting-room?' interrogated the lady. – ‘Certainly, ma'am,' responded the chambermaid. ‘Nothing but these 'ere trunks, ma'am?' inquired the guard. ‘Nothing more,' replied the lady. Up got the outsides again, and the guard, and the coachman; off came the cloths, with a jerk - ‘All right' was the cry; and away they went. The loungers lingered a minute or two in the road, watching the coach till it turned the corner, and then loitered away one by one. The street was clear again, and the town, by contrast, quieter than ever.
Key-bugle - Horn blown by the coach guard on approaching the inn as an alert to make ready for a change of horses.Outsides - Passengers sitting on top of the coach as opposed to inside. Outside seats were cheaper.
Ostler - Or hostler, a man employed to look after the horses at an inn.
Post-boys - Man who rode one of the team of horses pulling a coach. Used in place of a coachman.
Ragged boys - Students at a local Ragged School (charity school for the poor) used for misc odd jobs at the inn.
The Coaching Inn Group
Growing from its roots in Boston, Lincolnshire, The Coaching Inn Group is an independent hotel operator with a passion for transforming old coaching inns back to their former glory, with a few modern-day twists.
Since its launch in 2005, The Coaching Inn Group has breathed life back into 15 iconic buildings, providing some of the UK's most famous market towns with a freshly rejuvenated and welcoming central point for locals to relax over dinner or a few drinks and visitors to rest their heads for the night.
The Coaching Inn Group
Growing from its roots in Boston, Lincolnshire, The Coaching Inn Group is an independent hotel operator with a passion for transforming old coaching inns back to their former glory, with a few modern-day twists.
Since its launch in 2005, The Coaching Inn Group has breathed life back into 15 iconic buildings, providing some of the UK's most famous market towns with a freshly rejuvenated and welcoming central point for locals to relax over dinner or a few drinks and visitors to rest their heads for the night.
Coaching Inn Definition
The Coaching Inn Group took over the management of the Talbot Hotel in March 2009. Following an extensive consultation period with English Heritage, the grade 1 listed building closed in September 2011 for a detailed refurbishment programme. The refurbishment included redesigning of the bedrooms, the building of the courtyard conservatory, creating the main Eatery dining room, installing stairs out to the Secret Garden and more. Following this substantial investment, the hotel reopened again in June 2012.
Old Stagecoach Routes
The result is a welcoming hotel with modern comforts and amenities and excellent food, drink and accommodation options, but one which also retains the original charm and character that saw travellers keen to visit as far back as 500 years ago.
