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PRESTEIGNE HISTORIC
BUILDINGS
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| A major timber framed building with a date of 1616 above the main doorway. It has been an inn since 1792. It belonged originally to Sir Christopher Hatton, a courtier to Queen Elizabeth I., later passing to the Bradshaws who were an important merchant family in the town during the 18th century. After becoming an inn it soon became the venue for many social and political functions in the county as it has an elegant ballroom on the first floor. The town stocks were also situated opposite at the old Market Cross, extended over by the Bull Hotel in 1820. The bar features 17th century panelling and elaborately moulded beams. A ghost is said to haunt room 7. There is a pleasant garden where they sometimes put on concerts, bands and other entertainment. Usualy the first weekend in October each year it becomes the focus for the Veteran and Vintage car rally with many fine old crocks parked around and about. MAP |
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| A 16th century manor house that was a home of the Bradshaw family. The 19th century stone front hides the original timber framing. It was later used as Judges lodgings until the opening of the Shirehall in 1829. This building features in the story of the execution of Mary Morgan, a 16 year old local girl who was tragically hanged for the murder of an unwanted baby in 1805 while the suspected father of the child sat on the jury and provided her with the instrument of the crime. A plain tombstone was erected which tells the lamentable story and still stands in the churchyard. The Judge named Harding who passed the awful sentence died here 11 years later. The site of the gallows is still known as Gallows Lane and is just out of town on the left, signed as a footpath, along the road for Discoed and Whitton. MAP |
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| The Assembly Rooms with its clock tower was opened in 1869. Its style is Italianate Gothic, this is reflected in the premises next door. The arcades at ground level now house the town library but were for many years the town market. In between it became a furniture warehouse. It was still known localy as the Market Hall within living memory. The restored and elegant large room above is now used for concerts, theatrical performances, exhibitions and art & craft fairs, as well as a number of regular meetings and events. MAP |
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| The Dukes Arms is named after the Duke of Chandos and is the oldest inn in town. It was a coaching inn on the last and longest routed mail coach in the UK. MAP |
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| Presteigne was the county town of Radnorshire until 1884 when rapidly expanding Llandrindod Wells took over that mantle. The assizes for Radnorshire took place in Presteigne for over 400 years right up until 1970. The Shirehall was opened in 1829 on the site of the former County Gaol and served as Judges lodgings as well as the Court together with cells below in the cellars. It was designed by Edward Haycock. It has now been turned into a museum dedicated to its own past after serving as the town library and reading room for many years. A collection containing historic local objects and photos is in the cellars. The tourist info office can be found here. MAP |
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| The Lugg Bridge is thought to date back to the 16th century. The river is the national boundary between Wales and England along this stretch so the bridge is half in each country. MAP |
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