Historic England has officially named The George Inn in Norton St Philip, Somerset, as the oldest pub in England, settling a long-running debate over which establishment deserves the title.
The inn has been serving customers for more than 600 years, with building archaeologist Dr James Wright confirming that its age is backed by scientific evidence rather than local folklore.
Scientific Evidence Settles the Debate
Dr Wright said many pubs across the country have claimed to be England's oldest, but most of those claims are based on "myth" rather than verifiable facts. In a post on Historic England's Facebook page, he explained that examining the building's fabric and the story of its builders leads to the village of Norton St Philip in Somerset.
"You are now looking at the oldest purpose built inn in England. The architectural history of The George Inn's stone and timber suggests that this building has been continuous service for over 600 years," Dr Wright said.
Dating the Timber
The George Inn was originally built in the late 14th century by the monks of nearby Hinton Priory as a money-making venture, with paperwork from the period confirming its origins. Tree ring dating of the timber has provided the final proof of the building's age.
"Because we know Medieval carpenters didn't muck around at all and they would fell the timber when it was green and build almost immediately afterwards, the actual date of felling gives us the near date of construction," Dr Wright said. The timber work dates from between 1430 and 1432.
A National Treasure
Historic England added that dates painted on pub signs can be inaccurate, and when evidence is missing, imagination often fills the gaps. Dr Wright believes The George Inn has the strongest claim to being England's earliest surviving purpose-built inn, an early type of public house.
The inn was built for the Carthusian monks of Hinton Priory to provide accommodation for merchants attending the monastery's markets and fairs. Merchants were charged for overnight accommodation, storage for their goods, and tolls on sale, providing an income for the monastery. The George Inn also played an important part in the local economy's integral wool trade.
"We're not guessing at its age - now that's the difference between a local legend and a national treasure," Dr Wright concluded.
