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Picture source: Hania Franek

The French Horn was situated at 56 High Street. This pub, which is grade-II* listed, closed in 1996. It has been divided into several properties and has been partially demolished.

Listed building details:

Former inn range, now retracted, with present public house accessible from Church Street, and commercial ground floor with living accommodation over High Street buildings. C16 and C17, High Street range set back and refronted c1849, with later alterations. Timber-framed, front range encased in brick and part stuccoed over, rear range stucco first floor, underbuilt in brick. Old tiled roofs, concealed by tall parapet on front range. Exterior: front range 2 storeys and attics. First floor colourwashed brick, stucco parapet above, stucco ground floor. First floor west elevation 3 mid C19 triple-light, plate glazed sash windows in reveal below flat arches, one similar to south elevation. Moulded cornice below windows. Ground floor has 2 inserted mid C20 shopfronts with plate glass display windows facing west, one facing south. North elevation C17, 2 storeys and attics, stucco-faced, with 2 sash windows with glazing bars on ground floor and first floors, one casement on first floor. North face of roof has box casement dormer to attic. Public house currently occupies north-east range. C17, timber-framed, stucco-faced, old tiled roof. 2 storeys, first floor with 2 flush set sash windows with glazing bars, two C20 3-light sash windows on yellow brick underbuilt ground floor, and C20 closed brick porch with gabled old tiled roof. Single storey range of former stables runs north towards detached coach house, listed separately. Interior: the principle internal feature is a mid C17 newel staircase constructed within the northern part of the south range to serve the new block of taller rooms, and those in the older parts of the south range, reached from the half-landings (RCHM). The staircase is of open-well plan. The newels have heavily moulded finials and pierced pendants. The staircase is of closed string construction with moulded strings. The handrails are heavily moulded, and each flight and landing has carved, pierced panels featuring geometrical motifs. Historical Note: the French Horn is one of the most historic inn sites in Ware, but subsequent division into several properties and partial demolition, and later remodelling makes the plan difficult to interpret. The ground floor projected further southwards into High Street, and was jettied on both the High Street and Church Street frontages, with a dragon post on the corner. The adjoining buildings to the east, Nos 54 and 54b (qv) appear to have formed part of the premises, which had multiple gables, facing south and west. The inn was refurbished early to mid C17, and extended on the north, and the present north front, facing the former inn yard, dates from that period. The approach to the inn yard was from Church Street, known earlier as French Horn Lane, with a long range of outbuildings along its frontage, demolished early C20. There was also a narrow yard to the east, approached beneath No.54b. Although greatly reduced in size, The French Horn is the only major historic inn site in Ware which retains its original use and name. Listed as Grade II* for the exceptional quality of the staircase.

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Other Photos

Picture source: Ally Walker