The Crown Inn, Petty France, Hawkesbury Upton

The Crown Inn first mention is July 1692 when it was owned by William Hurne it was then described as an ancient Inn, The majority of the present building dates to abt 1650, It served as a Coaching Stage from Bath to Cirencester and Stroud and is mentioned in many accounts most notably Jane Austen in her book Northanger Abbey.

The stables are opposite now converted to houses the photo above was taken in 2001 when some major works were being done and the outer rendering was replaced giving a view of the alterations that were previously done the central section with the three dormer windows appears to be the early part with the two wings added not much later it has always been rendered as the stone appears yellow (it will quickly age to grey if not covered). The Crown is again mentioned in 1740 when Thomas Hurne was owner but around 1805 it seems to have been bought by the Duke of Beaufort we know from the poster above it was renamed the Beaufort Arms Inn after its owner not long after this it was closed probably as a result of the the Dunkirk Inn a quarter of a mile further along, by 1851 it is split into5 houses it was again sold in 1970's and returned to a resturant and Hotel now called the Bodkin House after Bodkin wood behind it, the rooms have Jane Austen themes.