The Trout Inn is a pub next to the River Thames at Lechlade, Gloucestershire, England. The Grade II listed stone building consists of two two-storey structures, one late medieval and the other added in the 18th century. The building began as an

almshouse An almshouse (also known as a bede-house, poorhouse, or hospital) was charitable housing provided to people in a particular community, especially during the medieval era. They were often targeted at the poor of a locality, at those from certain ...

for workers on the adjoining St John's Bridge in the 1220s, before becoming part of a priory and then an inn.

Location

The pub is located on the Thames Path close to

St John's Lock St John's Lock, below the town of Lechlade, Gloucestershire, is the furthest upstream lock on the River Thames in England. The name of the lock derives from a priory that was established nearby in 1250, but which no longer exists. The lock was ...

and St John's Bridge, where the River Cole and the River Leach join the Thames on opposite banks. Mooring for boats is available and small boats can be hired from the pub garden. The pub is on the

A417 The A417 is a main road in England running from Streatley, Berkshire to Hope under Dinmore, Herefordshire. It is best known for its section between Cirencester and Gloucester where it has primary status and forms part of the link between the m ...

on the outskirts of Lechlade. There is a camp site next to the pub. The pub owns of fishing rights.

History

The building was started in the 1220s by Peter Fitzherbert as a

hospital A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment with specialized health science and auxiliary healthcare staff and medical equipment. The best-known type of hospital is the general hospital, which typically has an emerge ...

, dedicated to

St. John the Baptist John the Baptist or , , or , ;Wetterau, Bruce. ''World history''. New York: Henry Holt and Company. 1994. syc, ܝܘܿܚܲܢܵܢ ܡܲܥܡܕ݂ܵܢܵܐ, Yoḥanān Maʿmḏānā; he, יוחנן המטביל, Yohanān HaMatbil; la, Ioannes Bapti ...

, which had the mandate of caring for workmen on the bridge. The building was part of the Augustinian

Lechlade Priory Lechlade Priory was a house of Augustinian Canons Regular in Lechlade, Gloucestershire, England. The priory, also called the Lechlade hospital (hospitalry), was founded in the 13th century by Isabella de Mortimer, initially as a nunnery; in 1252 ...

founded in the 13th century by Isabella de Mortimer; in 1252

Richard, 1st Earl of Cornwall Richard (5 January 1209 – 2 April 1272) was an English prince who was King of the Romans from 1257 until his death in 1272. He was the second son of John, King of England, and Isabella, Countess of Angoulême. Richard was nominal Count of Poi ...

became its patron. The priory survived until its dissolution in 1472. At that time, the building became known as an inn called ''Ye Sygne of St John Baptist Head''. The name was changed to The Trout Inn in 1704. In the 18th and early 19th centuries, The Trout provided the residence for the lock keeper of St John's Lock; this function was discontinued in 1830 when a lock house was built. The pub is a venue for regular music events, particularly jazz, though one event in January 2014 had to be cancelled because of flooding. The pub serves draught beer and is Cask Marque accredited.

Architecture

The original, two-storey structure is late medieval. Its interior incorporates timber-beamed ceilings. Near the end of the 18th century, a two-storey addition was made on the northern side; this building features stone construction and a slate roof. The newer structure features a pair of 12-pane

sash window A sash window or hung sash window is made of one or more movable panels, or "sashes". The individual sashes are traditionally paned window (architecture), paned windows, but can now contain an individual sheet (or sheets, in the case of double gla ...

s on each floor, a half-glazed door, and a gabled entryway. To the rear of the buildings lie an old-fashioned garden, an orchard, and a pool.

References

External links

{{Commons category, The Trout Inn, Lechlade Grade II listed pubs in Gloucestershire 1220s establishments in England Lechlade-on-Thames Pubs in Gloucestershire