George Hotel, Stamford facts for kids
The George Hotel is a famous old hotel in Stamford, Lincolnshire, England. It used to be a very important stop for coaches and travelers on the Great North Road. This road was a main route for people traveling across England. The hotel building, along with numbers 68 and 69 St Martin's (which are now part of the hotel), are special because they are "Grade II* listed buildings." This means they are very old and important, and need to be protected.
Contents
A Look Back: The George Hotel's Story
Early Days and Royal Visits
It's thought that there might have been a place for travelers here as far back as the year 947! The exact age of the current building isn't known. A hospital run by the Knights of St John, a group of religious knights, was once on this site. Parts of it were damaged during the Wars of the Roses, a series of battles for the English throne.
The main part of the hotel was rebuilt in 1597 by William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley. He was a very important advisor to Queen Elizabeth I. He might have used parts of the older hospital building in his new design. In 1645, King Charles I himself stayed at the George Hotel. Many other famous people and sports enthusiasts also visited.
A Busy Coaching Inn
During the 1700s, the George Hotel became a very busy "coaching inn." This meant it was a place where horse-drawn coaches would stop. Travelers could rest, eat, and change horses before continuing their journey.
A famous writer named Daniel Defoe wrote about the hotel in 1724. He said he stopped at the George "out of Curiosity" because it was known as "one of the greatest Inns in England." One of the hotel's customers was Daniel Lambert, who was one of the heaviest people in history at the time. He sadly passed away in Stamford and is buried nearby.
Recent Events and Old Tales
In August 2018, there was a small gas explosion in the hotel's kitchen. The local fire service quickly came to help.
Some people also say that the hotel is haunted! These are just stories, but they add to the hotel's long and interesting history.
Both the main hotel building and the nearby building at 68 St Martin's are "Grade II* listed buildings." This means they are very important historical buildings that are protected by law.
The Hotel's Design: Architecture
The George Hotel is a beautiful building made of stone, with three floors. The front of the building, which was built in the 1700s, has special decorations. It has a "cornice" (a decorative molding at the top) and a "parapet" (a low wall along the roof edge). There's also a "cartouche," which is a fancy carved shield showing the family crest of the Earl of Exeter.
The building next door, called "The Hermitage" at numbers 68 and 69 St Martin's, is also part of the hotel. It has two floors and an attic. Inside the hotel, you can still find parts of a medieval hall. This hall was probably built in the 1300s! The building has been added to and changed over many centuries, so you can see bits of history from every period since then.
