Back to photostream

The Royal Albion Maidstone

Timber-framed houses with the first floor overhanging on a bressumer, at two levels. Two storeys and attics. The ground floor is fronted with weatherboarding, except No. 23, which is of painted brick. Plastered first floor. Tiled roofs. No. 23 has a half hipped gable with an attic window in it. One hipped dormer. Coved eaves cornice. Three sashes with glazing bars intact. Modern public house window on the ground floor of No. 23. The "Royal Albion" has the honour of being the oldest building in Maidstone - it is at least 500 years old and is a typical Kentish white weatherboarded property situated in the town centre next to the Fremlin Walk shopping centre, and close to the county museum and shops.

At this inn, General Fairfax took the surrender of the local Royalist troops in June 1648, with the last battle was in Havock Lane. The Royal Albion exhibits ghostly manifestations. these include ‘Haughty Ann’, the beautiful daughter of the proprietor who was courted by many. However, she spurned them all. She said she would remain a virgin rather than marry. Ann died of a fever and her ghost has returned looking for an eligible young man. It is also haunted by Martin Shotwood, who made another proprietor’s daughter, Sarah Oake, pregnant. He took flight from the "Royal Albion," leaving her distraught. She drowned herself, and he later hanged himself in remorse when he discovered what unhappy course she had taken. When Shotwood manifests, observers describe him as wearing a dark grey suit, with tears coursing down his cheeks. II Timber-framed houses with the first floor overhanging on a bressumer, at two levels. Two storeys and attics. The ground floor is fronted with weatherboarding, except No. 23, which is of painted brick. Plastered first floor. Tiled roofs. No. 23 has a half hipped gable with an attic window in it. One hipped dormer. Coved eaves cornice. Three sashes with glazing bars intact. Modern public house window on the ground floor of No. 23.

2,037 views
8 faves
0 comments
Uploaded on March 25, 2021
Taken on March 25, 2021