Building record MLI86503 - Masons Arms, Louth
Summary
Former coaching inn, now in use as a hotel and public house. The building is largely of 18th century date, but possibly has earlier origins in the late 17th century.
Type and Period (3)
- COACHING INN (Post Medieval - 1666 AD? to 1900 AD?)
- HOTEL (Post Medieval to Modern - 1900 AD? to 2050 AD)
- PUBLIC HOUSE (Post Medieval to Modern - 1900 AD? to 2050 AD)
Protected Status/Designation
Full Description
The Mason's Arms is one of the older inns in Louth. It is one of 25 establishments named in a list dating to 1782. It is thought that the Mason's Arms was slightly more upmarket than the adjacent Crown and Woolpack (see MLI43358). The Mason's Arms operated as a coaching Inn with extensive stabling. The inn consisted of several buildings which were built, extended and altered over many phases and joined into one complex. {1}
Former coaching inn, largely of 18th century date, now in use as a hotel and public house. The Mason's Arms has mainly 19th century features to its front elevation, but the gable in the yard to rear indicates earlier origins. The building is of three storeys, and has a rendered front with rusticated quoins, and a pitched pantile roof with bracketed eaves and two brick chimney stacks at the gable ends. For the full description and the legal address of this listed building please refer to the appropriate entry in the National Heritage List for England. {2}{3}
A fine 18th century building, possibly with earlier origins, with later alterations and additions. This building is one of the most prominent in the Cornmarket street scene. {4}
An assessment of the significance of the Masons Arms was produced in July 2016, to inform proposed internal alterations and upgrading. A brief summary of the building's history and development was included, detailing the various phases of alterations that are known from historical research. The building is largely of 18th century date, but possibly has earlier origins in the late 17th century, and is recorded as being well established by 1715. The inn was originally called the Bricklayers Arms, but had changed its name to the Masons Arms by at least 1794, after it had become the meeting place for the local Freemasons. Substantial alterations were conducted in 1876, when the rear northerly wing was re-built and the interior rooms were reconfigured. Several further phases of alterations were conducted in the 20th century, most notably in 1989 when parts of the building were converted to form retail units as part of the New Market Hall construction project. {5}
Sources/Archives (5)
- <1> SLI3482 Report: Lindsey Archaeological Services. 1989. Louth Market Hall Project. -.
- <2> SLI8148 Index: Department of the Environment. 1974. List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. 1/120.
- <3> SLI13386 Website: Historic England (formerly English Heritage). 2011->. The National Heritage List for England. http://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/. 1165574.
- <4> SLI12156 Report: QuBE Planning Ltd.. 2008. Louth Conservation Area Appraisal. Town Centre character area.
- <5> SLI15595 Report: Elizabeth Mayle. 2016. Masons Arms, Cornmarket, Louth. -.
Map
Location
Grid reference | Centred TF 3278 8738 (22m by 38m) Estimated from sources |
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Civil Parish | LOUTH, EAST LINDSEY, LINCOLNSHIRE |
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (4)
External Links (0)
Record last edited
Oct 1 2025 11:07AM
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