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preston hotel

64 Preston Road

 

Like the Plucknett, I've very little information on the Preston Hotel, chiefly because the village of Preston Plucknett was not absorbed within the Yeovil town boundary until relatively recently.

I believe the building started as a private residence, being turned into a hotel during the early 20th century and is now tied with the Green Room in Wine Street, the former Royal Oak.

In the Yeovil Guide of 1962 the Manor Hotel and the Mermaid Hotel were the most expensive hotels in Yeovil with Bed and Breakfast from 25/- per night (about £48 at today's value). For comparison the Three Choughs Hotel was 22/6 per night, the Pen Mill Hotel was 16/-, the Elephant & Castle Hotel was 15/6 and the Globe & Crown was cheapest at 14/6 (about £13.50 at today's value). By 1970 the prices were still the most expensive at the Manor Hotel with Bed & Breakfast from 45/- to 55/- per night (£50 to £63 at today's value), lunch at 14/6 (about £19) and dinner at 16/6 (about £22). Again for comparison, Bed & Breakfast at the Three Choughs Hotel was 42/- per night with breakfast only at 9/6 and tea from 3/6, the Preston Hotel was from 32/6 per night with lunch at 12/6 and dinner from 14/6, the Butchers Arms was 25/- for a single and 45/- for a double room per night and the Elephant & Castle Hotel was cheapest at 21/6 (about £29) per night.

The building is two-storey and double-fronted, constructed in red brick with Ham stone detailing in the quoins, string course, cornice and window surrounds, under a Welsh slate roof. The entrance has a good Ham Stone portico supported by a pair of Doric columns. It is flanked by sturdy bay windows (of differing plans), again in Ham stone. Above the entrance, the roof has a single bow-headed dormer in a stone surround and behind a small, decorative stone parapet.

 

gallery

 


Courtesy of Chris Rendell

The Preston Hotel photographed in 1989.

 

The Preston Hotel, photographed in 2009.

 

licensees

 

1968 – Licensee not named (Kelly’s 1968 Directory) listed as Preston Hotel
1969 – Licensee not named (Kelly’s 1969 Directory) listed as Preston Hotel
1970 – Licensee not named (Kelly’s 1970 Directory) listed as Preston Hotel
1971 – Licensee not named (Kelly’s 1971 Directory) listed as Preston Hotel
1972 – Licensee not named (Kelly’s 1972 Directory) listed as Preston Hotel
1973 – Licensee not named (Kelly’s 1973 Directory) listed as Preston Hotel
1974 – Licensee not named (1974 Yeovil Directory) listed as Preston Hotel
1987 – Licensee not named (Denton’s 1987 Directory) listed as Preston Hotel