Radnorshire Arms

The Radnorshire Arms is a well-preserved Jacobean building in the Welsh border town of Presteigne, in Powys.

The Radnorshire Arms in 2011

The building has the date 1616 over its door^[1] but it is claimed it dates to the 16th century, once owned by Sir Christopher Hatton, a lawyer and politician, Lord Chancellor of England and rumoured lover of Queen Elizabeth I.^[2]

The Radnorshire Arms Presteigne, date unknown.

In 1616 it became home to a local man, John Bradshaw.

The building became an inn in 1792 and had several additions around 1875.^[1] There are also many anomalies inside the Hotel itself, caused by the large number of changes and additions to the original structure. In 1875 a secret chamber was discovered off of what is now the Resident's Lounge, which turned out to be a Priest Hole. Behind one of the panels was the diary of a Catholic Priest who had been hiding there for two years. ^[2]

Originally a private residence, the hotel is a Grade II* listed building.^[3][4] The hotel was sold out of administration to Allworks Properties in 2020.^[5]