Historic Building Recording the Former Kingfisher Hotel, 9 Uppingham Road, Preston, Nr. Uppingham, Rutland (Prur13)

A programme of historic building recording was undertaken prior to the demolition of the former Kingfisher Hotel, Uppingham Road, Preston, Rutland. The building is of historic interest. Previous assessment of the building suggested it was perhaps early 19th century in date and containing possible Georgian elements. The building recording was undertaken after removal of roof coverings and some initial stripping. Previously unrevealed elements of the structure were recorded. The dating of the main pub building remains uncertain, but it was shown on a map of 1886, and historical sources suggest a date of at least the first half of the 19th century, if not earlier. Moreover, the use of stone for the construction of the core building supports the suggestion that this part is early 19th century or perhaps a little earlier. However, there are no architectural elements to confirm this dating. Although there was Georgian panelling around two of the windows on the ground floor, removal of the panelling revealed that the windows were inserted and supported on concrete blocks, indicating that they are a probable 20th century alteration to the building. Partition walls of different materials on the first floor suggest several stages of re-modelling of the room arrangement of this part of the building. The western extension to the building and adjacent outside toilet were of brick and of 19th century date. Historic maps confirm that this extension was in existence by 1886. The northern extension, of machine-made brick, was of later 20th century date and historic maps indicate that it was constructed after 1969, and by 1982.