This former coaching inn is now a wedding and events centre. It is a Grade 2 listed building reflecting the fact that it is a fine example of a custom-built early C18 public house with stabling on the main road between London and Cardiff. The inn is recorded as having its first tenant in 1730.
It is constructed of roughly squared local rubble-stone with some red brick patching and a Welsh slate roof, pantiles to the wing. A three storey single depth central entrance building with stair turret at rear and extensive additions partly incorporating probably C19 buildings. The main elevation has three bays. The central door has a presumably re-used Tudor arch head and a modern glazed multi-pane door.
For many years this was the ‘19th hole’ for the local golf course and locals will recall that the ‘lounge bar’ was furnished with various pieces of The Empress of France ship (paneling, seating, lamps, frames and mirrors); the ship's service history encompasses 99 trans-Atlantic voyages, five trans-Pacific voyages, and eight other cruises, in addition to her war service.
It is also reputed to be haunted relating to the fact that a mother and daughter were hanged in the 1730s. The mother apparently appears in just one room, while the daughter is like a poltergeist – moving things around!
The best view of the building is obviously across the road on the A48.
This is the recommended start of a short series of caches around the wider parish of Mathern and takes in the walking route of my regular exercise during the Covid-19 lockdown so should take no longer than an hour on foot even with caches to find! The series is designed as a walking route (or on bike). It is not really suitable for driving. There is roadside parking on the road into Mathern or the nearby local Garden Centre affords safe parking.
The cache location pays homage to New Inn’s role as a coaching inn. Please be discreet and replace very carefully so that those following you can "step up" to the challenge!
As mention this is the recommended start of this short series of caches at the end of which is an additional bonus cache. For the Mathern Parish Mystery Bonus [GC8RAVG] what is the total number of letters adjacent to the location = AB