Inns, Taverns and Alehouses in Hampshire 1300–1600

In late-medieval and Tudor England inns, taverns and alehouses were perceived to be three classes of building that could be distinguished one from another. In a Privy Council Certificate of 1577 regarding Hampshire, such distinctions and differences were tacitly understood rather than explicitly defined. This study seeks to identify these defining characteristics: specifically, the plan-forms and typical locations in which inns, taverns and alehouses were to be found. To this end the physical remains of some Hampshire buildings are analysed and documentary evidence is assessed. The year 1300 has been set as a start-date for this study because it was in the 14th century that inns in England were emerging as public, commercial enterprises and the year 1600 has been set as an end-date because around this time the distinction between inns, taverns and ale-houses was beginning to blur to such an extent that their study becomes problematic.