Historic 300-year-old Grade II hotel The Kings Arms that was immortalised in Thomas Hardy novel The Mayor of Casterbridge is ‘left to fall apart’ just two years after it was bought
- The Kings Arms in Dorchester, Dorset, heavily featured in Hardy’s Victorian novel The Mayor of Casterbridge
- The Grade II listed former coaching inn was bought by Stay Original and was due to be renovated
- Building work has stalled and the building has been left with crumbling render and a dishevelled appearance
- Local councillor Stella Jones has called for the district council to step in and look after the building
A Dorchester hotel immortalised by one of Thomas Hardy’s famous novels has been left to crumble away just two years after it was purchased, sparking fury in the local community.
The Kings Arms in Dorchester, Dorset, which featured prominently in Hardy’s 1886 novel The Mayor of Casterbridge was due for renovation but work on the building has stalled.
The Victorian author described in great detail how the former wife of flawed character Michael Henchard looked in through the building’s bow-windows to find him as mayor presiding over a feast.
A Dorchester hotel immortalised by one of Thomas Hardy’s famous novels has been left to crumble away just two years after it was purchased, sparking fury in the local community
The Kings Arms in Dorchester on High East Street, Dorset, which featured prominently in Hardy’s 1886 novel The Mayor of Casterbridge was due for renovation but work on the building has stalled
The Grade II listed former coaching inn which closed several years ago was bought by Stay Original, a company that runs historic hotels, in 2016.
They originally planned to reopen the 300-year-old property next year but after the building work stalled the facade of the building is now deteriorating and clumps of render are falling off.
Local councillor Stella Jones has called for the district council to step in and look after the important building.
The Victorian author described in great detail how the former wife of flawed character Michael Henchard looked in through the building’s bow-windows to find him as mayor presiding over a feast
The Grade II listed former coaching inn which closed several years ago was bought by Stay Original, a company that runs historic hotels, in 2016
She said: ‘The Kings Arms, which is nearly 300 years old and a Grade II listed building, was closed in 2015. Since then nothing has been done to the building and gradually it is deteriorating and starting to crumble.
‘Every time the state of the building has been queried the owners have said they are about to start work on it but nothing ever happens.
‘This hotel featured in the Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy, he would have been horrified to see it now.’
They originally planned to reopen the 300-year-old property next year but after the building work stalled the facade of the building is now deteriorating and clumps of render are falling off and local councillor Stella Jones (pictured) now hopes to step in
She said West Dorset District Council should serve a Repair Notice on the building which will allow them to carry out the work and then bill the owners.
Over the last 300 years the Kings Arms has hosted everyone from monarchs to musicians – Queen Victoria and King George IV were guests, as were the Beatles and Rolling Stones.
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But refurbishments over the years meant many of the original features that would have been there in Hardy’s time have been lost.
Stay Original vowed to restore these and consulted the Hardy Society throughout the planning process.
She said West Dorset District Council should serve a Repair Notice on the building which will allow them to carry out the work and then bill the owners
Over the last 300 years the Kings Arms has hosted everyone from monarchs to musicians – Queen Victoria and King George IV were guests, as were the Beatles and Rolling Stones
Alistair Chisholm, from the Hardy Society, said: ‘It is very sad, the state it’s in now, because it is a very important building.
‘Because it’s a listed building I know it’s not easy to come in and start work straight away, but it has been a very long time now and I would have thought they could have made some progress.
‘When you go past the render is falling off, which makes it look as bad as it possibly can look.
‘I still believe they will redevelop this but I am concerned, like many others, about how long it’s taking.
But refurbishments over the years meant many of the original features that would have been there in Hardy’s time have been lost (pictured left Thomas Hardy aged 19 and the right the Kings Arms in 2016)
Despite the changes Stay Original vowed to restore these and consulted the Hardy Society throughout the planning process
‘If we don’t see some action we could lose some of the features which make it a listed building in the first place, and it’s incredibly important for its association with Thomas Hardy.
‘I think if nothing has happened by the end of January as a community, the town and the Thomas Hardy Society, we need to start stepping up our campaign.
‘There comes a time when you have to deliver on your promises, we really need to see some movement now.’
Hardy is known for changing most of the names of places he used in his novels, with Dorchester known as Casterbridge, but he kept the name of the Georgian hotel and described the frontage of the building in great detail.
Alistair Chisholm, from the Hardy Society, said: ‘It is very sad, the state it’s in now, because it is a very important building’
Hardy is known for changing most of the names of places he used in his novels, with Dorchester known as Casterbridge, but he kept the name of the Georgian hotel and described the frontage of the building in great detail.
In the book the central character, Michael Henchard, carried out his official business there.
His former wife returns to the town 18 years after he sold her and their baby daughter to a sailor in a drunken stupor.
She stops outside the hotel and recognises her husband, now the mayor and a respectable businessman, through a window.
When Stay Original bought it in 2015 they said the building was a ‘key landmark and a tremendous asset to Dorchester’.
They now say it will open by the end of 2019. Plans were unveiled in October for the revamped hotel, which will have 32 rooms and a 120-cover bar and restaurant.
Managing director Rob Greacen said: ‘Work on the building starts early in the new year. We recently selected our contractor and they are finalising some planning conditions, before they can start on site.
‘Assuming that we don’t run into any unanticipated problems during the refurbishment, we hope that the property will be open and trading in a year’s time.’
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