Rest the horses

This wonderful old cottage is near where we live. It's an elegant building dating back to the mid-1700s. Originally a coaching inn, it was where the stage-coach paused to give the horses a rest while the driver and his passengers took refreshment. It is now, and has long been, a private residence.

It is Grade 2 listed on the national heritage register, so considered to be 'nationally important and of special interest'. There are currently 374,081 listed buildings in England, according to English Heritage. In addition there are 19,717 scheduled ancient monuments, 1,601 registered historic parks and gardens, 43 historic battlefields and 9,080 designated conservation areas. We are happy to live in one of those.