"The Falcon Inn is in Church Street,

and it is only recently that modern convenience has sacrificed therein

 a fine old English hall, the chestnut groinings of which,

springing from corbel-heads beautifully carved and gilt,

 may yet be seen in a lumber loft.

This hall has not been destroyed, but by means of flooring and partitions,

 made to consist of several apartments"

Thus wrote Charles Spence in his short work "Romsey Abbey" in the 1870's.

 

Alas the Falcon, with its chestnut beams is no more.

The Inn blocked the street and made passage difficult.

Therefore it was knocked down and rebuilt to widen the road.

In order that this could be done the freehold of the property was conveyed from

Winchester College to Romsey Corporation for the sum of £256.00.

The Falcon was clearly one of Romsey's very old Inns.

Since it lies in the area of the Abbey and King John's Lodge and has stone cellars

it might well be on the site of hostelries dating back to mediaeval times.

Just before the Falcon was rebuilt in 1880 it was renamed

The Market Inn and then during that century renamed The Abbey Hotel.

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