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Unicorn Row
The building now called Unicorn House was once The Unicorn Inn, one of Kirton’s many public houses until its closure in 1970. The earliest reference is in 1794 when a Zachary Wilson took the lease as landlord.
For most of the 19th Century, along with The George and The Red Lion, The Unicorn provided business services to the town and was often the place where auctions of land and buildings would take place.
The Unicorn Inn
William Mann was landlord for 17 years from 1892 to 1909 so this postcard gives a date range for this picture. It was a substantial premises with accommodation, cellars, coach house, stabling and outbuildings.
The Building
This picture was taken in the 1960s and shows the building in rather poor condition.
After closure the building was remodelled from three storeys to two, extended outwards using materials from some of the outbuildings, and is now flats and a private residence.
The Name
The name of the pub has been retained in Unicorn Row. It was the only street named Unicorn Row in the whole of Great Britain until 2021 when a development in Kidderminster used the name.
