The Historic Journey of Ye Olde Griffin Hotel

Standing proudly on March’s High Street, Ye Olde Griffin Hotel represents over five centuries of Fenland hospitality, its weathered brick facade bearing witness to the dramatic transformation of both the town and the English countryside that surrounds it.

Tudor Origins and the Fenland Isle

The Griffin’s story begins in the 16th century, when March was quite literally an island - the second largest in the Great Level of the Fens. Surrounded by treacherous marshes and accessible only by ancient causeway routes, March occupied a strategic position in this watery wilderness. It was during this era that the original Griffin inn was established, likely as a simple alehouse serving the hardy folk who navigated the dangerous fenland waterways.

The building’s earliest incarnation followed the typical Tudor inn design - a central range plan constructed with heavy timber framing and local materials. Archaeological evidence suggests that parts of the original 16th-century structure remain embedded within the current building, particularly in the roof structure where substantial clasped side purlin construction with heavy scantling rafters still stands largely intact, a testament to the craftsmanship of Tudor builders.

During the Tudor period, March was recorded as “Merche” in historical documents, possibly deriving from the Old English “mearc” meaning boundary - fitting for a settlement that served as a crucial waypoint between the fenland settlements and the outside world. The Griffin would have provided essential services to merchants, pilgrims, and travellers navigating the complex network of waterways and raised roads that connected the isolated fenland communities.

Georgian Expansion and the Coaching Era

The 18th century brought dramatic changes to both March and the Griffin. As drainage of the fens progressed and road networks improved, the town’s importance as a trading centre grew significantly. The inn responded to increased demand by undergoing substantial expansion, transforming from its original single-range plan into the distinctive H-shaped structure that characterises the building today.

This Georgian expansion added the crosswings that now face High Street with their elegant parapetted canted elevations. The central range was refaced with the brick Georgian frontage that still defines the building’s character, complete with five recessed hung sash windows of twelve panes each and a central doorway that welcomed countless travellers.

During this period, the Griffin established itself as a premier coaching inn, serving the increasingly busy routes that connected the fenland market towns with London, Cambridge, and the growing industrial centres of the north. The stable yards would have bustled with the arrival and departure of mail coaches, private carriages, and commercial wagons. The inn’s strategic location in March, positioned on the main thoroughfare through the town centre, made it an inevitable stopping point for travellers requiring fresh horses, hot meals, and comfortable lodgings.

The coaching trade brought prosperity but also challenges. Innkeepers had to maintain high standards of service, provide reliable horse changes within minutes, and cater to travellers from all walks of life - from wealthy merchants to humble farm workers. The Griffin’s reputation during this era was built on the efficiency of its staff and the quality of its hospitality, establishing traditions of service that, according to local legend, continue to this day through supernatural means.

Railway Revolution and Late Victorian Refurbishment

The arrival of the railway in March during the 19th century initially threatened to end the coaching era, but the Griffin adapted with remarkable resilience. March became an important railway junction on both the Great Eastern Railway and Great Northern Railway networks, positioned 88 miles north of London and serving as a crucial hub for fenland agricultural produce heading to metropolitan markets.

Rather than decline, the Griffin reinvented itself as a railway hotel. The late 19th century, particularly around 1877, saw extensive refurbishment that modernised the interior whilst preserving the building’s historic character. It was during this period of renovation that local historians believe the tragic events occurred that gave rise to the hotel’s most famous supernatural resident - the dutiful chambermaid whose dedication to service transcended even death.

The Victorian refurbishment incorporated the latest amenities whilst respecting the building’s architectural heritage. Gas lighting was installed, along with improved heating systems and modernised guest accommodations. The Market Place frontage received a sophisticated late 19th-century shop facade, divided into four bays with wood pilasters topped by enriched Ionic capitals, a plain frieze, and dentil cornice - architectural details that remain largely unchanged today.

20th Century Resilience

Through two world wars, economic depression, and the decline of Britain’s railway network, the Griffin endured. During World War II, March played a strategic role as home to RAF March, and the Griffin likely provided accommodation and gathering space for military personnel and their families. The inn’s proximity to the railway made it particularly valuable during wartime when efficient transportation was crucial.

The post-war era brought new challenges as motor travel replaced rail transport for many journeys. Yet the Griffin adapted once again, transitioning from railway hotel to community pub and hotel serving both locals and a growing heritage tourism market. The building’s Grade II listing, awarded on 22 February 1985, recognised its architectural and historical significance, ensuring its protection for future generations.

Architectural Heritage

Today’s visitors can still appreciate the Griffin’s layered architectural history. The Grade II listing describes it as “Inn. C16, C18 and late C19. Brick, rendered with parapetted slate roofs, hipped to crosswings.” The building perfectly exemplifies the evolution of English inn architecture, with each century leaving its distinctive mark whilst maintaining overall coherence.

The interior retains remarkable period features, including the substantially intact 16th-century roof structure with its clasped side purlin construction and closely-set heavy rafters. Victorian-era improvements coexist with Georgian refinements and Tudor foundations, creating a unique architectural palimpsest that tells the story of English hospitality over five centuries.

Legacy and Continuing Tradition

As March continues to evolve in the 21st century, the Griffin remains a testament to the enduring importance of hospitality in English country life. Recent renovation works have carefully preserved historic features whilst providing modern amenities, ensuring that the inn can continue serving guests as it has for over 500 years.

The building stands not merely as a relic of the past but as a living example of adaptive reuse and heritage preservation. Its supernatural reputation, far from being a burden, has become part of its unique character - a reminder that some traditions of service and care run so deep they become legendary.

From its origins serving fenland wayfarers to its current role as heritage hotel and community gathering place, Ye Olde Griffin Hotel embodies the resilience and continuity that define the best of English hospitality. In an age of corporate uniformity, it remains authentically rooted in its place and history, a genuine survivor of centuries past and a beacon of traditional values for the future.