The building, which overlooks The Hillock, the ancient centre of the village, is made of sandstone with slate roofs, in two storeys and four bays. On the front is a protruding two-storey gabled porch with two pairs of Doric columns, possibly taken from a nearby Roman fort,[7] specifically the tepidarium of the Roman baths. They are believed to have been recovered from the bed of the River Ribble.[8]
The doorway has a moulded surround. Above the portico is a rustic wooden representation of a white bull. The right bay has been altered and contains a door and modern shop windows. To the left, a former stable has a doorway with a plain surround, a blocked doorway converted into a window with a dated lintel, and a circular pitching hole.[4][5] The original door, to the right of today's main entrance, was filled in in the 1940s.[9]
In the late 18th century, the building also served as the local courthouse for many years, with one of its rooms used for holding prisoners.[8]
The inn, which has three rooms, was put up for sale, in January 2017, at an asking price in excess of £385,000.[10] It was bought by the Brooks family, who had previously owned it around the turn of the century, and was refurbished.[1] It was sold again, in late 2023, to Julie Gainford.
The pub was patronised by the members of Time Team during their three-day visit to the village, in September 1993, which was focused on nearby 2 Church Street.[7]
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