History Of Drapers House

There are parts of the property that go back beyond the 16th century, Earls Colne was part of the De Vere estate and the nearby Castle Hedingham dates back to the Norman Conquest.

In more recent times The drapers house was just that, a Victorian drapers shop. It probably became a shop as we would recognise after the railway arrived in Earls Colne in the middle to late 19th century. So we can say that the building was a drapers shop well past the Edwardian Period. At some time in the middle of the 20th century the building became an Antique Shop and at some point the owner lived in Colne Priory, which is an interesting building in its own right,

The site first became a restaurant in the mid 70’s when Mr and Mrs Higby purchased the site after moving from The Rose at Sheffield. They created a fine restaurant, John Higby being an expert Sommelier of The Old School.
In 1984 Jon & Lesley Marsden purchased the site, Jon continued to fly and operate helicopters to help fund the development of the site.

Initially they left the front restaurant as it was but they opened a wine bar and Bistro (Flacks) at the rear of the premises for a younger crowd (as they then were them selves) Over time they refurbished the derelict stable block and converted the rest of the building into a hotel with 10 en-suite rooms. Eventually the wine bar bistro proved to be so popular that it was extended to the front main part of the building. By 1990 the project was complete and successful and as the family was growing Jon and Lesly moved out and sold the Hotel in 1990.

Since Jon and Lesley sold up the site has had several owners, most successful, some less so.
Now their family have grown up Jon and Lesley have returned to the Drapers after a period of 24 years, and the sites recent closure.

The site will return to its Bistro Wine Bar origins, casual but with the best locally sourced food available. The main Drapers room is available for Weddings and functions.

So it’s a case of “back to the future”. As Lesly and Jon are 30 years older than when they first owned the hotel an energy boost will be provided their son Ben Who has great skill in the kitchen, and his girl Emma.