CASTLE HOTEL #
a.k.a. CASTLE AND COMMERCIAL HOTEL.
29 Market Place.
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This image was taken in about 1906. The bay windows are still a feature of the hotel, but there have been a number of other changes down the years. |
MINES HOSTS:
1623 First built
1680 - 94 Mrs. Langton, widow of Richard Langton, who died shortly before this date.
1785 John Nightingale
1803 - 10 Matthew Fisher
1810 - 14 Thomas Scott
1815 - 17 Peter Sharples - had been at the "Swan Inn" New Street.
1818 Joseph Ditchfield
1821 James Towers - d. 11.12.1821 aged 45 years
1821 - 25 Rebecca Towers - Thomas, 18 year old son, d.22.4.1830.
1828 - 41 Benjamin Smith [d. December 1841]
1842 - 43 Mrs. Smith
1849 - 54 William Glade [d. 7.1.1864 aged 64 years]
1857 Charles Bannerman
1857 - 71 Elizabeth Bannerman
1873 - 75 Charles Rich [d. 11.10.1875 aged 43 years] #
1875 - 91 Mrs. Mary Rich
1891 - 99 Harry Thornton Isherwood
1900 - 1901 Annie Sophia Kendall
1901 Annie Sophia Smith
1904 - 05 William Ramsden Smith
# Owned by Charles Frederick Rich (provision Dealer), Stanley Croft, Ansdell Road, Lytham.
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NOTES
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THE "CASTLE INN"
by Paul D. Swarbrick
Originally known as the Castle Inn and was built in 1623, the Castle Hotel was situated in Cheapside opposite the Market Square. It was very much a favourite hostelry in the centre of the town for many Prestonians. This was also the chosen establishment for the meeting place of many building societies and insurance companies of Preston and the surrounding areas.
The whole building, especially the interior had a style of grandeur about it and Peter Whittle in his ‘History Of Preston’ (1837) wrote…“The Castle Inn, in the Market Place was erected in 1623 and was at that time deemed to be an elegant building. A fine chimney piece was placed in a room over the gateway, consisting of a frontispiece (over the fireplace) carved with a mass of miniature columns, arches, niches and caryatids, piled up to the ceiling. The columns were after the Grecian style of architecture. This piece of work was executed by Lawrence Winstanley, carver in Preston.”
The whole building, especially the interior had a style of grandeur about it and Peter Whittle in his ‘History Of Preston’ (1837) wrote…“The Castle Inn, in the Market Place was erected in 1623 and was at that time deemed to be an elegant building. A fine chimney piece was placed in a room over the gateway, consisting of a frontispiece (over the fireplace) carved with a mass of miniature columns, arches, niches and caryatids, piled up to the ceiling. The columns were after the Grecian style of architecture. This piece of work was executed by Lawrence Winstanley, carver in Preston.”
One of the notable events held at the Castle Hotel in 1865 was on the completion of Preston’s new Town Hall when one hundred and fifty of the workmen involved with the Town Hall construction were entertained to a considerable lunch paid for by the Corporation and the contractors. I hesitate to think that this could happen in this day and age.
Around 1910 the Castle Hotel was purchased by the Refuge Assurance Company, was transformed into commercial premises and was then known as ‘Castle Chambers’. During the years following the change of use companies and shops were to occupy the various units the building was divided into. In the early part of the twentieth century the Football League were to take up tenancy in part of the premises and remained there for some years. In the main photograph above of the Castle Hotel, it can be seen that the premises on the lower right of the image is the Argenta Meat Company based in Oldham who, interestingly, eventually became Dewhurst’s The Master Butchers. Also in this image the underpass to the left of the butchers that would originally lead to the courtyard behind the hotel and eventually became a narrow thoroughfare leading to the premises of the Lancashire Evening Post for use of their vans to collect newspapers from the presses for delivery.
In the early 1990′s, following the closure of Castle Chambers in 1989, the whole of the building was remodeled and was replaced by shops as it is today. One small feature still remains though and that is a small ‘spur stone’ at the junction of two of the shops and this is illustrated in the image below. I wonder how many people pass this every day on Cheapside in Preston and never really notice it.
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This is a useful plan. It shows the Castle Hotel's position on the Market Place,
directly opposite the Harris Museum and Art Gallery, and if you draw an imaginary
line, it stretched back to a point level with Guildhall Street.
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Manchester Mercury 22nd March 1785
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Lancaster Gazette 23rd March 1805
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Date on leaflet / poster 13th September 1805
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Lancaster Gazette 13th August 1814
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Lancaster Gazette 29th July 1815
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Lancaster Gazette 22nd March 1817
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Preston Chronicle 27th January 1821
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MATTHEW ENNIS
Begs to inform the Public, and his Friends in general that he will commence
Running his COACH every day (Sunday excepted), on Monday next, 4th
April, to Preston and back, leaving the Clifton Arms Hotel, Lytham, at half
past eight o'clock, and the CASTLE INN, Market Place, Preston, every
evening at a quarter before four, except Saturday, which will be a quarter
before five.
Preston Chronicle 2nd April 1831
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R. BOOTLE
STAY AND CORSET MAKER
No. 6 St. Ann Street, Liverpool
Respectfully informs the Ladies of Preston and its vicinity, that
Mrs. Bootle will be at the CASTLE INN, Market Place, on the
20th November, where she will have an Assortment of 200 Pairs
of the most Fashionable French and English STAYS, for their
inspection, from 15s to 20s per pair.
Mrs. B will remain at the above place a week.
Preston Chronicle 10th November 1832
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Poster from 1841
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NOTICE
ALL persons who have any claims or demands against the late
Mr. Benjamin Smith, of the Castle Inn, Market Place, Preston,
are requested to send in their accounts and the nature of their
securities (if any) to Mrs. Smith of the Castle Inn, aforesaid,
in order that the same may be examined previous to being
discharged; and all persons indebted to the said Mr. Benjamin
Smith, are requested to pay their accounts forthwith, to the said Mrs. Smith.
Preston Chronicle 18th December 1841
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Preston Chronicle 17th December 1853 |
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Preston Chronicle February 1859
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Preston Chronicle 10th July 1880
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CASTLE HOTEL, MARKET-PLACE, PRESTON.
The Proprietors of the "Preston Guardian" and "Lancashire Daily Post," having purchased the CASTLE HOTEL, PRESTON, are prepared to consider proposals for Letting the Ground Floor and Basement of these Extensive Premises for Trade or Business purposes. The Premises occupy one of the most commanding business positions in the town, are in the centre of the Market-square, surrounded by all the Public Buildings of the Town, well-suited for a Bazaar or Market Hall, or one large or two smaller Shops can be made. The frontage is 28ft., and 72ft. back, with side goods entrance. Additional Warehouse Accommodation and Stabling if required.
Apply, T. Dewhurst and Son, Auctioneers, Fishergate, Preston.
Lancashire Evening Post 17th October 1906
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CONTRACTS.
CASTLE HOTEL, PRESTON.
CONTRACTORS, accustomed to PULLING DOWN and SHORING UP OLD PROPERTY, are invited to make OFFERS for the OLD MATERIALS in the CASTLE HOTEL.
For particulars apply to
Mr. E. J. ANDREW, Architect,
30, Winckley Square, Preston.
Lancashire Evening Post 9th November 1906
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CENSUS RETURNS
1841
Benjamin Smith 35 years Publican b.
Alice Smith 35 Wife
1851
William Glade 50 years Hotel Keeper b. Yarcombe, Devon
Alice Glade 45 Wife b. Goosnargh
Was this Alice Smith of 1841?
1861
Elizabeth Bannerman 40 years widow Hotel Keeper b. Preston
Jane McKie 35 Assistant do
Edephouse Beghan 40 Visitor b. France
Susannah Unsworth 70 Gentlewoman b. Preston
M. A. Sutherland 38 Sempstress b. Edinburgh
Sarah Hassall 27 Waitress b Ellesmere
Ellen Wilkinson 19 do b. Cartmel
Margaret Turner 20 Housemaid b. Ulverston
Jane Gough 23 do b. Wales
Jane Haigh 23 Cook b. Broughton, Preston
Henry Brown 34 Visitor / Traveller b. Walton-le-dale
Thomas Thompson 25 Boots b. Preston
1871
Elizabeth Bannerman 48 years Hotel Keeper b. Preston
1881
Mary Rich 46 years Hotel Proprietor b. Salford
Annie S. Rich 20 Daughter b. Manchester
Ellen B. Rich 19 Daughter do
Charles F. Rich 15 Son do
James S. Rich 10 Son do
1891
Harry I. Isherwood 29 years Hotel Proprietor b. Oldham
James S. Rich 20 Brother-in-law b. Manchester
1901
William R. Smith 36 years Grocer b. Scotland
Annie S. Smith 40 Hotel Keeper b. Manchester
I think that this is Annie S. Rich of 1881
Kathleen Kendal 17 Step-daughter b. Preston
Gladys May Kendal 16 Step-daughter do
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