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History of The Famous Old Black Lion
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This 17th Century Inn, parts of which date back to the 1300's, is situated close to what was known as the Lion Gate, one of the original entrances to the old walled town of "The Hay" as the town used to be called. It's name is derived from the French "La Haie" (The Grove), its Welsh name is "Y Gelli" (An Enclosure).
This colourful 17th Century Inn, parts of which date back to the 1300's, is situated close to what was known as the Lion Gate, one of the original entrances to the old walled town of Hay-on-Wye.
For further information and/or a Brochure, please eMail us: info@oldblacklion.co.uk
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'....a colourful 17th Century Inn'
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A Black Lion was part of the arms of Owain Glyndwr. The earliest known mention of the pub is a reference to a William Seward of Badsey in Worcestershire, who was killed by a stone thrown at him whilst preaching at the Black Lion Green, Hay, on 22 October 1740. The reference to Badsey is taken from A Historical Guide to the Town and Castle of Hay, published in 1877.
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The Black Lion Friendly Society had sufficient funds to erect a tomb to the memory of Rev. Richard Lloyd, who died aged 67 on 19 October 1797. The inn must have had some local standing for the Bredwardine and Whitney Turnpike Trust met there quite regularly from 1760 to 1802.
In 1843 there was a court case between the landlord of the Black Lion and a superintendent constable William McMahon who accused each other of being drunk and disorderly - unfortunately the result is unknown! Sales were common at the Black Lion, one example being when the effects of a surgeon, Mr Groman Woodcock, were removed from his property in Oxford Terrace by the Hay auctioneer David Jones and were delivered to the large room at the Black Lion in readiness for a sale to take place on 21 January 1850.
Details from the book "The Pubs of Hay and the Golden Valley" by John Eisel & Frank Bennett. Pub. by Logaston Press, 2005
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Pigot's Directory of 1830 records The Black Lion as located in New Street, which was later renamed as Lion Street. The landlord was John Allan.
John and Hester Williams ran the Black Lion between 1861 and 1871 - he was recorded as the owner in 1874. In 1891 the landlord was John Probert, but by 1901 John Jones had taken over. The pub had a seven day licence in 1899 but along with the other pubs in Hay (and Wales as a whole) it was reduced to a six day licence by 1919.
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Dolan would like to thank Eric Pugh for his kind permission to use photographs from his large archive of information on the history of Hay. Further photographs & details of the history of Hay can be found in Eric Pugh's book "Old Hay in Pictures and Prints" which has recently been republished and available from Pembertons of Hay
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