Castle Hotel, High Street

 

Hereford Journal - 18th June 1800

Castle Inn, Presteigne

Radnorshire

JOHN BEAVAN

(LATE THE GLOBE INN kNIGHTON)

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RETURNS his most sincere Thanks for many favours conferred on him by his Friends and the Public, and begs leave to acquaint them, That he has taken and entered upon that old and well-accustomed Inn known by the name of the CASTLE, situate in HIGH-STREET, in the town of PRESTEIGNE, which he is now fitting up in a neat and comfortable manner, and has laid in stock of excellent WINES and SPIRITSUDOS LIQUORS; and hence, by unremitting attention, to merit the generous support of his Friends and the Public in general, which will ever be acknowledged with respect and gratitude.

        June 14, 1800.

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Hereford Journal - 17th December 1806

TO BE LET, AND ENTERED UPON AT CANDLEMAS NEXT,

All that ancient and accustomed INN, called the CASTLE INN, in the Town of Presteign, together with excellent Stabling, and Malt-house thereto adjoining, capable of making 2000 bushels of Malt in a season, and which have lately been put in complete repair, a large Barn and Garden, all adjoining each other,

            For Particulars apply on the Premises; or to Mr. J. Stephens, Attorney, Kington.

 Kington, December 3, 1806.

 

1835    Thomas Davies - (Pigot’s Directory)

 

1841    John & Ann Powell

 

1844    John & Ann Powell - (Pigot’s Directory)

 

Hereford Journal - 18th December 1844

CASTLE INN, PRESTEIGN.

TO BE LET,

THE above old-established INN, most desirably  situated in the centre of the Town of Presteign. The House is in a good state of repair, with Stables, Fold-yard, and excellent Garden, together with a MALT-HOUSE attached, capable of making 2000 Bushels of Malt in the season.

            The present, Tenant Mr. Powell, will show the Premises, and for further particulars, apply to Mr. R. Bryan, Little Hall, near Clun, Shropshire.

 

1856    Thomas Meredith

 

Hereford Journal - 10th December 1856

PRESTEIGN. - SUDDEN AND DEPLORABLE DEATH..—A good deal of excitement was created in this town, on Friday morning last, by the report of the sudden death of Mr. John Stedman, hair-dresser. He had been discovered at the Castle-inn, High-street, in a sitting posture, in one of the recesses of the smoking-room, and quite dead.

            Dr. Fear was speedily called in, but he pronounced life to be quite extinct. The body was left in the room by desire of the coroner, for view by the jury, and a respectable body of townsmen were summoned to attend at three o'clock the same day, to enquire into the cause of death, before E. L. James. Esq., one of the coroners for the county.

            It appeared in evidence, that there had been a party at the Castle the previous night, and cards were introduced. The deceased and several others played, and, after some time, supper was served and it was observed that Mr. Stedman ate and drank more heartily than usual, taking wine and other drinkables after supper. When the company broke up, Mr. Stedman was requested to go home, but he declined to do so.

            The parties all left, and the family and landlord retired to bed, leaving poor Stedman in the room asleep.

            The servant-girl was the first up in the morning, and hearing someone snoring in the smoking-room, she looked in and saw it was Mr. Stedman. She then shut the door, and went to light the kitchen fire. The boy soon after came down, and she told him what she had seen. He went into the room, and then discovered that Mr. Stedman was dead.

            Mr. Meredith, the landlord, immediately called in Dr. Yearn, whose evidence to the jury showed that, excess of eating. and drinking had caused death by apoplexy.

            Verdict accordingly.

            Mr. Stedman was a quiet, inoffensive man, and much respected in the town; his age was 47 years.

 

1859    Thomas Meredith - (Slater’s Directory)

 

1861    Thomas Meredith

 

1871    James & Caroline Wigley

 

1875    Edward Thomas -(Worrall’s Directory)

 

1879    Mr & Mrs Edward Thomas

 

1880    Edward Thomas - (Slater’s Directory)

 

1881    Edward & Louisa Thomas

 

1891    Arthur Richard & Ann Saunders

 

1895    Arthur Richard & Ann Saunders - (Kelly’s Directory)

 

1901    Arthur Richard & Ann Saunders

 

Leominster News 7th June 1901

PRESTEIGN PUBLICAN'S FAILURE.

Mr A. R. Saunders. lately carrying on business at the Castle Hotel, Presteign, as a hotel keeper and dealer. The statement of affairs showed gross liabilities amounting to £400 13s. 8d.: expected to rank £369 0s. 4d.; preferential creditors £32; assets £25; deficiency £375 13s. 8d.

            Debtor in his examination said he had carried on business as a licensed victualler at Presteign since December 1891 and his present debts had been contracted since that time. He came to Presteign in January 1867 and was manager to a Mrs. Cooke, a widow, who kept a boot and shoe business. He afterwards married Mrs. Cooke, and the business became his in 1869 or 1870. Ten years later he took the Greyhound public-house at Pembridge, and remained there, keeping on the business of a shoemaker also, till he went to Presteign. The boot and shoe business had gradually dwindled away, and when he left Pembridge be had but little trade in that line. He paid about £100 ingoing at the Greyhound. and received £51 outgoing, there being certain fixtures, etc., which the incoming tenant would not take to. He had a sale, and some of the things were sold. Most of the furniture removed from Pembridge to Presteign belonged to his wife; it was hers before they were married. Some few things belonged to him, but very little. He paid £129 6s. 0d. as ingoing to the Castle Hotel, Presteign. The money was paid by cheque. Before he went in he arranged for an overdraft of £80 at Lloyds Bank, Leominster. He could not say he was quite clear when he left Pembridge. Very little of the furniture at the Castle Hotel belonged to him; it belonged to his wife. There were some things which he took to at the valuation. He could not say exactly what things belonged to him. He could not say whether the seating belonged to him or not, as he placed himself entirely in the hands of the valuer. He did not have a list or schedule of the things he took to. When he went to the Castle Inn the trade was going down, but he hoped to pull it up again. The house was in bad condition, and the landlord promised to put it in good repair, but did not do so.

            A year or two after he had been there he found the house would not keep him, and he began dealing in rabbits and poultry, buying the bulk on commission. He got on well for a short time, but made several bad debts, ranging from £5 to £100. He bought a good deal on credit. The takings at the Castle were small. It would be a good day if he took £1. He left the Greyhound because a Brewery took over the house, and he found he could not do with their terms. He was told then an excellent trade was done at the Castle. In 1898 his wife paid 2½ years' rent out of her own money she came into at her sister's death. He had been putting the landlady off in the hopes of getting the house repaired, but she put a distress in for the rent, and his wife paid all that was then due, £96. The rent of the house was £40 per year. Since then he had paid her sums of £25, £8 10s. and £5. The distress since put in by the  landlady was for £86 10s., which was more than was due. There was not enough to pay the rent, and his wife's furniture had been distrained upon. His wife had been advised by her solicitor to hand over her furniture for the benefit of the estate. That was done without any instruction from him. He had not entered in his statement an amount owed to him from the Post Office, because he did not think he was required to do so. The amount due was £6 13s. 4d. His wife had lent him various small sums, besides paying 2½ years' rent.

            He had been on correspondence with Lassell and Sharman, of Newtown, and had had dealings with them. They were Brewers, and wine and spirit merchants. He remembered one of the firm's travellers calling upon him in March last, but he did not remember telling him that he had sent the cheque the day before he came. He believed he owed another small amount to the firm in respect of their Shrewsbury branch; about £10. He did perhaps give the man an order then. He had some correspondence with the firm about a cheque. That was about last March. He had to go away from home for a short time, and went to the south of England.

            Debtor was then questioned as to the hand-writing of several letters, and after some pressure admitted that the following letter purporting to come from his wife was in his handwriting:

 

"My husband has been called away on important business, and when he comes home again both your letters shall have his attention"

 

He could not say where he was when he wrote the letter. Although the letter was dated 11th March he did not think he was at Presteign on that date.

            The official receiver who read the following letter, dated 30th March:

 

"I am sorry to tell you that my husband was brought home two weeks ago, and was put to bed, and is still there"

 

            The debtor admitted writing the letter in bed.

            The official Receiver: And trying to make your creditors believe you were away from home and unable to attend your business.

            Debtor said he was unable to attend to his business.

            The Official Receiver: But you were. You were writing these letters in your wife's name to put the creditors off the scent.

            In answer to further questions the debtor said he had been staying at a friend's in Plymouth for his health. He also stayed in London one night. He was away about 9 days altogether.

            Debtor was questioned as to the writing of further letters similar to those quoted, and was told by the Registrar that he had better make a clean breast of it, for if he had erred it was better for him to say so.

            The debtor tried to explain away his conduct in writing the letters, but was told by the Official Receiver that explain it how he might be had been scheming to deceive his creditors, and the Registrar again advised the debtor to admit his guilt, as no other construction could be put on the matter, and it would only tell against him in the end if he did not tell everything.

                        The debtor then admitted having written the letters in order to gain time with his creditors, and said he was very sorry for what he had done.

            The Registrar: And I hope you will never do such a thing again.

            Debtor: I never will, Sir.

            In further examination the debtor said he had had an adopted child he had raised from the time it was 3 days old. He had £20 with it. It was not true he had £200 with the child. He had reared five or six children. He had not carried on betting. He might have bet the odd shilling or so at Ludlow or Hereford, but not more.

            The examination was adjourned to a day to be named. The debtor to file an amended statement within fourteen days.

 

Leominster News - 6th February 1903

The Chief Constable, in his report. objected to the license to A. R. Saunders, the Castle Hotel. on the ground of his having been convicted of buying game without a license, and also to another conviction against him. He was not a fit and proper person to hold a license.

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Leominster News - 8th May 1903

TRANSFER OF LICENSE. The license of the Castle Hotel was transferred from A. R. Saunders to George Price.

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Leominster News - 5th June 1903

APPLICATION FOR AN OCCASIONAL LICENSE.

Warden's Wake. - Mr Price, The Castle Hotel, made an application for an occasional license to sell excisable liquors on the 19th inst., on the Warden.

                The police objected as a notice in accordance with the rules had not been given.

                The Board, however, granted the license.

  

Hereford Journal - 6th May 1905

The license of the Castle Hotel was transferred to Walter Evans.

 

1911    Walter & Louisa Evans

 

The Brecon Radnor Express  - 8th August 1918

We regret to report the death of a former and much respected townsman, in the person of Mr Walter Evans, (formerly owner and licensee of the Castle Hotel, Presteign), which occurred at Crumlin, at the age of 63, on Wednesday. Mr Evans formerly kept the Red Lion at Whitton, and was much esteemed by all who knew him there. His wife, Mrs Evans, pre-deceased him in 1912. The remains were brought by train from Crumlin to Presteigne, and the funeral took place at Whitton Church on Monday afternoon.

 

1923    James Cadwallader - (Kelly’s Directory)

 

1939    Edmund T Thomas

 

Birmingham Daily Post - 30 July 1942

To let, the Castle Hotel, Presteign, well appointed, fully-licensed house. Early possession. - Leonard H Davies, F.A.L. Ludlow.

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