History of the Castle Hill Club
Origins
There was a hostelry recorded on this site in 1642 although it is probable that one existed for hundreds of years beforehand. Its location between the castle and the Cathedral would have ensured a steady clientele visiting either establishment. The earliest reference to the Black Boy Inn as such was in a lease dated 1745. Although most of the building is of post 1700 construction, one early roof truss survives which probably dates from the early 16th Century. A surviving chimneystack was set to serve the central bay - or hall - and a room to the south, long since disappeared, which was probably a kitchen. Later modifications can be deduced from Padleys map of Lincoln dated 1842. The original bust of the Black Boy was restored by De Montfort University and now sits proudly on display in the Club.
Famous visitors
People of renown who stayed here include lsambard Kingdom Brunel who was engaged by the Fossdyke Navigation to undertake a survey from Torksey Lock. Brunel is reputed to have stayed because of the excellence of the ale and entertainment. Another famous character was the official executioner Marwood who stayed when carrying out his gruesome work in the Castle grounds. He hailed from Horncastle where he was a cobbler. He perfected the art of dispatching his victims by assessing their weight, and adjusting the degree of drop's so that death might be instantaneous rather than having to use "hangers-on" to complete the task. When he died, in 1883, such was his fame that an entire edition of the Illustrated Police News (we have a copy) was devoted to his life and "works". We cannot be sure but the existing garret room in the Club could well have been his when in residence. In London, where he was based, he was paid one guinea per execution but in Lincoln he was paid £10, a truly princely sum in those days.
The Leatherjack
An item of Interest made an appearance in the Club in 1999 when the Leather Jack was brought over from the Cathedral by the Master Bellringer. The Leather Jack, presented to the Company of Ringers in 1782 by the Mayor, Alderman Bullen, was a jug which held 22 pints of ale for refreshing the bell ringers when they come off duty in the Cathedral. It used to be filled at the Great Tom Inn in Exchequergate but when it closed, in 1822, the ringers moved to the Black Boy. It was pawned to the landlord by the ringers for 13 shillings, but never redeemed. The landlord lent the jug to Lincoln museum until 1926 when he moved to Hove. When he died in 1957, the jug was bequeathed to the Dean and Chapter. In February 2006 the Dean of Lincoln dedicated a replica Leather Jack.
Historic items
There are numerous pictures of historic interest on display as well as a number of interesting objects. A plaque is dedicated to the memory of a member who fell in World War 2.
The Twentieth Century
In the early part of the twentieth century the club was patronised by several of the Cathedral clergy. In fact they even kept one of their own silver chalices on the premises.
When the pub closed in 1923 eleven former regulars got together, founded the Castle Hill Club and formally returned the chalice to the Bishop of Lincoln. In 1973 the 50th Anniversary was celebrated at 1923 prices (approximately 2p per pint, 4p per spirit). The brewery, Hewitt Bros of Grimsby, donated 50 pints to Mr Bert Newby (aged 77) one of the original members. In 1964 the ground-floor billiard room was created and the premises were substantially refurbished. Until 1993 the premises were owned by Bass which was planning to sell the property. The membership at the time decided to make arrangements to purchase it, and it has been owned by the the members ever since.
The Club Today
From the original 11, membership has risen to over two hundred and eighty and it continues to grow steadily. The Club is run by an elected Committee and managed by live-in Club Stewards. Recently the exterior of the property was redecorated.The original plaster sign on the east elevation has been restored and displays the Club's name and acknowledges the Grade II* Listed Building's previous incarnation as the Black Boy. There is an extensive range of beers, wines and spirits on offer and frequent social events take place; too many to list here. A la carte meals were introduced in 2006. Use the links in our website for menus and much more: www.castlehillclub.com. Quiet watering holes such as this have largely disappeared especially in the provinces. We are indeed privileged to have this gem, set here, right in the heart of Lincoln.
These notes were written by E R Milnes, in 2006, and updated in 2007.