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Holborn index
This is named the Castle Tavern in the 1851 directory and earlier. This noted tavern, described by Strype, a century and a half ago, as a house of considerable trade, has been, in our time, the head-quarters of the Prize Ring, kept by two of its heroes, Tom Belcher and Tom Spring. Here was instituted the Daffy Club ; and the long room was adorned with portraits of pugilistic heroes, including Jem Belcher, Burke, Jackson, Tom Belcher, old Joe Ward, Dutch Sam, Gregson, Humphreys, Mendoza, Cribb, Molyneux, Gulley, Randall, Turner, Martin, Harmer, Spring, Neat, Hickman, Painter, Scroggins, Tom Owen, etc. ; and among other sporting prints, the famous dog, Trusty, the present of Lord Camelford to Jem Belcher, and the victor in fifty battles. In Cribb 1 s Memorial to Congress is this picture of the great room.
In 1828, Belcher retired from the tavern and was succeeded by Tom Spring (Thomas Winter), the immediate successor of Cribb, as Champion of England. Spring prospered at the Castle many years. He died August 17, 1851, in his fifty-sixth year ; he was highly respected, and had received several testimonials of public and private esteem ; among which were these pieces of plate: — 1. The Manchester Cup, presented in 1821. 2. The Hereford Cup, 1823. 3. A noble tankard and a purse, value upwards of five hundred pounds. 4. A silver goblet, from Spring's early patron, Mr. Sant.
Spring's figure was an extremely fine one, and his face and forehead most remarkable. His brow had something of the Greek Jupiter in it, expressing command, energy, determination, and cool courage. Its severity was relieved by the lower part of his countenance, the features of which denoted mildness and playfulness. His actual height was five feet eleven inches and a half; but he could stretch his neck so as to make his ad measurement more than six feet.
A listing of historical public houses, Taverns, Inns, Beer Houses and Hotels in Holborn - St Andrew, London.
Residents at this address.
January 1794/Edward McAllister, the Old Castle, 25 High Holborn, victualler/../../Sun Fire Insurance records held at the LMA
1805/Edward McAllister, Castle Tavern, 25 High Holborn/../../Holdens Directory
1811/Robert Gregson, Old Castle Inn, 25 High Holborn/../../Holdens Directory
Thomas Belcher, brother of James Belcher, British Boxing Champion was the tavern keeper in 1818 as stated in the case cited at the Old Bailey. *
ELIZA KNIGHT. I am servant to Thomas Belcher , who keeps the Castle Tavern, in Holborn.
1822/Thomas Belcher, Castle Tavern, 25 High Holborn/../../Pigots Directory
1829/Thomas Springer, Castle Tavern, 25 High Holborn/../../Pigots Directory
Lodge of Fidelity Freemasons membership initiated November 12th 1828, Thomas Winter, Tavern Keeper, High Holborn, 1828 to 1836
1832/Thomas Winter, Castle Tavern, 25 High Holborn/../../Robsons Directory
1833-34/Thomas Winter, Castle Tavern, 25 High Holborn/../../Pigots Directory
1841/Thomas Winter/Publican/67/../Census
1841/Joseph Winter/Barman/17/Middlesex/Census
1841/George Grange/Lodger/47/../Census
1841/Joseph King/Lodger/17/Middlesex/Census
1841/Thomas winter jun/../15/../Census
1841/Ann Binsted/Barmaid/25/../Census
1841/Mary Downs/Female Servant/25/../Census
1841/William Ling/Waiter/24/Middlesex/Census
1841/George Hutchings/Under Waiter/23/Middlesex/Census
1842/Thomas Winter, Castle Tavern, 25 High Holborn/../../Robsons Directory
1848/Thomas Winter, Castle Tavern, 25 High Holborn/../../Post Office Directory
1851/Thomas Winter, Castle Tavern, 25 High Holborn/../../Kellys Directory
1851/Thomas Winter/Licensed Victualler, Widow/56/Townhope, Herefordshire/Census
1851/Thomas Winter/Son/26/Hereford, Herefordshire/Census
1851/Catherine Edgington/Housekeeper, Widow/40/Alnwick, Northumberland/Census
1851/John Bridges/Waiter/38/Wickham Market, Suffolk/Census
1851/Sarah Osborne/General Servant/25/Garsbrook, Suffolk/Census
1851/John Prior/Potman/18/Oxford/Census
1851/William Felkin/Visitor, Stocking Weaver/38/Nottingham/Census
1851/Richard Ruston/Visitor, Coach Maker/38/Byfords, Herefordshire/Census
1856/Thomas William Winter/../../../Post Office Directory
The Era 31 October 1858 - Licence transfers:
Napier, Holborn, Thomas William Winter to William Leeks
April 1861/William Leeks/Outgoing Licensee/../../Era
April 1861/John Alfred Bowles/Incoming Licensee/../../Era
1861/John Alfred Bowles/Tavern Keeper/39/Camden Town, Middlesex/Census
1861/Mary Joyce Bowles/Wife/37/Camberwell, Surrey/Census
1861/Mary Louisa Bowles/Daughter/18/Marylebone, Middlesex/Census
1861/Frederick Dawkins Bowles/Son/4/Manchester, Lancashire/Census
1861/John Mountain Beer/Son in Law, Tailor/21/Bristol, Somerset/Census
1861/Jane Lee/Servant, Widow/39/Westminster, Middlesex/Census
1861/Charlotte Brown/Servant/20/London, Middlesex/Census
1861/William Cox/Porter/22/Wanhow, Somerset/Census
September 1861/John Alfred BowlesOutgoing Licensee/../../Morning Post
September 1861/William Woods/Incoming Licensee/../../Morning Post
1867/Robinson Cornish Grave/../../../Licensed Victuallers Association
1869/Robinson C Grave/../../../Post Office Directory
1871/Robinson C Grave/Licensed Victualler/28/St Mary, Middlesex/Census
1871/Hannah L Nottie/Barmaid/19/Lambeth, Surrey/Census
1871/Eliza Beverley/Cook, Widow/45/Brampton, Derby/Census
1871/Ellen Wellbeloved/General Servant/19/Egham, Surrey/Census
1871/William W Ross/Potman/17/George the Martyr, Middlesex/Census
1873/Robinson Cornish Grave/../../../Holborn Petty Sessions
1874/Robinson Cornish Grave/../../../Holborn Petty Sessions
1875/Robinson Cornish Grave/../../../Holborn Petty Sessions
1876/Robinson Cornish Grave/../../../Holborn Petty Sessions
1877/Robinson Cornish Grave/../../../Holborn Petty Sessions
1878/Robinson Cornish Grave/../../../Holborn Petty Sessions
1879/Robinson Cornish Grave/../../../Holborn Petty Sessions
1880/Robinson Cornish Grave/../../../Holborn Petty Sessions
1881/Robinson Cornish Grave/../../../Holborn Petty Sessions
1881/Robinson C Grave/Licensed Victuallar/38/City E S, Middlesex/Census
1881/Jane Phillips/Barmaid/38/Shalbourne, Berkshire/Census
1881/Elizabeth Lee/Cook/40/Lambeth, Surrey/Census
1881/Perscilla C Jones/Servant General/18/St Pancras, Middlesex/Census
1881/John C French/Potnan/18/Marylebone, Middlesex/Census
1882/Robinson Cornish Grave/../../../Holborn Petty Sessions
1884/Robinson C Grave/../../../Post Office Directory
1899/Joseph William Dickery/../../../Post Office Directory
1906/Metropolitan Catering Co Ltd/../../../Post Office Directory
* Provided by Paul Carter