I did take the dog for a walk today, I wanted to find the now bricked up tunnel that led from Benarth shore up to Benarth Hall an old escape route in times gone by. I remember seeing it when I was a kid. However I couldn't find it. Puzzled I asked a local fisherman who told me the tunnel had been bricked up some years before.
The fisherman told me of a smugglers cave which really intrigued me. He said that the cave was almost opposite Glan Conwy, smugglers used to hide their swag in the cave until they could retrieve it when the tide was out. Unfortunately as the tide was turning I couldn't chance walking along the shore again, I will return this week. As I walked home my head full of thoughts of smugglers and secret tunnels, it suddenly dawned on me that a gentleman I had met through the Albion called Rob Pritchard was a mine of information on such subjects.
As soon as I got home I phoned him and arranged to meet him at his house. When I arrived he had dug out old papers and photos of Conwy. He had misheard me on the phone and thought I wanted to research old pubs of Conwy. I was amazed to find he had lists and photos and other related paraphernalia regarding the subject. He has loaned me old exerts from papers and journals. I am going to write at length on the subject tomorrow but due to my lad wanting my dongle in an hour I will give you a taster now. I'm sorry this is a rushed job but I was so excited. I know you'll love it.
Here's a list of all the pubs in Conwy through the 1800s until the present day: Some of them could have been the same place with a change in name. Until I go through all these papers I couldn't tell you at present. I've even got the list of all the proprietors but not enough time to write them in now.
The Anchor ............Uppergate Street
The Albion .............Uppergate Street
The White Horse.....Uppergate Street
The Union...............Church Street
The Swan...............Berry Street
The Soldiers Arms...Berry Street
The Ship.................Castle Street
The Ship.................High Street (there was two)
The Royal Oak........Quay
The Rising Gull.......Berry Street
The Red Lion..........High Street
The Railway Tavern..Lancaster square
The Plough.............Lancaster square
The Newborough later called The Harp (which I have a photo of) on High Street
The New Inn............
The Mail Coach.......High Street
The Liverpool Arms...Quay
The King's Head.......High Street
The Joiners Arms......Quay
The George and Dragon...Castle Street
The Foresters Arms...Gyffin
The Feathers...........Bangor Road
The Erskine (Malt Loaf)..Rosehill Street
The Eccles Inn....
The Eagles.............Castle Street
The Crown...........High Street
The Conwy Castle...No 3 Berry Street
The Coach and Horses....High Street
The Castle View.......The old co op (bangor road)
The Castle Hotel (Castle Inn)...High Street
The Carpenters Arms...No6 Berry Street
The Bulls Head....High Street
The Britannia...Castle Street
The Bridge.......Rosehill Street
The Blue Bell.....Castle Street
The Black Horse...Castle Street
The Black Lion......Castle Street
The Boot Inn.........Lancaser Square.
I have written below some interesting excerpts from the old papers:
The Kings Head was a farmers house. In it's back garden was a cock pit which was used at times, as old inhabitants tell, by gypsies to settle their quarrels with the fists. From the little stone building at the end of the garden spectators watched both cocks and gypsies in combat. (it doesn't say what year)
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Edward Williams late "Black Lion" Conwy fell from a tree 21st Feby 1851 died Sunday night about 10 o'clock 23 Feby 1821. Buried 27th he was born in the year 1792.
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etc etc (I have to hand over the dongle now) See you tomorrow.