Ray Castle has kindly provided us with a lot more historical information about the Black Lion in Conwy below. If anyone has anything to add, please do so.
11 Castle Street - The Black Lion or Brickdall House1441 to 1589The inscription on the wall over the front door reads “1589 JB E” This was previously understood
to be the year the building was erected and to be the initials of John Brickdall and Em.Motley ( his
wife ).
However, circa 2010 a sample was taken from one of the roof timbers on behalf of the “The Royal Commission
for Historic and Ancient Monuments in Wales “. The sample was dendro-chronology lab tested and the results
indicated that the timber was felled in the period 1441/42.
( NB Owain Glyndwr’s followers burnt most of the houses of Conwy in 1401 - CADW 1986 )
An archaeological assessment has asserted that the house was originally an urban 2 bay hall house
with jointed crucks.
The conversion of the hall house to a stone walled storeyed hearth passage vicarage was in 1589-
hence the inscription on the outside wall.
1589 to 1607John Brickdall was married on 10 May 1578 ( not as widely reported 1589 ) according to the parish
registers ( reprinted by Hadley ) and subsequently had at least 6 children. He was the vicar of
Conwy. The building was probably the vicarage ( although there is speculation that it may have been
his private residence )
John Brickdall was descended from Thomas Brickdall –possibly the first Governor of Conwy Castle.
The Brickdall’s were a prominent local family mentioned over several centuries in Conwy. They were
a very wealthy family.
John Brickdall died in 1607 –this was the year that the Black Death decimated the population of
Conwy.
The building was referred to as Brickdall House until late 19 century.
18th Century to 1935A major remodelling of the building took place in the 18 century- probably associated with the
conversion to a public house.
The outbuilding behind the Black Lion was at some time used as a pig market ( weekly on a Monday
morning)
The building became a posting inn in the 18th century.
(See Norman Tucker page111, JO Halliwell page 109 and W Bezant Lowe page 323)
1935 to circa 1958The building was bought by William Henry Morgan in 1935 -he was an electrical engineer and
operated his business from the outbuilding at the rear of the Black Lion. The outhouse building used
to be stables.
He let the shop at the front of the Black Lion
a) As a sweetshop operated by the Currans ( Irish family )
b) As a teashop operated by his ex-wife Bessie Jones. The” tearoom” business started in 1952
and was open between Easter and September. It occupied the “Siambr Fawr” – the large
chamber.
The daughter of William Henry Morgan is Jean Morgan Roberts who is a well known professional
artist with a business on Castle Street opposite the Black Lion. Jean was born in the Black Lion
which makes her a “Conwy Jackdaw”. She reports that the Black Lion has its own well, Elizabethan
fireplaces, walled garden, stone steps up to the town wall and a cellar which is rumoured to conceal
a secret escape tunnel which leads under the town wall to the quay. One of the bedrooms over the
passageway had a trapdoor in the floor.
1958 to circa 2000The Black Lion was sold circa 1958 to Ann Wilkes-Jones who with her parents operated an antiques
business –this incorporated a teashop with sales of books and giftware.
1964 Owned by Miss Wilkes who ran an antiques business from it -2009 Arch. Survey
1969 Llandudno Directory – HWA Wilks, Black Lion, Castle Street
Adverts for this business appeared in the Conwy Town Guide for 1960, 1962 and 1971/2. The
business is mentioned in a report of a 1976 survey made by Gwynedd Archaeological Trust.
The business closed towards the end of the 1970’s and the building was left empty.
Circa 2000 to 2008In 2002 the Black Lion was sold by the Wilkes family to Ian Hughes who has a car body repair
business in Mochdre. The building remained unoccupied during Ians ownership. Ian had the outside
of the building re-plastered in 2005 and his engineers made the metal jackdaws which perch on the
roof. Other works included re-roofing, new floorboards in part, grounds clearance in the rear court
yard backing onto the town wall and removal of a large amount of debris from within the building.
2008 to dateIan Hughes eventually sold the Black Lion to Ms Angharad E M Jones ( an accountant ) of Anglesey in
April 2008 -she is the current owner.
The Black Lion remains empty, boarded-up and in dis-repair ( as at 2011 )
A planning application ( 0/37096 in 2010/11 ) for change of use, repair and refurbishment to a
dwelling house including the erection of a new car port to back of site was refused by Conwy CBC.
( the previous use was that of a tea shop and before that, a shop )
Ms Jones has said she eventually hopes to live in the property.
References1789 Hugh Jones of Black Lion died aged 40 -Gwynedd Family History Book of memorials
1790 mentioned in a draft lease “ Black Lyon then in occupation of Hugh Hughes “ ( 2009 Arch
Survey)
1798 -1800 chief rent of “ Brigdale House “ 7s 4d
1801 Alehouse Keepers recognizance, William Williams of the Black lion, 1801 -2009 Arch. Survey
1828/9 Pigot Directory – Black Lion, Edw. Williams, Castle Street
1834 Robsons Directory lists Edward Williams as licensee
1835 Pigots Directory lists Edward Williams as licensee
1844 licensee was John Davies –1844 Slaters Directory
1850 licensee was John Davies per 1850 Slaters Directory
1850 “Black Lion”is mentioned in Thomas Roberts Chronicles-1850 Mr Goodall
-1851 Edward Williams
-1852 Elizabeth Foulkes, servant
1851 Census lists -John Davies aged 50 Innkeeper
-Ellen Davies aged 49 wife
-3 x servants
1851 Edward Williams late of Black Lion died aged 58- Gwynedd Family History Soc.
1856 Slater’s Directory lists David Roberts as licensee
1859 Black Lion listing is David Roberts in 1859 slaters Directory
1861 Census list includes an entry for David Roberts “ Inn Keeper, Castle Street” ( no location )
1868 Slaters Directory lists Edward Williams as licensee
1871 Census lists Edward Williams as inn keeper aged 32 with his wife Grace aged 27, their 2 sons
and an in-law. Williams affairs fell into disarray and he left in 1879.
1879 (conveyance of the Black Lion from Edward Williams and the trustees of his estate to David
Owen esq upon the liquidation of Edward Williams affair by agreement 1879 -2009 Arch. Survey )
1880 licencee was Edward Williams ( 1880 Slaters Directory )-out of date ? see above
1881 Census lists Thomas Jones, Innkeeper
1889/90 Suttons Directory- Thomas Jones, Black Lion, 11 Castle Street.
1890 Purchase of the Black Lion by Grace Elen Jones for £330, 1890 -2009 Arch. Survey
1891 Census lists Thomas Jones, Licensed Victualler, a 9 year old grand-daughter, a nephew who was
a railway clerk, a bar-maid daughter and her husband, a pig dealer from Caernarfon, as well as two
visiting pig-dealers from Macclesfield in Cheshire.
1894 Will of Mrs Jones of the Black Lion 1894 -2009 Arch. Survey
1894 David Roberts, Black Lion died aged 61
1895 Slaters Directory – Ellen Jones, Black Lion, Castle Street
1897 Conveyance shows property conveyed in 1897 by Hugh Owen and Richard Owen to Ind Coope - 2009 Arch. Survey
1911 licencee was Hugh Jones ( Conway Trades Directory )
1913 Abstract of title of Hugh Jones of the Black Lion to premises in Gyffin 1913 -2009 Arch. Survey
1922 Licensee was Hugh Jones ( Conway Street Directory )
1929 “ “
1932 Copes Directory – Black Lion Public House
1932 Bennetts Directory W H Morgan,Electrical Engineer, Castle Street ( workshop at back of Black
Lion ? )
1935 Weekly News report of 14.3.1935 said the Black Lion closed as an inn on 11 March 1935.
1935 Conveyance shows property sold by Ind Coope and Hooper Ltd to William Henry Morgan ( a
hotelier of Penmaenmawr ? ) - 2009 Arch. Survey
RLCastle
21.1.2010
Updated Sept.2011
Updated December 2011
Updated January 2012
