Castle Inn


The Castle Inn sat proudly at the junction of Castle Street, Enfield Street, Newport Street and Kid Lane, to the north of Market Square and the building was likely to have been a farm when first built in the 1700s. These days it is a private residential property and has been for some 100 years or so since the Inn closed, but bears the name, 'Castle House' in deference to its history.

1901 OS Map Excerpt
As the census record from 1851 below attests, Daniel Evans worked as a Maltster as well as a Beerseller, so almost certainly brewed his own beer on the premises. 

The art of the Maltster dates back to the Middle English period (1150—1500) and was the art of germinating the barley to get maximum enzyme formation but with minimal growth of the young plant which would otherwise use up potential sugar for the brewer or distiller, so is crucial to the brewing industry.

1851 Census - Daniel Evans

1851 History, Gazetteer & Directory of Shropshire 1851 - Daniel Evans

Slater's Directory of Glos, Herefs, Mon, Shrops, & Wales, 1859 - Daniel Evans

Daniel Evans passed away shortly after the above directory was taken in 1859 leaving his widow Mary to run the business, and it was from this time onwards that it was known as the Castle Inn, and was listed as an Inn or Public House on directory records, indicating Mary had successfully applied to for a wine and spirits licence.

1861 Census - Mary Evans

Morning Advertiser 23 March 1865

Shrewsbury Chronicle 31 May 1867

Slater's Directory of Glos, Herefs, Mon, Shrops & Wales, 1868 - Mary Evans

Shrewsbury Chronicle 10 January 1868

Shrewsbury Chronicle 26 August 1870

Shrewsbury Chronicle 30 September 1870

1871 Census - Mary Evans
Mary Evans continued to run the Castle Inn with her son William until her death in 1877, having outlived her husband Evan by nearly 20 years and the during her tenure behind the bar the various press cuttings here reflect how she had established the pub at the heart of the local community, hosting auctions, social gatherings and providing the venue for various clubs and societies to meet.

Eddowess Shrewsbury Journal 12 March 1879

1881 Census - Matthew Collins

Shrewsbury Chronicle 21 May 1886

Wellington Journal 10 December 1887

Eddowess Shrewsbury Journal 01 February 1888

1891 Census - Matthew Collins

Hereford Times 20 June 1891

Montgomeryshire Express 8 June 1892

Wellington Journal 02 June 1894

Wellington Journal 30 October 1897

1901 Census - Matthew Collins

Hereford Times 18 May 1901

Shrewsbury Chronicle 27 September 1901

Ludlow Advertiser 21 May 1904

Wellington Journal 22 April 1905

1911 Census - Matthew Collins

1914 Probate for Matthew Collins

Shrewsbury Chronicle 17 July 1914

1921 Census - Frederick Wilson (Plumber, Painter & Decorator)

1939 Register - Elijah Hulme (Retired Farmer)

No comments:

Post a Comment