Alnwick (Narrowgate) - Alnwick Castle Inn

Name: The Alnwick Castle Inn

Address: Narrowgate, Alnwick

Old Castle Inn c.1906 trading as Wilcocks Bootmakers

No longer standing today, the Castle Inn was a historic public house located on Narrowgate in Alnwick adjacent to Narrowgate House (historically known as General Lambert's House). Pictured above on the left side of the picture, the Inn was later demolished to make way for new residential development.

1864 Town Plan

The Alnwick Castle Inn opened around 1812 and was almost exclusively the business of the Percy family, John Percy running in the Inn alongside his job as a painter both with his first wife Isabella and second wife Alice. It finally closed around 1874, although certainly by 1876 at the very latest when Alice Percy died.

1827 History, Directory & Gazetteer - John Pearcy

1841 Census John Percy Painter

c.1906 Narrowgate - Castle Inn (centre)

1851 Census John Percy Painter & Publican

1855 Whellan's Directory - John Percy

Saturday,  Aug. 1, 1857 Alnwick Mercury

1858 Post Office Directory - John Percy

1861 Census John Percy Innkeeper & House Painter

Alnwick Mercury Monday,  Aug. 1, 1864

Newcastle Courant Friday,  Sept. 23, 1864

At Alnwick, on the 2nd inst., aged 60, Mr. John Percy, painter, Alnwick Castle Inn.

Tuesday,  June 6, 1865

Publication: Newcastle Journal 

1865 Probate for John Percy

Looking down Narrowgate c.1906

BREWSTER SESSIONS

This was the day for holding the Brewster Sessions. The following new licenses were granted : —John Wood, Ship Inn, Newton-by-the-Sea ; Henry Lamb, Red Lion inn, Alnmouth The magistrates refused to renew two licenses : — lst, that of James Cairns, Freeman's Arms, Alnwick Moor, who had been convicted and fined for keeping his house open during prohibited hours on Sunday, October 17th, and again for knowingly permitting drunkenness &c , in his house on 23rd July; 2nd. that of Thomas Chrisp, Crown and Glove Inn Alnwick, on account of the offence for which be had just been convicted (vide supra) and the opinion they had consequently formed of his unfitness to keep a public-house. 'The magistrates resolved to defer till next Court day their decision on the propriety of renewing or refusing the licenses of John Turnbull, Railway Hotel Amble; Thomas Sanderson, Blink Bonny Hotel, Christon Bank; Alice Percy, Castle Inn, Narrowgate Street, Alnwick; John Curry, Anchor Inn, Clayport Street Alnwick; and William Richardson, Tithe Barn, Lesbury. The last-named person had been convicted and fined for harbouring county police when on duty on June 28th, 1870; and the four first named had been fined on various occasions for keeping their houses open during prohibited hours.

Saturday,  Sept. 10, 1870

Publication: Alnwick Mercury

ALNWICK PETTY SESSIONS

Saturday, September 17Before 11. Lisle, J. Craster. A. Browne, and T. Clutterbuck, Esqs.

The magistrates declined to renew the licenses of Alice Percy, Castle Inn, Alnwick, and John Turnbull, Railway I Hotel, Amble The applications of James Cairns, Freemen's Arms, Alnwick Moor, and the son of Thomas Chrisp, Crown and Glove Inn, Alnwick, for a reversal of the magistrates' decisions last Court day, were also refused.

Saturday,  Sept. 24, 1870

Publication: Alnwick Mercury

1871 Census Alice Percy

Alnwick Mercury Saturday,  Sept. 14, 1872

Drunk and Riotous

Edward McEwan and Peter Mullarkey were charged with being drunk and riotous in front of the Castle Inn, Alnwick, on tbe night of Saturday, the 15th ult. P.-C. Rutherford deposed that, attracted by the noise, he went to the place and found defendants in the centre of a great crowd, fighting furiously with each other. They were separated with difficulty. Both were very drunk, but McEwan was the less violent of the two. Defendants were convicted, and were each fined 20s including costs ; or, in default, fourteen days' imprisonment. 

Saturday,  Apr. 12, 1873

Publication: Alnwick Mercury

Drunk and Riotous

Anthony Dane and Peter Mullarkey (the latter of whom did not appear) were charged with being drunk and riotous in the Castle Inn, Alnwick, at a quarter to eleven, on the night of Saturday, the Gth inst. The defendants were fighting ; but Mullarkey appears to have been behaviour worst. Against the latter there is a long list of convictions. Dane was fined 20s and costs, or one month's imprisonment in default; a fortnight's time being allowed for pay. Mullarkey was fined and costs, or in default two month's imprisonment.

 Saturday,  Dec. 27, 1873

Publication: Alnwick Mercury

BREWSTER SESSIONS

On this day the justices also held the annual Brewster Session for East Coquetdale. The licenses of the following publicans who were on the " Black List," were adjourned till the next Court day for further consideration :—John Bolton, Joiner's Arms Inn, Newton-by-the-Sea; Robert Rogerson, Rising Sun Inn, Christon Bank ; Alice Percy, Castle Inn, Alnwick; Margaret Ternent, Tailor's Arms Inn, Alnwick; and Peter Riddell, Stag Inn, Alnwick.

Saturday,  Sept. 12, 1874

Publication: Alnwick Mercury

Saturday,  Sept. 26, 1874

After a string of incidents and magistrates' deliberations in the early 1870s the Castle Inn finally closed its doors for good.

1876 Probate for Alice Percy

Following the death of Alice Percy, the property changed hands and reopened as a Temperance Hotel in 1877.

Alnwick Mercury Saturday,  Mar. 3, 1877

The below article from the Morpeth Herald gives an insight into the changing fortunes of public houses in the town over the second half of the 19th century and confirms that by 1891 the Castle Inn was closed.

The Licensed Victuallers in The Publicans Alnwick and district have off Alnwick. recently formed themselves into an association for the better protection as well as promotion of their interests as a trading community. Perhaps the time has arrived when they feel it necessary they should do so, for it is apparent that the publicans' business in the ducal town is not near so lucrative as it was formerly. There are many causes to account for this ; but one point is obvious, people nowadays have not so much idle time to while away in a public-house, nor have they as much money at command. A retrospect of the last quarter of a century shows that more than half of the public-houses in Alnwick existing during this period have been closed, and are now the private residences of respectable townspeople. As it may be interesting to some of our readers, we will commemorate those fully-licensed inns which hare been closed during the past twenty years. Canongate Street: Black Horse, Stag Inn, Crown and Globe. Bailiffgate Street: Red Lion. Narrowgate Street: Alnwick Castle Inn, Half Moon Inn. Pottergate Street: Ship Inn. Paike Street: Shakespeare Tavern. Bondgate Street (North Side): Northumberland Arms, Post Boy. Bondgate Street (South Side —from the Tower): Masons' Arms, Cattle Market Tavern, Cross Keys, King's Arms. Corn Market: George and Dragon. Clayport Street (South Side): William IV., Pack Horse. Clayport Street (North Side): Clayport Tower Inn, Anchor Inn. Green Bat: Queen's Head Hotel (now the site of the police barracks.) South Road: Royal Oak, Willow Tree. 

There have also been several beer shops closed. Thirty-one public-houses are still licensed in Alnwick (including the Bee Hive in the Market Place, which has been shut up for several years, and the Pickwick Inn —formerly a brewery —in Roxburgh Place, which has been wanting a tenant since November last.) It, however, cannot be said that temperance has made any great incur upon the publicans' trade in Alnwick, if we take a similar retrospective view. Sixteen and seventeen years ago, Good Templarism flourished in Alnwick—like all novelties—there being three distinct lodges of the brotherhood, and upwards of 600 members. Now there only exists one lodge, the youngest of the three, which has had a very fitful life, but is now, we understand, in more improved circumstances than it has been for several years. There is a mighty lot can be said, for and against the liquor traffic. In our opinion prohibitory measures have a far more demoralising effect than a free unlimited sale. 

Saturday,  Mar. 21, 1891 Morpeth Herald

c.2020