Some pubs claims to fame

THE MILL, SPILSBY ROAD.

In October 1933 Johnny Cuthbert, the then light-weight boxing champion of England became licensee of the Mill Inn down Spilsby Road. Even then he was no stranger to Boston as he had spent many hours around the area fishing with his Father and manager Jack. He was a holder of the Lonsdale belt and said it would occupy a place of honour at the Mill.

Johnny Cuthbert

                                                 THE THREE TUNS, MARKET PLACE.

In this house Oliver Cromwell slept the night before the battle of Winceby— at least so says tradition: we do not know whether it was a public-house at that time, but it was one in 1799, and had been so for many years, and known as the Three Tuns.                          

            Above: The Three Tuns, Market Place, Boston.

               Below: This Cafe is on the site of the Three Tuns.

THE BELL, MARKET PLACE.

John Foxe was born on this site ( the present Stump and Candle pub) and after the Bible his "Book of Martyrs" was possibly the most widely read book in English during the reign of Elizabeth I. Those who could read learned the full details of the atrocities performed on the Protestant reformers during the previous reign, while the illiterate could  see from the simple illustrations the various instruments of torture such as the rack, the stocks and ultimately the flames. The book is in many ways a work of propaganda by Protestants against the pro-Catholic rule of Queen Mary (Bloody Mary), and against the Papacy in general.

Above: John Foxe.

Below: A page from the book.

THE CROWN & ANCHOR, LONDON ROAD.

The site of the Crown & Anchor Tavern, posibly known as the Rope & Anchor Tavern was the home of George Bass (1771 -1803) surgeon and navigator who discovered the Bass Straights and played a Signifcant part in the history of Tasmania and Victoria, Australia. He attended Boston Grammar School and later trained in medicine at the hospital at Boston.

George Bass.

After writing the above about George Bass I received the following from ROBIN and I totally agree, it's nice to learn something new Robin, thanks.

Hi Billy regarding George Bass and his connection with the Crown & Anchor had you realised that the cast iron sign and plaque seem to be displayed on the wrong site?. The Crown and Anchor in the time of George Bass was at 16 Skirbeck Quarter and remained as a Coaching Inn up to 1850 when the licence was tranfered to another house at 20 Skirbeck Quarter which is the site where the sign now resides. As Bass was last seen alive in Feb 1805 it follows that the Crown & Anchor where he lived in Boston must have been number 16 with number 20 only becoming the pub of that name some 45 years after his last sighting. The Crown & Anchor of Bass,s time still stands in the row of old boarded up buildings, its coach archway still in place. It looks as if this is where the old sign and plaque should be on.

Homes of our Forefathers

I came across an old book entitled “Homes of our Forefathers” which was printed in 1889. It was written by an American called Edwin Whitefield from Boston Massachusetts who visited Boston U.K. for the special purpose of “sketching and hunting up whatever there might be of interest in the Boston which gave its name to our own city” Below are the 21 sketches he made.

An old house in Archer Lane, off Wormgate. Now demolished.

The Bell Inn, on the site of the present Stump and Candle pub.

Blackfriars, now a theatre.

Burton Corner is at the junction of Sibsey Road / Wainfleet Road.

At the end of Wormgate, opposite the Stump.

Near the Stump, building is now vacant, its last use was a shop called "Spooky's"

Now demolished.

The Grammar school.

The Guildhall.

Better known as Gysors Hall, was next to the Magnet Tavern in South Square. Now demolished.

Formerly stood on the west side of the road leading to the sluice near the west end of North Street.
Tradition reports this building to have been erected with the stones taken from the church of St. John of Jerusalem; a stone in the northern gable of the house bore the date 1659, and the initials W.E.R.
Heron's Hall was taken down in 1811.(Pishey Thompson). Now demolished.

or HusseyTower as it is better known.

The caption for this picture said, "This is a portion of a large house which is believed to have been built by a Flemish merchant in the reign of Edward I. The initials E.R. (Edward Rex) are plainly marked on the gable."
I think this may be Pescod Hall.

Pishey Thompson says "The site of the hospital of St John was on the west side of Maud Foster or Bargate Drain, immediately opposite to Hospital Bridge. There is nothing remaining of the hospital, except an old house, called Jerusalem House, but which appears to have been built from the materials of the ancient hospital, rather than to have formed a portion of the original buildings". Now demolished.

Rochford Tower.

Shodfriars Hall.

The caption in the book said this house belonged to the Robinson family and Pishey Thompson says "There are several ancient brick houses in Stanbow Lane among others one which belonged to the Robinson family, formerly of great distinction and influence in this place. An immense open fireplace, and other marks of antiquity, yet remain in a room at the back of this house". Now demolished.

The Stump.

The ThreeTuns in the Market Place, Oliver Cromwell is said to have slept here the night before the Battle of Winceby in the English Civil war. Now demolished.

The old Town Bridge.

The White Horse, White Horse Lane, Now demolished.

Even more Pub pictures.

Eight more Pubs in Boston.

The Rum Puncheon and The Angel in the Market Place.

The White Hart near the Town Bridge.

The Rose and Crown (extreme right) on the corner of Witham Place and Union Place.

The King William IV on Horncastle Road.

The Queen's Head near Bargate Bridge.

The Three Tuns that stood on the corner of the Market Place and Church Lane.

The Wormgate Inn (now called Goodbarn's Yard).

The White Horse that used to stand in White Horse Lane.