Black Boy, Hurley History and Landlords

The Black Boy, Hurley Bottom

Historic landlords with history notes:

1842 George and Ann Godfrey. Ann died that year.

1842-45 George Godfrey as above. George died that year aged 67. In 1843 thieves made an unsuccessful attemot to rob his premises by cutting hole in the outside wall. They did make their hole but they didn't manage to get away with anything. My own ancestors in Kent were robbed of all their possessions when thieves cut through their kitchen wall so don't think such attempts never worked!

1851-1855 James Leech. Wife Sophia. James died 1855.  

1855-65 Sophia Leech widow of James above. 

1865 David Leech

1863-68 Martha Leech. 

1869 Alfred Woodeson.

1871 "Mr Woodson" gave up and Thomas Street took over.

1871-1883 Thomas Street. Thomas went on to run Hurley Flour Mills. He made a great success of himself and moved into Ladye Place Hurley. After he left the Black Boy the premises were put up to let with outbuildings and orchard. Described as a fishing and boating inn. [Reading Mercury 29th September and 24th Nov Fishing Gazette both newspapers in British Library Archives accessed via the BNA].

1885 bakers horse and cart stolen from outside the pub! 

1886 license transfer from Thomas Ballard to James Bolton who still there 1887. In 1887 used for Inquest on 17 year old drowning victim William Goodall who fell out of a punt at Hurley.

1890 to let furnished. [Reading Mercury 11th October]. 

1894 Samuel Bailey.

 1894-1895 Archibald Lonsdale/ Lansdell 

1895 Joseph Edwin Lane, briefly.

1895-97 Thornton Tailor / Taylor.

1897-98 George F Cranmore. Summoned for being drunk and disorderly. 

1911 Tooke Holmes. 

1913 Arthur Frederick Taylor gave up to Albert H Eyre / Ayre.

1913- 1916 Albert H Eyre gave up licence as he was serving in the army during the First World War. You had to be resident on the premises to have a license. I am unsure if he ever returned. 

1920 Sidney Tanner

1922 Frederick Taylor

1946 to let with orchard and 1 acre.

Compiled from censuses, licensing information, court cases, adverts, directories newspapers as quoted above, etc. Kelly's Post Office Directory 1847, 1863, 1869 and 1887 editions, Kelly's Directories Limited.

Looking for the Black Boy, Marlow? Landlords listing in this post.

More Hurley pub history and landlord listings in the future. We have a large number of similar posts for pubs in Marlow, Little Marlow, Medmenham and Lane End (all Buckinghamshire). These are listed here.

 Our main focus is Marlow on this blog but we do cover places like Hurley because of frequent connection between them and Marlow. For a list of Hurley, Harleyford and Temple related posts see here

Researched and written by Charlotte Day.

©Marlow Ancestors. You are very welcome to use this content for family and local history purposes if you credit this blog and link here.