BEEHIVE – BLACK-A-MOOR-LADY – CASTLE BOWLING GREEN, CASTLE YARD

A conundrum, the above may not be connected.

A Beehive is recorded in Castle Yard in an 1828 directory. John Hinks, victualler. A newspaper article of 1825 describes the Bee Hive (late Castle Inn Castle Yard) It was here that a private theatre in a room called the Turret at the Bee Hive Public House every Monday a dance or Masquerade was held which created a disturbance, often in the st from the parties going home.

Masquerade from 1820 print (London Museum)

Nov 1826 The BeeHive Castle Yard was up to let with a pleasures ground at the rear.

A Back-A-Moor-Lady is recorded in an 1835 directory.

A Castle Bowling Green is recorded in an 1815 directory.

The only other record found is March 1872, when Elizabeth Stevenson, described as landlady of the Castle Bowling Green, was fined one guinea or 14 days for letting two men have a quart of ale to drink in her stable on a Sunday morning.

It is possible that the report or name was incorrect as Elizabeth Stevenson was landlady of the Old Castle at the time.  There was a Bowling Green in St. Peters Lane as well as the more well known one in Oxford Street.

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