The George, Bucklersbury, Hitchin

The building which is now ‘The George’ in Bucklersbury was built in 1450, and is believed to be one of the oldest buildings in Hitchin. Long before it was a public house, it was a house owned by a rich merchant.

It wasn't until  1676 that it opened as a pub called ‘Le Faulcon’ or ‘The Falcon Inn’

It is not clear when ‘The Falcon’ closed its doors, or when numbers 33 and 34 Bucklersbury became separate establishments.

Later the pub became known as ‘The Beehive’ and John Steed of Baldock was the brewer.  The Beehive thrived for several decades. In 1851 Mrs Sarah Parker was the publican. 

Later Charles Hide became the tenant, and was often in trouble with the law for allowing fighting and bad behaviour. In 1869 a serious complaint was made against ‘The Beehive’, and the police constable told the magistrates that Charles Hide kept a bad house, worse than a beer house, allowing bad girls and men to assemble using disgusting language. Hide lost his licence. 

A new tenant, Mr Joseph Moulden, took over in December 1869 –  but in August of the following year he was cautioned about noisy behaviour – his excuse was that he was out when some recruits called and played music and sang. He  promised not to let it happen again.

In 1870  the pub became The George, after George Washington, and had been relocated from The High Street (then Cock Street).

Courtyard of The George Inn 1900. A drawing by Frederick Griggs

  

The pub has thrived through the years – in the late seventies I remember going there,  and how the courtyard would heave with youngsters. I would imagine every generation has a similar tale to tell.

The George is believed to be haunted. Heavy footsteps have been heard at night, glasses have been thrown across the room by invisible hands, and it's said that animals and landlords alike have occasionally refused to go down the cellar.  My aunt, who was a landlady for a while, said she saw someone sitting in a chair, who wasn’t there.   The Hitchin TV team have investigated the strange happenings at The George  HERE

The George website can be found HERE

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My best selling ebook Her Last Lie is available HERE  All ebook royalties go to Cancer Research UK in memory of my amazing sister. Her Last Lie is a psychological thriller, with a  chapter devoted to Hitchin, and the main character lives in Letchworth.