Weymouth, Dorset
History
The Black Dog pub, Weymouth is reputed to be the oldest hostelry in the town and one of the last surviving “Saxon Frame” buildings in the country. Build some time in the 16th century, probably during the reign of Elizabeth 1st, it was formerly known as The Dove until Weymouth won the contract to trade with the new colonies of Newfoundland and Labrador.
The landlord (at the time) of this Weymouth pub purchased the first black “Newfoundland Labrador” dog ever seen in the south west from one of the new trading ships from that region. The dog, apparently, brought such an amazing number of curious sightseers from the surrounding area, that the landlord changed the name of the pub in honour of the dog that had brought him so much prosperity to this Weymouth pub.
There is an early 17th century date above the left ground floor window which reads 1621, but the rear of the building is known to be much older. And it was in the 17th century, that the first of two known murders occurred in the building. February 1645 was a time in Weymouth’s history when grisly death was commonplace, as the English Civil War raged and Royalist sympathisers in the town plotted to overthrow the Parliamentary garrison commanded by Colonel William Sydenham and 500 people died in one bloody night during the Battle of Weymouth.
During the siege of Melcombe which followed the conspiracy, a stranger stayed at the Black Dog, then known as a “house of entertainment”. He was described as a “trader with flaxen hair and a yellow beard”, who hailed from Taunton Dene in Somerset. His name was William Courtney and while he was lodging at the pub, he was mercilessly slain by the Landlord, John Chiles, who battered him on the head with a hammer as he slept in order to steal the £288 in gold and £12 in silver which Courtney had with him. Chiles and his wife, Margaret, then stripped the body and, in the darkness, carried it out to a nearby jetty and threw it into the sea, no doubt hoping that one more cadaver in a war zone would cause no particular suspicion. But the body was recognised and the pair arrested. Margaret Chiles soon broke under questioning and gave evidence against her husband for the murder.
In the 18th century, it became the haunt for smugglers and one of them was to become the second murder victim inside the pub, as the result of an argument. The foul deed occurred in front of the fireplace in the bar when John “Smoaker” Mills Senior and the son of a local, Richard Mills, whipped Richard Hawkins to death in 1758. The murder took place because Mills, an ally of the famous Hawkhurst smuggling gang of Sussex, falsely accused Richard Hawkins of an offence against the gang. It was only later that it was found that Hawkins was entirely innocent of the accusations against him. The murderers were caught and later hanged at East Grinstead in West Sussex for their crime.
It was also in the 18th century that the famous author, Daniel Defoe, who was staying in the town, met the celebrated shipwrecked mariner, Alexander Selkirk, in the Black Dog and, after this meeting, Defoe wrote his timeless classic, Robinson Crusoe, which is based upon Selkirk’s experiences.
In the summer of 1804, The King, George the third, who went down in history as the monarch who lost Britain it’s colonies in America, together with his Queen and several of the young Princesses, stayed in Weymouth. Guarding them was his favourite regiment, The King’s German Legion, a cavalry regiment that distinguished itself at the Battle of Waterloo. George caroused with the officers of the regiment at their barracks at Lodmoor Hill and the Black Dog, which was but a short distance from his apartments at Gloucester Lodge.
The pub today is as vibrant as ever, despite being the oldest pub Weymouth has, it was and still is at the social centre of this wonderful old town. It prides itself on being a traditional pub Weymouth residents and visitors seek out. They enjoy some of the best Real Ale Weymouth has to offer, served from casks. So if you are in Weymouth Real Ale served from casks, by friendly staff, you should look no further than The Black Dog Pub.
Weymouth, Dorset
History
The Black Dog pub, Weymouth is reputed to be the oldest hostelry in the town and one of the last surviving “Saxon Frame” buildings in the country. Build some time in the 16th century, probably during the reign of Elizabeth 1st, it was formerly known as The Dove until Weymouth won the contract to trade with the new colonies of Newfoundland and Labrador.
The landlord (at the time) of this Weymouth pub purchased the first black “Newfoundland Labrador” dog ever seen in the south west from one of the new trading ships from that region. The dog, apparently, brought such an amazing number of curious sightseers from the surrounding area, that the landlord changed the name of the pub in honour of the dog that had brought him so much prosperity to this Weymouth pub.
There is an early 17th century date above the left ground floor window which reads 1621, but the rear of the building is known to be much older. And it was in the 17th century, that the first of two known murders occurred in the building. February 1645 was a time in Weymouth’s history when grisly death was commonplace, as the English Civil War raged and Royalist sympathisers in the town plotted to overthrow the Parliamentary garrison commanded by Colonel William Sydenham and 500 people died in one bloody night during the Battle of Weymouth.
During the siege of Melcombe which followed the conspiracy, a stranger stayed at the Black Dog, then known as a “house of entertainment”. He was described as a “trader with flaxen hair and a yellow beard”, who hailed from Taunton Dene in Somerset. His name was William Courtney and while he was lodging at the pub, he was mercilessly slain by the Landlord, John Chiles, who battered him on the head with a hammer as he slept in order to steal the £288 in gold and £12 in silver which Courtney had with him. Chiles and his wife, Margaret, then stripped the body and, in the darkness, carried it out to a nearby jetty and threw it into the sea, no doubt hoping that one more cadaver in a war zone would cause no particular suspicion. But the body was recognised and the pair arrested. Margaret Chiles soon broke under questioning and gave evidence against her husband for the murder.
In the 18th century, it became the haunt for smugglers and one of them was to become the second murder victim inside the pub, as the result of an argument. The foul deed occurred in front of the fireplace in the bar when John “Smoaker” Mills Senior and the son of a local, Richard Mills, whipped Richard Hawkins to death in 1758. The murder took place because Mills, an ally of the famous Hawkhurst smuggling gang of Sussex, falsely accused Richard Hawkins of an offence against the gang. It was only later that it was found that Hawkins was entirely innocent of the accusations against him. The murderers were caught and later hanged at East Grinstead in West Sussex for their crime.
It was also in the 18th century that the famous author, Daniel Defoe, who was staying in the town, met the celebrated shipwrecked mariner, Alexander Selkirk, in the Black Dog and, after this meeting, Defoe wrote his timeless classic, Robinson Crusoe, which is based upon Selkirk’s experiences.
In the summer of 1804, The King, George the third, who went down in history as the monarch who lost Britain it’s colonies in America, together with his Queen and several of the young Princesses, stayed in Weymouth. Guarding them was his favourite regiment, The King’s German Legion, a cavalry regiment that distinguished itself at the Battle of Waterloo. George caroused with the officers of the regiment at their barracks at Lodmoor Hill and the Black Dog, which was but a short distance from his apartments at Gloucester Lodge.
The pub today is as vibrant as ever, despite being the oldest pub Weymouth has, it was and still is at the social centre of this wonderful old town. It prides itself on being a traditional pub Weymouth residents and visitors seek out. They enjoy some of the best Real Ale Weymouth has to offer, served from casks. So if you are in Weymouth Real Ale served from casks, by friendly staff, you should look no further than The Black Dog Pub.