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The George Hotel
The George is almost certainly the oldest public house in Kirton with references going back to the 16th century. For example, in the Church Warden’s accounts for 1597 it was noted that two shillings (about £50 today) were spent at The George Inn at the ‘common hedlande sellinge’, which is related to the annual letting of church lands for farming. It was clearly a convival occasion but also demonstrates the role that inns played as meeting places for business to be done.
The Origins
The origin of the name almost certainly refers to St. George and the Dragon which was often abbreviated to just ‘The George’. This is echoed in a former sign which hung outside the building until a recent refurbishment. In pre-Reformation times (before 1532) public houses often had religious names reflecting the deeds of a particular saint, or made some reference to the monarch or local lord.
It was a centre for business and trade. Property and land sales were regularly held in The George and visitors to the prison (Kirton Bridewell) would stay and meet in The George and the AGM of the Kirton Association for Prosecuting Felons was held there on 20 October 1810.
There was an Excise Office based there for many years from 1842 until around the end of the 19th century. Probably not as popular as some activities!
When the railway arrived in 1849 Tommy Pinder ran an ‘omnibus’ to and from the railway station; firstly horse-drawn and then a motor car. The service continued until 1933 and was known as the Station Fly.
Not all work
But it wasn’t all work! Among other things, The George was the centre for betting for the horse racing held on the Kirton Course (we don’t know where that was) and rather more unusual activities too. Witness this wager which took place in 1817 and was reproduced in The Lincolnshire Echo on 19th May 1931.
Such a prominent position in the Market Place means that there is a good selection of photographs available demonstrating both changes and similarities over the decades.
This photo is pre-1897 and shows the entrance to George Yard to the right of the bay window.
Here it is pictured in the late 1940’s as a Family and Commercial Hotel showing the wide archway where you are now standing through to the yard. We are not sure when this was opened up – possibly in the early 1900s.
And here is a 1990s view showing it has had many ‘makeovers’ over the years.
CONGRATULATIONS! If have followed the trail from the start, you are now at the end. We hope you have enjoyed discovering just a small part of Kirton’s long history.
If this has made you hungry for more then the Kirton in Lindsey Society has a range of publications on a variety of topics. Just click here
If you are thirsty after your walk then why not pop into The George, if they are open, where you will receive a warm welcome. Restaurant Bar Hotel | The George Kirton in Lindsey
