Lancaster Castle sits dominantly above the river lune commanding all that stands around it. Its imposing walls cast long shadows over a stronghold filled with stories of kings, Lancastrians, and even one of my ancestors.
A Tale of Misadventure
Henry Taylor, landlord of the Royal Oak situated on St Johns Street, Preston is out of business and suspended in debt. He and his family are residing as lodgers in a house up the road from the Inn until his financial predicament is resolved.
On April 28, 1848, at exactly 10:00 in the morning, Henry Taylor’s insolvency case was brought before the Court House at Lancaster Castle.. Soon after, he found himself in unenviable acquaintance with other unfortunate borrowers in the debtor’s rooms of the castle prison; leaving behind his despondent wife Ann, who was early into her pregnancy with their fourth child.
A Stay at Lancaster
How the individual debtors found their stay at the prison ultimately came down to whether they had command of any wealth or not. Those that did, could obtain good accommodation by payment. Conveniences such as candles and the use of culinary utensils were made available to them. They were also allowed to continue their civilian professions or trades, and visitors could come and go from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., retaining the debtor’s connection with the world beyond the walls.
There was a debtor’s market held in the castle yard where meat, bread, butter, and a whole variety of ordinary groceries could be purchased. The poorer debtors in the prison, however, were kept at the cost of the County, and did not therefore enjoy the same culinary delights and conveniences that the wealthier debtors would have. Meagre rations were all that awaited them after a hard day working around the prison and serving the more well-off debtors.
All debtors however, with wealth or without, were permitted tobacco, beer and wine.
You could wonder, whether there was any prison like restrictions at all in the more affluent debtors quarters, humorously dubbed the “Hansbrow Hotel”, after it’s Governor and his humane avant-garde approach to the housing of debtors. Although, there was one strict rule that guests had to abide by: NO SPIRITS.
Nearby, was a public house called the ‘Green Dragon’ presided over by its landlord, Mr. Preston.
Mr. Preston was an ale supplier to Lancaster Castle’s debtors prison in 1848 and his insolvent ‘employee‘ was Mr. Henry Taylor.
Henry was tasked with conveying ale from Mr. Preston back to the debtors. A familiar role for Henry as a licensed victualler himself, but also a risky one in this case.
Henry, by association with Mr. Preston, found himself engaged in the small scale smuggling of spirits.
One Saturday morning in July 1848, Henry was busy carrying his baskets of ale back to the debtor’s quarters when, out of nowhere, he was set upon on the orders of Arthur Hansbrow, the son of Captain James Hansbrow, the Governor of Lancaster Goal.
The baskets carrying the ale were examined. A thorough inspection revealed that the baskets had been modified to include false bottoms, under which a small tin of whisky had been carefully concealed in one of them.
It wasn’t a lack of ingenuity that got Henry and his co-conspirator caught, rather, it was the unusual noise and rowdiness from the debtors that led Mr. Hansbrow Jr. to pay more attention to their activities.
A hearing was arranged.
Mr. Preston landlord attended and admitted that the basket was his. He was consequently reprimanded.
Henry was fined £10 with the condition that should this fine not be paid; he would find himself at Preston corrections for two months.
The fine was paid.
Sources & recommended further reading:
- Ancestry
- Lancaster Gazette
- Lancaster Castle a Brief History – By John Champness
- Lancaster Castle Official Guide – By LCC
- Lancaster Castle – By L.Crook, Courtkeeper
- The Green Dragon was situated on the east side of Cheapside, but it had closed its doors by the end of the century.