Above is a small and rather fuzzy detail from the 1847 Chester OS map showing the location of three old inns in Castle Street that are no longer with us.

The Golden Eagle ("originally built 1459" according to its sign) closed as recently as mid- October 2010, when this photograph was taken.

Directly opposite, at 25 Castle Street, is The Golden Cock Inn which was built in 1707 and was trading as an inn in Castle Street by 1822, licencee Lydia Knowles. In 1828 William Owens was in charge. In 1850 (when it was again listed in the directory as The Cock Tavern) the licencee was John Neild. A photograph of the old Golden Cock as it appeared in the mid-1960s, rather run-down and serving as a garage, is seen below. The building is still with us today, beautifully restored and converted into apartments with offices below, currently occupied by the public services trade union UNISON. Look for the inscription in th cornice high on the front, DOMINUS ILLUMINATIO (the opening words of Psalm 27, 'The Lord is my light'): ANNO DOMINI 1707.

The Cock belonged to Seller’s Brewery of Foregate Street by 1840. The trades directory in that year lists the licencee as Thomas Ainsworth. But in that year they advertised it as to be let (Chester Chronicle, 14 February 1840):

"Public House to be Let. That old established Public House, known by the sign of the COCK, in Castle-street. It may be entered upon on the 3rd of February next. Apply to Seller & Sons, Brewers, Chester".

Further up the street is The Robin Hood Inn. (no 10). Thanks to Mr Roger Moore for this one. He tells us his grandparents, Mr and Mrs Penn, ran the pub at one time. The licencee in 1880 was Nesbitt Hull, in 1857 W Musgreave, in 1902 Edmund Jones.

Here is its entry in British Listed Buildings.

Several more inns traded in Castle Street over the centuries. Read about them here or move on to another 'lost pubs' map...