History of The Black Boy Inn

Over the years at the Black Boy Inn, there has been much debate as to how this lovely country inn came to gain its name. Built in the mid 16th Century, history leads us to believe that it may have been named after King Charles II who was born with a very dark complexion and was, during the civil war, sometimes referred to as ‘the black boy’. The following extract is taken from English Monarchs, The House of Stuart.

“Charles' appearance was anything but English, with his sensuous curling mouth, swarthy complexion, black hair and dark eyes, he much resembled his Italian maternal grandmother, Marie de Medici's side of the family. During his escape after the Battle of Worcester, he was referred to as 'a tall, black man' in the parliamentary wanted posters. One of the nick-names he acquired was 'the black boy'.”

However there are other stories too. Reflecting the early slave trade, there is the story of the young black boy found hiding in the cellar and also that of the local village woman who purportedly gave birth rather unexpectedly to a dark coloured child. Turning to the archives, the Banbury Museum on the other hand tells us that prior to being an inn, the Black Boy may have been a tobacconist as they used to be called Black Boys around this time.

If you have any thoughts or ideas, do let us know. The same applies to our resident ghost. None of the current team has met with her yet!