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Details of pub: Gogerddan Arms, Aberystwyth

Other names: Black Lion; Lion Hotel; Lion Royal Hotel
Address/Location:
OS Grid Ref: SN5823881615
Opened: before 1700      
Closed: before 1960       Type: Inn
Summary: This was one of the main inn in the town before hotels were established on the sea front. It was owned by the Pryses of Gogerddan, who were rivals of the Powells of Nanteos who owned the Talbot.
It was the meeting place of the Society of Gentlemen (Gentleman’s Society), established or first registered: 1780 (NLW 2844E Sales book of Samuel Williams, p. 91)
It was purchased by the University in 1960 for 60 men students and was re-named 'Padarn Hall'.
Subsequently it was sold for a variety of commercial uses.

Notes: 1730
landlord: Alexandra Gordon
(George Eyre Evans, Aberystwyth and its Court Leet, (1902), p. 118)
1811
John Davies, Inn Keeper, (Holden's Annual London and Country Directory, 3rd volume, 1811)

1813
Location of Enclosure Commission meeting - see att
1816
John Davies, Gogerddan Arms, Great Darkgate Street, (Aberystwyth Guide, 1816)
1822
John Davies, Gogerddan Arms, Great Darkgate Street (Pigot’s directory, 1822)
1823
licensee: John Davies
St Michaels Vestry Rate lists, Ceredigion Archives, CPR/ASTM/123-128
1825 and 1826
licensee: Martha Davies
St Michaels Vestry Rate lists, Ceredigion Archives, CPR/ASTM/123-128
1837
licensee: Davies
St Michaels Vestry Rate lists, Ceredigion Archives, CPR/ASTM/123-128
1844
licensee: Abel Powell Davies,
source: Pigot and Co., 1844
1848
'The Gogerddan Arms Hotel, or Black Lion [sic], stands in a central part of the town, opposite the Town Hall, and is under the management of Mr A.P. Davies, who has added an adjoining house to his premises, as well as otherwise materially enlarged and improved the original building. This house has coffee and commercial rooms, besides several suits of apartments for families. The members of the Gogerddan hunt have their club room here, where they meet frequently during the season. [Also] attached is a well conducted posting department, and also a coach office.'
(Morgan, T.O., New Guide to Aberystwyth and its Environs, (1848) p. 19)

1855 "WANTED, at the GOGERDDAN ARMS HOTEL, Aberystwith, a good COOK (one accustomed to the business of an Inn preferred.) Also a steady respectable person as head Chambermaid. Good references as to character will be required." Welshman 13 April 1855
1858
Gogerddan Arms and Lion Royal Hotel, Davies, A.P., hotel proprietor, Great Darkgate Street, Aberystwyth, (Morgan, T.O., New Guide to Aberystwyth and its Environs, (3rd Edition), p. 179, (1858), advert)
1863
Gogerddan Arms and Lion Royal Hotel, Anon, hotel proprietor, Great Darkgate Street, Aberystwyth, (Morgan, T.O., Aberdovey Guide and Handbook), p. 107, (1863), advert)
1864
Gogerddan Arms and Lion Royal Hotel, Mrs Barlow, hotel proprietor, Aberystwyth, Mrs Barlow succeeded the late Mr A.P.Davies, (Morgan, T.O., New Guide to Aberystwyth and its Environs, (4th edition), p. 151, (1864), advert)
1868
Licensee: Barlow, Sarah
Slater’s Directory, 1868

1868
John Rowe, Coachman, has fatal accident - see att.

1869
Gogerddan Arms and Lion Royal Hotel, Mrs Barlow, Aberystwyth, successor to the late Mr A.P.Davies, (Morgan, T.O., Guide to Aberystwyth and its Environs (5th edition), p. 168, (1869), advert)
1871
licensee: G. V. Cumberland
source: Post Office directory, 1871
1871 Census
George B Cumberland, Widr, 41, Hotel Keeper
1874
Lion Royal Hotel, Anon , hotel proprietor, Great Darkgate Street, Aberystwyth, under new management, (Anon, Morgan's New Guide to Aberystwyth, p. b, (1874)
1875
Lion Hotel, Miss M Hughes, Hotel and posting house, Great Darkgate Street, Aberystwyth, (Worrall’s Directory, 1875)
1878
Lion Hotel, Roberts, John, inn keeper, Great Darkgate Street, Aberystwyth, (Wales Register and Guide, p. 78, (1878), advert)
1884
Gogerddan Arms and Lion Royal Hotel, Roberts, John, hotel proprietor, Great Darkgate Street, Aberystwyth, (Turner, G., Picturesqure Wales, p. adverts section, p. 2, (1884), advert)
1889
Gogerddan Arms and Lion Royal Hotel, Roberts, John, Hotel proprietor, Aberystwyth, (Gossiping Guide to Wales, p. adverts section, p. 2, (1889), advert)
1898
Gogerddan Arms and Lion Royal Hotel, Williams, Rufus, Hotel proprietor, Aberystwyth, Rufus Williams, late of the Talbot Hotel), (Gossiping Guide to Wales, p. adverts section, p. 4, (1898) photo ,
1900 (about)
Lion Royal Hotel, Williams, Rufus, Hotellier, Aberystwyth, (Peeps at Picturesque Wales , p. 14, (1900 (about), advert)
1902
Lion Royal Hotel, Williams, Rufus, hotel proprietor, Great Darkgate Street, Aberystwyth, (Anon, A Souvenir of Aberystwyth, p. 43, (1902), advert)
1905
Petty Sessions: Aberystwyth; number on list: 20; name of premises: Lion Royal Hotel; Parish / Place: Aberystwyth; Licensee: Williams, Rufus; owner or tenant : owner ; registered owner : ; free or tied: free; tied to: [blank]; type of licence: full; on or off licence: on; number of licenced days per week: 7. (1905 list)
10 August 1920
Queen Street, proposed garage for Lion Royal Hotel (Gogerddan Arms). With specification of works (2 ff)
ARCHITECT: G.T. Bassett
OWNER: Mr. T. Craven
Ceredigion Archives, ABM/BC/Q/17, PLAN NO: Q20
1923
Lion Royal Hotel, Craven, T., hotel proprietor, Great Darkgate Street, Aberystwyth, (Aberystwyth Corporation, Aberystwyth, the Biarritz of Wales, p. 3, (1923), advert)
1926
Lion Royal Hotel, Craven, T., hotel proprietor, Great Darkgate Street, Aberystwyth, (Anon, Official Guide and Souvenir, p. a3, (1926), advert, photograph)
1928
Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes, embossed and gilded card souvenir programme: R.A.O.B. G.L.E. Central Lodge No. 3426, Aberystwyth (Province of Cardiganshire). Exaltation Ceremony of Brother H.G. Pickford, K.O.M. to the Degree of Roll of Honour, by Brother J.C.E. Cartwright, R.O.H. (Grand Primo of England) at the Lion Royal Hotel, Aberystwyth, 9 May 1928.
Ceredigion Archives, MUS/175/2
1930s
Lion Royal Hotel, Mrs Craven, hotel propreitor, Great Darkgate Street, Aberystwyth, (Lion Garage Motors, Tours from Aberystwyth, p. 2, (1930s), advert)
1934
Lion Royal Hotel, Mrs Craven, T., hotel propreitor, Great Darkgate Street, Aberystwyth, (Anon, Aberystwyth Week Souvenir Programme, p. 66, (1934), advert)
1934
Lion Royal Hotel, Craven, T., hotel proprietor, Great Darkgate Street, Aberystwyth, garage for 100 cars, (Anon, Official Guide and Souvenir, p. 82, (1934), advert, photograph)
1935
Lion Royal Hotel, Craven, W.H., hotel proprietor, Great Darkgate Street, Aberystwyth, (Anon, Official Guide and Souvenir, p. 84, (1935), advert, photograph)
1940s
Lion Royal, Talco, J.H., hotel proprietor, Great Darkgate Street, Aberystwyth, recently refurnished and re-equiped, (Anon, Official Guide, p. 37, (1940s), advert)
1947
Lion Royal Hotel, Craven, W.H., hotel proprietor, Great Darkgate Street, Aberystwyth, now reopened, (Anon, Aberystwyth, Where the Mountains come down to the Sea, p. 17, (1947), advert)
1948
Lion Royal Hotel, Craven, W.H., hotel proprietor, Great Darkgate Street, Aberystwyth, (Anon, Aberystwyth, Where the Mountains come down to the Sea, p. 19, (1948), advert)
1950s
Lion Royal Hotel, Anon, hotel proprietor, Great Darkgate Street, Aberystwyth, (Anon, Aberystwyth, Where Sunshine Awaits you , p. 41, (1950s), advert)
1960
Sold to the University as a men's hostel called Padarn Hall.
(Ellis, E.L., The University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, 1872-1972, p. 289)

Additional information

Document:

Advert for Gogerddan Arms, Aberystwyth

Date: 1851

Photograph:

Gogerddan Arms, Aberystwyth, 2008

Date: 2008 (approx)

Newspaper:

Advert for John Roberts

Date: 1889

Newspaper:

Vet using Lion Royal Hotel

Date: 1887

Newspaper:

Fatal accident of the coachman

Date: 1868

Newspaper:

Meeting of the Enclosure Commissioners for Llanfihangel Geneu'r Glyn and Llangynfelyn

Date: 1813

Newspaper:

Advert for Excelsior Whisky, available locally

Date: 1894

Newspaper:

Arrested in bed

Date: 1893

Newspaper:

St Davids Club dinners

Date: 1842

Postcard:

Postcard of the Lion Royal Hotel, Aberystwyth, before 1905

Date: 1905 (before)


People associated with this establishment
Roberts, John [-]