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This famous 16th century tavern,
said to be haunted by the ghost of a highwayman, is named
after two Spanish proprietors who killed each other in a duel.
The historic pub owes its fame
to Dick Turpin, the notorious 18th century highwayman, who
regularly frequented the tavern. When he wasn't holding
up stage coaches on the road to and from London he stabled
his horse, Black Bess, at stables nearby.
The building certainly dates
from Dick Turpin's time but there have been many alterations
over the years. However, the small Turpin Bar upstairs
is original.
During the Gordon Riots of 1780
a group of anti-Catholic mobsters stopped off at the Spaniards
Inn on their way to Kenwood House, then owned by the Lord
Chief Justice, 1st Earl of Mansfield, which they planned to
burn to the ground. The publican plied the rioters
with free beer hoping that they would soon be in no fit state
to leave the pub let alone destroy Kenwood House. When
the army finally arrived the rioters were easily disarmed.
A pair of muskets, which hang over the saloon bar, were reputedly
taken from the rioters.
Notable customers of Spaniards
Inn have included the poets Shelley, Keats and Byron, the
painter Sir Joshua Reynolds and the actor David Garrick
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