Grey Horse Inn, Friars Vennel, Dumfries

[Johnner Kid]

Anyway, The Grey Horse Inn. I'm pretty sure it is this and not the Bay Horse. .
The query really is about proprietorship of this Inn, and if it is possible to establish that, given it looks likely that the Irvine's were at least landlords there for their daughters to get married there.
If not then it'll just have to remain a family legend after all...

Its No legend! -- Now I have to say to Alasdair that he was spot on.
I have today had a look at indexes to three early Dumfries Newspaper held by DGFHS (www.dgfhs.org.uk)   
There was indeed a “Grey Horse Inn” located in Friars Vennel in the 1800s.
DUMFRIES WEEKLY NEWS Index  1773 to 1833
NO  references to the “Grey Horse Inn”
DUMFRIES TIMES 1835 to 1842  index -- records 5 references –
1837,  5/4, 1B  :  1838,  28/3, 4F & 13/6, 1B,  :  1840,  21/7,  1E  :  1841, 4/1, 1D
DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY STANDARD index 1843 to 1860 
records one reference  to the “Grey Horse and Groom Inn” 1851, 5/11, 4D
These  references are:  day/month, page number & column

To see the actual newspapers pages you need to visit the Ewart Library in Dumfries.
Some large Libraries have these Indexes in book format with fiche of the Newspapers.
Given some time time I could check the DGFHS fiche for you.
The references may only be to advertisements but could relate to events.

Another publication cast further light on the this hostelry.
McDowall’s  Visitors Guide to Dumfries published in 1882, mentioning Friar’s Vennel, has this on page 64 –
…down till about ten years ago there existed in this neighbourhood “The Grey Horse” which contained a unique memorial of old times – a vast fireplace of the Minorite Friars … , till the entire building was superseded by new premises.

Cheers,
Sy

[MonicaL]

Sy, with your latest info, just found this:

...forms a large portion of the gable of the house called the " Grey Horse Inn"' at the head of the Friar's Vennel, and that it is still in use as the kitchen fire-place of ...
http://www.dgnhas.org.uk/transonline/SerI-Vol2.pdf

This section comes up in Page 9.

Monica

[alasdair_13]

Marvellous - thanks to all I've now found the following: http://maps.nls.uk/townplans/view/?sid=74415256&mid=dumfries_1

If you zoom in to the upper part of Friars Vennel and about half way up you;ll see conclusive proof of the Grey Horse Inn where my Irvine ancestors certainly seemed to be involved in in some capacity from mid 19th century onwards but the key part of the puzzle is whether the were tenant landlords  or owned it. If the latter then who bought it!.

Either way, I now have more info than I ever imaginged being able to get.

Thanks so much everyone.

[MonicaL]

  Why oh why didn't we check maps first! And there it is!

Monica

[Johnner Kid]

Hi Alasdair,
You might like to know what finally happened to the Grey Horse Inn. See item below.
I can still look at the earlier Newspaper reference for other events and post them if you really want me to do so.
Sy

[alasdair_13]

Postscript to this strand which I've not pursued for a long time. The census of 1851 for Friars Vennel has an Elizabeth Mounsey (a widow) as the innkeeper. A lot of odd coincidences in this old story.

Thanks again to everyone who has helped out with this in the past.