The Golden Cross, Billinghay: A Historical Overview

Continuing my historical exploration into the hostelries of Billinghay, I now turn my attention to the Golden Cross. My previous research has revealed that many of my ancestors were closely connected to local inns and public houses, either as innkeepers or publicans. I am curious to see if this familial association extends to the Golden Cross as well.

During the 1860s, Billinghay was a thriving rural village with a population of approximately 2,000 residents and around 500 dwellings. Despite its modest size, the village supported two principal public houses: the Cross Keys and the Golden Cross. These establishments would have played a central role in the social and economic life of the community, providing spaces for gatherings, transactions, and announcements. As I continue my investigation, I hope to uncover further details regarding the proprietors of the Golden Cross and to determine whether any of my forebears were among them. The Golden Cross, like its contemporary, the Cross Keys, undoubtedly formed an important part of the village’s historical fabric.

The Golden Cross was situated at 9 Church Street, a 19th century red and yellow brick public house.

The earliest known reference to the Golden Cross dates to March 1808, when the premises were used for the auctioning of property. This event was advertised in the Stamford Mercury on 18 March 1808. However, the innkeeper was not known at this time.

This newspaper article clearly indicates that the Golden Cross already held a position of some significance in the community by the early nineteenth century. Such usage suggests that the inn was seen as a respectable and reliable venue for public business — a status not every public house enjoyed.

INNKEEPERS

The first named innkeeper of the Golden Cross was reported in the Stamford Mercury, 22 January 1810, confirming an auction was to be held at the house of Mr George Ranson at the sign of the Golden Cross.

Stringer Family

However, two years later, as reported in the Stamford Mercury, 6 March 1812, George Ranson had left, and the innkeeper was named as John Stringer.

Seven months later, it was reported on 24 December 1813 that John Stringer tried to sell, and the property was put up for auction.

So, who was running the Golden Cross from 1813? I found on Ancestry.com in the UK Poll Books and Electoral Registers, 1538–1893, that I was able to trace John Stringer from 1818 to 1841. In 1818, he was listed as a cooper—an artisan who makes or repairs barrels and other staved vessels such as casks, tubs, and vats—an occupation well suited to someone involved in inn-keeping. By 1823, he was described as a publican, and in subsequent years, he continued to be recorded under his own occupation, reflecting his progression in trade and status.

In 1831, there is evidence that John Stringer was still running the Golden Cross Inn, as shown by a wedding announcement for the marriage of Miss Stringer, described as the daughter of Mr. Stringer of the Golden Cross Inn. Confirming that John Stringer was still the innkeeper at that time.

Elizabeth Stringer and the Tenure of John Stringer at the Golden Cross Inn

Elizabeth Stringer was born in 1813 in Billinghay, the daughter of John Stringer and Sarah Mastin. At the age of seventeen, she married Peter Wray. Elizabeth lived a long life and passed away in Billinghay on 31 October 1894, aged 80.

The discovery of Elizabeth’s marriage record provided a valuable lead in tracing the activities of her father, John Stringer, in connection with the Golden Cross Inn. The 1841 census reveals that John was residing at the Golden Cross with his wife Sarah, their unmarried son William, and their second daughter Sarah, further affirming his role as innkeeper at that time.

John’s wife, Sarah Stringer, died on 7 June 1849, and John Stringer followed less than a year later, passing away on 14 March 1850 at the age of 67.

Documentary evidence supports the conclusion that John Stringer served as the innkeeper of the Golden Cross Inn from 1812 until he died in 1850, a tenure of thirty-eight years.

This confirms that between 1808 and 1850, the establishment had only two known innkeepers, marking a period of remarkable continuity in its early custodianship. My next objective was to determine who succeeded John Stringer.

William Stringer

The next significant reference appears in 1858, when a newspaper article identifies the publican being William Stringer. Previous research confirms that William was the son of John Stringer, suggesting a familial succession in the management of the inn.

1841 Census – To confirm the relationship between William Stringer and John Stringer, the 1841 census provides valuable evidence. John is recorded as an innkeeper living at the Golden Cross Inn with his wife Sarah and three children: William, aged 25, whose occupation is a brewer; Elizabeth, his married daughter; and Sarah, aged 10. Elizabeth appears to have been residing at the inn despite being married, as she is listed alongside her family. Research indicates that she was the wife of Peter Wray. This information further supports the conclusion that William, who would later take over the Golden Cross, was indeed John Stringer’s son and was already engaged in related trade within the family business.

I now went back to the 1851 census, and sure enough, there was William Stringer, now the Innkeeper of the Golden Cross, who is recorded being a publican and brewer. He clearly had taken over the pub following the death of his father in 1850. Living in the household is his younger sister Sarah, providing more evidence that he is the son of John Stringer. William was now married to Elizabeth, and they had four children.

1851 Census – William Stringer

The following confirms that William continued to run the pub until his death in 1887.

1861 census – William Stringer. Golden Cross and Farmer. (Post Office Directory)

1868 Directory – William Stringer. Golden Cross and Farmer.

1871 census – William Stringer, 56 years old. Inn Keeper and Farmer of 15 acres.

1876 – William Stringer – InnKeeper (Kelly’s Directory)

1880 William Stringer was the host to an event being held in the Golden Cross – (Sleaford Gazette 16 July 1880)

1882. William Stringer. Victualler. Golden Cross. Brewer and Farmer. (White’s Directory)

1885. William Stringer. Golden Cross P.H. and Farmer. (1885 Kelly’s Directory)

William Stringer died in 7 Jan 1887, following which in Feb 1887 the Golden Cross was put up for auction.

William Stringer, the third innkeeper of the Golden Cross, was the landlord for 37 years.

Coulson Family

March 1887 – The Golden Cross was reported to have been sold to Mr S T Coulson, an innkeeper from South Kyme, Lincolnshire.

Research locates S T Coulson in the 1881 census, his full name Samuel T Coulson was the son of John Coulson a brewer & publican at South Kyme It appears Samuel did not stay long at the Golden Cross, in the 1891 census he was a innkeeper, and in the 1901 census confirms he was the publican at The Tower Inn at South Kyme.

Confirmation of the Coulson family’s involvement in the power inn is confirmed on the Lost Pubs website. Closed Pubs Website

John T Harvey

However, Samuel did not have a long tenure at the Golden Cross when an entry in Kelly’s directory confirms in 1889. John T Harvey. Golden Cross P.H. (Kelly’s Directory)

1891 Census – John T Harvey – Inn Keeper at Golden Cross

1892 – John T Harvey – Golden Cross P.H. Potato Merchant and agent to the Goole Pure Tillage Company Limited (Kelly’s Directory).

1896. John T Harvey. Golden Cross P.H., Potato Merchant and agent to the Goole Pure Tillage Company Limited (Kelly’s Directory)

Charles William Wallis

1900 – Charles William Wallis. Golden Cross P.H. (Kelly’s Directory)

1901 Census – Charles William Wallis – Hotel innkeeper, Charles was living with his wife Sarah their 9 year old daughter Eve, and servant 17 year old Billinghay born Annie Creasey.

1905. Charles William Wallis. Golden Cross P.H. (Kelly’s Directory), Charles by 1908/9 had left the Golden Cross, the pub was now being run by Frederick Bailey.

Frederick Bailey

1909. Frederick Bailey. Golden Cross P.H. (Kelly’s Directory)

3 Sept 1910 – Sleaford Gazette – advertising for staff names Mrs Singleton of the Golden Cross. Confirming that Frederick Bailey had now vacated the premises.

Following the death of William Stringer, there were four landlords; Philip Singleton took over, and the pub was in the family tenure for many years.

Singleton Family

1911 Census – confirms that Philip Singleton and his wife Rose, along with their three children, were now resident at the Golden Cross Inn. Philip recorded being the innkeeper.

1913. Philip Singleton. Golden Cross P.H (Kelly’s Directory)

1921 Census – Philip Singleton was recorded being a Licensed Victualler and farmer. In the household were his wife Rose and their five children, John, Percy, Edith, Thomas and Alice. The pub is not named, but the family were recorded living on Church Street, Billinghay.

Phillip was the publican of the Golden Cross until his death in April 1938, as confirmed in Ancestry.com. England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995.

Philip Singleton’s obituary was reported in the Lincolnshire Echo on 23 April 1938.

Philips’ widow Rose Singleton continued to manage the Golden Cross; she is recorded in the 1939 Register being the Licensee at Golden Cross Inn, Church St, Billinghay. Living with her was her daughter Alice Rose Singleton, who was a Mental Hospital Nurse.

Sleaford Gazette, 26 Sept 1941 – Rose Singleton was in trouble with the law for keeping a dangerous dog. This confirms she was still the licensee at the Golden Cross.

Rose Singleton continued to be the landlady of the Golden Cross until 1950, when she put the pub up for auction. The sale was recorded in the Lincolnshire Standard and Boston Guardian on 9 Sept 1950. The sale also included the household furniture.

Rose Singleton died in 1959, in Louth, Lincolnshire.

Cyril Michael John Pearce

Sleaford Gazette 22 Feb 1957 names the son of the licensee to be Mr Cyril Michael John Pearce. Further research of the surname Pearce, a wedding announcement in the Sleaford Standard, 31 March 1967, names the parents of the bride-to-be as Mr & Mrs S Pearce of the Golden Cross Hotel.

Another newspaper article in the Sleaford Standard, 1 Sept 1977, reports the Golden wedding anniversary of Sidney and Vera Pearce. The article confirms they took over the Golden Cross in 1955 and retired in 1969. What a lovely photo and story of the couple who ran the Golden Cross.

Whitehead Family

Sleaford Standard 27 Nov 1970 news article records Michael William Whitehead of the Golden Cross Hotel, Billinghay. Were the Whitehead family the successors to Mr and Mrs Pearce?

I found an obituary in the Horncastle News, 26 April 1990, which names Mr Jack Whitehead, formerly of the Golden Cross, Billinghay. It is here where I leave my research, the pub continued to function until 2016, the Golden Cross was closed forever.

The Golden Cross enjoyed a relatively stable history, with many of its landlords remaining at the helm for extended periods. This continuity helped to establish the inn as a familiar and dependable fixture within the community, fostering long-standing relationships with local patrons and visitors alike. Such stability was somewhat unusual in the often transient world of public house management, and it speaks to the pub’s enduring appeal and sound stewardship over the decades. However, after serving the village for generations, the Golden Cross closed its doors for the final time in 2016, marking the end of an era. Finally, on this occasion, my research did not uncover any involvement of my own family members with the Golden Cross.

As always, if you can share any stories about The Golden Cross with me or have any connections, I would love to hear from you. Please comment here or email jackocats2@gmail.com