Royal Kings Arms Hotel

Originally built in 1625 during the reign of Charles I, and then later rebuilt in 1879, the hotel was immortalized by Charles Dickens in his story of ‘The Lazy Tour of Two Idle Apprentices’. It was during the distinguished author’s first visit that he wrote “Tale of the Bridal Chamber”, and gave his impression of this “Good Old Inn, established in a good old house, an inn where they give you bride cake every day after dinner”, where the visitor can “eat bride cake without the trouble of getting married, or knowing anybody in that ridiculous dilemma.” Charles Dickens stayed at the Kings Arms in 1857 and again in 1862, when fellow author Mr Wilkie Collins accompanied him.

Louis XIV of France at this time purchased the hotel in or about 1666. Three large pieces of tapestry, borders of which were designed by the renowned artist Rubens were displayed in the building. They were “The Findings of Moses in the Bulrushes by the Pharaoh’s Daughter”, “Moses before the Burning Bush” and “Moses Striking the Rock.”

The larger rooms of those days were known as “The Lonsdale and Brougham rooms” and “Lord Derby room”. Then there were the “Crowned Heads of Europe room”, wherein the finest specimens of Gobelin art were to be seen. The heir apparent to the English throne, Charles (II) Prince of Wales secured the Gobelin art for his Sandringham home.

Mr Sly, proprietor at the Kings Arms between 1856 and 1877, was intensely proud of his ancient house, and sought to make it a museum as well as a comfortable home worthy of the highest patronage. It is Sly’s Kings Arms Royal Hotel, claiming its title to royal patronage from the circumstances of Queen Adelaide, having made it her home when she honoured Lancaster with a visit. Beneath the roof of this famous hotel, other royal personages such as the Prince of Wales with his suite, have received entertainment and enjoyed the comforts of an English home.

The Royal Kings Arms also had the honour of sojourning within its walls the crown heads of Europe who became its guests around the end of the long Bonapartean war. In 1863 the proprietor of the hotel organised a torch light procession to celebrate the marriage of Prince Edward, the Prince of Wales (later king of England King Edward VII with characters dressed up as such people as John O’Gaunt, Henry VII, Edward the Black Prince, the Duke of York and the King of the Cannibal islands. He also supplied to the poor people of Lancaster two oxen to be roasted and free drinks to go with it.