Boat Commercial Inn, Stamford

A Poem From 1865

Submitted by Chris Hunt

On the Sea of Adventure

Again I’m afloat!

Once more have embarked,

In my favourite Boat!

My Spirits and Wines

Are the best of their kind;

My Home-brew’d is such

None better you’ll find.

The best accommodation

That can be had in the town,

Must give great satisfaction,

And not cause a frown.

Kind friends and the public

I ask for your trade,

None will treat you much better

Than your Servant,  JOHN WADE

Source

Stamford Mercury (Friday) December 22^nd 1865 p1/c4

Notes

The Boat and Railway public house at the bottom of St Mary’s Hill on the corner with Wharf Road was formerly the Boat Commercial Inn, a name board closely linked to the adjacent river trade. In December 1865, it re-opened under the stewardship of John Wade a former proprietor. And to mark and publicise the event John Wade inserted the above doggerel poem in the Stamford Mercury. In 1865 its address was commonly described as Bridge-foot on St Mary’s Hill. The pub was acquired by local brewery, Melbourn Brothers, in 1911 by which time the & Railway had been added. It finally closed in 1962.

Chris Hunt

December 2025

A print version can be downloaded HERE