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King
George II Inn History
The King
George II Inn is known as the oldest continuously operating inn
in the country; however, it has experienced several name changes
since its founding.
The King
George II Inn was originally established by Samuel Clift in
1681. The King George II
Inn was originally known as the Ferry House. In 1684, the
property was leased by Michael Hurst and, in 1705, opened as an
inn by Thomas Brook. After a damaging fire, the King
George II Inn was purchased in 1735 by Charles Besonett who
rebuilt it on a much larger scale using Clift's Ferry House s
the base for this grand new site. The inn was officially
named the King George II inn in 1765 and subsequently licensed
as a hotel in 1768
History tells
us that a timely name change took place as General George
Washington approached Bucks County. The image of King
George II was quickly removed from the Inn's sign and replaced
with a likeness of the General. Shortly thereafter,
Besonett renamed the King George II Inn, calling it The
Fountain House.
In the days
of stagecoach travel, the King George II Inn was the patriarch
of inns along the main route from New York to
Philadelphia. In keeping with other royal inns throughout
England, the King George II Inn provided refined hospitality,
fine refreshments and a warm and friendly atmosphere for the
discriminating and weary traveler.
During the
1800's, the King George II Inn catered to wealthy travelers
drawn to Bristol, then a popular resort and spa, to bathe and
drink from the nearby "Bristol Springs" which were
known for their medicinal qualities.
In 1892, the
King George II Inn experienced another name change to Ye Olde
Delaware House. It wasn't until the mid 1900's that the
name, King George II Inn, was restored.
Located at
the corner of Radcliffe and Mill Streets in Bristol Borough, the
King George II Inn overlooks the Delaware River and has
traditionally been the cornerstone of the borough's waterfront
business district.
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