The Charles XII, York
The Charles XII, commonly referred to as The Charles, is a pub in Heslington, York. History The Charles was one of three alehouses in Heslington in the 18th century. Its name is recorded as The Robin Hood 1823, then The Horse in 1828, becoming The Chestnut Horse by 1834, then The Bay Horse by 1840. Around 1843, the pub was renamed once more to The Charles XII. The name has been retained ever since. The Charles was often host to celebrations of local institution. In 1844 the Roseland Lodge of the Ancient Order of Free Gardeners celebrated their first anniversary there, as well as their seventh anniversary in 1852, then a celebratory supper after a ploughing match in 1858, while in 1864 the Heslington Mutual Benefit Society hosted a dinner there with Francis Carr, George John de Yarburgh's land-agent, as the chair. Inquests were also held in the inn when required. Like the rest of the village, until the 1930s there was no piped water and the pub was lit by gas, not electricity. During the Second World War, several RAF Bomber Command locations were around Heslington, so The Charles was often filled with air force personnel. A race by