The Boston Tea Party which stands in Salisbury’s High Street was once considered the most important of the city's medieval inns.

This wonderful timbered building includes parts which date from the 14th century and records show that it belonged to the family of Teynturer, two of whom both held the office of Mayor.

It is said that the name of the inn may have been connected with the activities of the guild of St. George, to which William Teynturer the younger left property in 1376.

Salisbury Journal: Boston Tea Party, Salisbury High Street

Later, in 1414, the inn was purchased by the Mayor and commonalty and called  'Georges Ynne' – later in the century its thirteen guest chambers were each given a distinguishing name.

The diarist Samuel Pepys visited Salisbury on June 10 to 12 1668 and stayed at the George Inn, ‘where lay in silk bed; and very good diet’, on his way to Stonehenge.

He later wrote: '"Paid the reckoning, which was so exorbitant... that I was mad and resolved to trouble the mistress about it and get something for the poor."

Other famous guests who have stayed or visited the hotel include Oliver Cromwell (1645) and Buddy Holly (1958) not to mention William Shakespeare and his players who, it is believed, rehearsed “As You Like It” in the gardens of the Inn where The Old George Mall now stands.

Salisbury Journal: Boston Tea Party, Salisbury High Street

Among the features of this fine old establishment is a minstrels gallery, the heads of Edward II and his queen Isabella carved into beams, a superb 18th Century staircase, Tudor plasterwork, and a bay window built by Italian craftsmen said to be moonlighting from work on the cathedral.

In more modern times the former ground floor frontage to the Old George Hotel was knocked out to form the entrance to the Old George Mall shopping precinct. Other enterprises that have traded from the building include the Bay Tree Restaurant and the Old George Tearooms which closed in 2009.