The Black Boys is a Grade II listed pub and it is likely that beer selling was going on here since Henry VIII and possibly even earlier. It has been referred to as Blackboyes, Les Blackboies and the Three Black Boys.

When the telephone came to Aylsham, the pub was number ‘3’.

The name was thought to have originated from the nickname of Charles II (1660), who was known as Black Boy because of his dark appearance. However, the earliest written reference to the name of this pub is in a letter from John Potts who was arranging an 8am meeting ‘at the signe of the Black Boy in Ailsham’ This letter was written in 1625, so can’t have been in relation to Charles II.  The name is more likely to come from the fashion of having African boys in domestic households.

For some time, this was two buildings, part of which later became two shops – now Keys and the empty barber’s shop. The two buildings were joined together around 1570 with the passage becoming a covered entrance to the yard with entrances either side to the bars. The passageway led through to the back of the hotel where there were stables for 40 horses and the services of 3 Ostlers. Horses were often changed here on long journeys – especially from Cromer to Norwich.  This archway was filled in between 1928 and 1930 and is now the front entrance. Carriages, and even a hearse, could be hired from the Black Boys. From 1872, the stables also housed horses used to draw the fire engine.

As with many pubs the Black Boys had its own bowling green from about 1705. This was originally in Church terrace but was moved to Cawston Road in 1750.

The Black Boys also had a ballroom with a minstrel’s gallery known as the Assembly Rooms. This room had two chandeliers and two fireplaces and was situated over what is now Arnold Keys. Nelson attended a dance here.