This pub has one of the bloodiest histories on this list, due to the beheading of the Earl of Derby outside the pub in 1651. Ye Olde Man and Scythe, Churchgate, Bolton Ye Olde Man and Scythe, photograph taken by Philip Platt There is a model of it in the Science Museum at South Kensington, London. This steelyard, an impressive 15th century weighbridge, has the unique record of having been taken down in 1897 and brought to London to form part of a London street at the Victoria Era Exhibition, and then returned to its old site. Outside is the listed “steelyard” which gives the pub its name. The Old Bell and Steelyard Inn, Woodbridge, Suffolk The Old Bell and Steelyard, photograph taken by Bob Kindred In 1812 the Inn was sold by Lord Brownlow to Sir William Manners, along with his other property in Grantham.Ī number of English royals are known to have stayed at The Angel, including King John, Queen Philippa, Richard III, Charles I, Oliver Cromwell, George IV and Edward VII. The hostelry was run by the Knights until their dissolution in 1312, and then developed into a coaching inn over the years. The Angel and Royal – reputedly the oldest inn in England – originally named The Angel, started as a hostel built by the Knights Templar in 1203 on Great North Road. Angel and Royal Hotel, Grantham, Lincolnshire The Angel and Royal Hotel, photograph taken by Alan Murray-Rust Listen to our 100 Places Podcast to learn more about this pub. It is nestled into Castle Rock (just underneath Nottingham’s historic castle) with the cellars rooted deep into the cliff.
The unusual name comes from the story that King Richard the Lionheart and his men gathered here before journeying to Jerusalem in 1189AD. The Trip claims to be England’s oldest Inn, built in 12th century (although there is no documentation to verify this.) Its original name was The Pilgrim (at least when it was recorded in 1751). Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem Inn, Nottingham Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem Public House © Historic England DP046286 Whatever the accuracy of the dates, it is certain that the monks built the present George Inn, and it served, during the life of the Priory, as its guest house. It may have been that, when the monks moved here to found the Priory, they first built on this spot to provide temporary living accommodation. The date of 1223 pre-dates the building of the Priory, nine years later. This would have been a licence allowed by the Prior, since the earliest Governmental licences for alehouses date from 1552. The date given for its building is suggested as 1223, and a continuous licence is claimed from 1397. One of a number of establishments that claims to be Britain’s oldest tavern. The George Inn, Norton St Philip, Somerset The George Inn © Historic England DP101578
The building became an inn in the 18th century, although it continued to be owned by the Shrewsbury family until 1867. John Lennon’s grandmother, Annie Jane Millward, was born in 1873 and is said to have lived here until she was in her 20s. The building has some famous ancestors originally the town house of the Earls of Shrewsbury, and the birthplace of Beatles’ legend John Lennon’s grandmother.
The Bear & Billet was built in 1664 to replace a building destroyed in the Civil War. Billet & Bear, Chester, Cheshire Photograph taken 18 June 1887 © Reproduced by permission of Historic England Pull up a bar-stool and get familiar with some of England’s oldest pubs.įrom the Knights Templar to John Lennon’s grandmother, here are eleven fascinating histories behind some of our favourite listed pubs: 1.