Alnwick (Alnwick Moor) - Free Merchant's Arms

Name: The Free Merchant's Arms

Address: Alnwick Moor

Free Merchant's Arms

The Free Merchants' Arms was located on Alnwick Moor west of the Shepherds' Rest public house.

1861 OS Map Free Merchant's Rest PH

The only landlord I can find for this pub was a Gawin Forster, who was a labourer running the beer house to supplement his income. Garven was born in Thropton, which is just to the west of Rothbury and I suspect he opened the beerhouse in the late 1850s, as the census for 1861 confirms it was already in existence. The 1851 map shows the building was yet to be built.

1861 Census Gawin Forster 'Cottage & Public House'

1871 Census Free Merchant's Arms
Public House Gawin Forster

1879 Kelly's Directory - Gawin Forster

1881 Census Gawin Forster 'Free Merchant's Arms'

Shortly after the 1881 census was taken Garwin passed away at the Freemerchant's Arms at the grand old age of 72 years and just one year later the license was refused renewal and that was the end of the public house.

Alnwick Mercury 7th May 1881

Alnwick Petty Sessions

...they also declined to renew the license of the Free Merchants' Arms, on Alnwick Moor.

Published: Monday 18 September 1882

Newspaper: Newcastle Journal

1897 OS Map