Northumberland Inns and Taverns: Alnwick (Bondgate Without)

Name: The Fleece Inn

Address: Bondgate Without, Alnwick

Royal Visit 1906

The Fleece Inn is situated on the corner of Hotspur Street and Bondgate Without and dates back to the early 1800s. In the early years the Inn was known as the 'Golden Fleece', but this was shortened to the 'Fleece' by the 1850s.

1827 History, Directory & Gazetteer Henry Dixon

1829 Pigot's Directory - Henry Dixon

Listed landlords at the Inn were Henry Dixon (1829-), Robert Hall (1851-), Elizabeth Hall (1861), Mary Robson (-1872), Joseph Burn (1875-85), Robert Orrick (1887), John Watson (1891), Thomas Watson (-1892), William Graham (1892-), Thomas Taylor (1898), John Douglas (1899-1909), Thomas Tarpey (1909-), William Greenwell (1911-), John Brown (1921), William W Morton ((1939) and Peter & Ann Munro (2003-).

1834 Pigot's Directory - Henry Dixon

1864 Town Plan

Newcastle Courant February 1837

1851 Census Robert Hall

At St. Paul's Church, on the 23rd inst., Mr Robert Swan Boyd, joiner, to Jane Hannah, daughter of Mr Robert Hall, Fleece Inn, Alnwick.

Friday, Nov. 25, 1853
Publication: Newcastle Courant

1855 Whellan's Directory - Robert Hall

1858 Post Office Directory Robert Hall

Tuesday, Feb. 1, 1859 Alnwick Mercury

1861 Census - Elizabeth Hall

On Saturday evenig, an inquest was held at the Fleece Inn, Alnwick, before Mr. T. D. Smith, deputy coroner for North Northumberland, on the body of Isaac Newton, aged 40, gardener. On Christmas-eve, at about ten o'clock, deceased went into the Tanners' Arms. He might previously have had a glass or two of ale; he now had two glasses of whiskey, after taking which he fell asleep; and as he seemed to have "lost the power of his legs" his brother John assisted him home and into bed. This would be at 11 o'clock. Deceased did not complain and did not seem to be ailing. He slept with his brother William. During the night he slept quietly, and when William Newton arose and left him at eight on the following morning, he was alive, sleeping in his usual way. About 10 in the forenoon Mr. T. Appleby called at the house to see William, who was absent, and on passing through the room where deceased was still lying in bed, he spoke to him but got no answer. He then called for a light, which was brought, and the deceased was found to be dead. A doctor was immediately sent for, but on his arrival life was quite extinct.

Verdict, "Died suddenly from natural causes."

Saturday, Jan. 2, 1869
Publication: Morpeth Herald

1871 Census Mary Robson

Saturday, Oct. 25, 1873 Alnwick Mercury

FATAL STABBING CASE AT ALNWICK

The usually quiet town of Alnwick, where crimes of a serious character are exceedingly rare, was startled on Saturday night by the report that a man had been murdered. The facts are these : —James Wilson, aged 21, of Bebside Colliery, near Bedlington, and who had just joined the Northumberland Militia as a recruit, was chinking in the Fleece Inn, Bondgate Without, Alnwick, on Saturday night, with Wm. Bugloss, aged 38, a pitman at Shilbottle Colliery, near Alnwick, and others. A companion of Wilson had a knife in his hand, and was cutting a cane. Wilson asked him for it, and it was given to him. Some altercation seems to have been going on, and Wilson said that if any one interfered with him he would put that (the knife] into him that night. Upon this he began in a threatening, though somewhat jocular way, as it was understood, to point the implement towards some persons present, and among others to Bugloss. "I've given him a bit of a 'prog' in his jacket," Wilson said, and Bugloss exclaimed, "I'm stabbed." The latter was induced to go out and see a doctor, but when he got as far as between Bondgate and the White Swan he dropped on the flagging, and was carried into Dr Candlish's surgery, where he died about twenty minutes after the act. Both were, it is alleged, the worse of drink, but no provocation, it is stated, was given by Bugloss. Wilson threw the knife away, and it has not yet been found. He was immediately apprehended by one of the Alnwick constabulary force, and was taken to the lock-up, where he awaits the coroner's inquest today on a charge of wilful murder. Bugloss has left a wife and six children.

Monday, Mar. 30, 1874
Publication: Edinburgh Evening News

Wilful Damage
James Trainer, and David McLeish, were charged with breaking the door of the Fleece Inn, Alnwick, by kicking at it on the night of Saturday the 29ih ult. The defendants had been refused admittance by the daughter of Mr Burn the landlord, because they were intoxicated. The damage was estimated at 10s. Fined each 20s and costs and the amount of damage.
Saturday, Feb. 12, 1876
Publication: Alnwick Mercury

Joseph Burn. Fleece Inn, Alnwick, was charged with having sold to Superintendent Harkes on the 6th ult, a pint of rum which according to the certificate of the County Analyst, was reduced 25.5 per cent underproof. Mr Harkes proved the case in the usual way. This was the best sample that had yet been brought before the Court. The Bench decided that there must be a conviction, but only inflicted a fine of 10s and costs.
Saturday, Mar. 9, 1878
Publication: Alnwick Mercury

R. Thompson, who did not appear, was charged with being drunk and behaving riotously in the house of Joseph Burn, Fleece Inn, Alnwick, on the night of the 10th inst. Fined 50s including costs, or in default of payment, one month's imprisonment.
Saturday, June 22, 1878
Publication: Alnwick Mercury

1879 Kelly's Directory Joseph Burn

1881 Census Joseph Burn

1885 Probate of Joseph Burn

1891 Census - John Watson

ALNWICK PETTY SESSIONS

Saturday, March 5th

An endorsement of license of the Fleece Inn, Alnwick, was made to William Graham from Thomas Watson f and the license of the John Bull, Alnwick, was endorsed in the name of Henry Gair, who succeeds the said William Graham in this hostelry.

Saturday, Mar. 12, 1892
Publication: Morpeth Herald