Name: Stag Inn
Address: Canongate, Alnwick
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| Site of the Stag Public House c.2026 |
The inn was named after the family who found it, the original landlords being the Staig family. 'Staig' is a Scottish surname, derived from the pre-7th-century Old English word "stagga" or Middle English "stag", and heraldic records for the family name often feature a "canting" design, typically displaying stag heads on a shield, which almost certainly would have formed the basis for the inn's sign.
Back in the early 1800s another local establishment, the Half Moon was said to be only a few doors down the road, which may have been the Black Horse.
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| 1827 History, Directory & Gazetteer - Margaret Staig |
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| 1793 birth of daughter, Barbara Ann Staig |
The first 'listed landlord' I can find is Margaret Staig in 1827, whose family originated from Scotland, members of the Pottergate Street Scotch Presbyterian Church and who lived in Canongate at the start of the 1800s.
Margaret's husband, Abram (Abraham) Staig was a Mason by trade and was probably the original landlord, but he passed away in 1804 and Margaret continued to live in the family home running the inn alongside family members until her own death in 1831.
Listed landlords for this public house were Abram Staig (-1804), Margaret Staig (1804-31), George Buddle (1832-45), Barbara Ann Buddle (nee Staig) (1845-70), Dorothy Staig (1856), William Jobson (1871) and Peter Riddell (1874-).
In 1832 the Poll Books shows George Buddle as a tenant of the "Sign of the Stag" on Canongate Street. George, who was a cabinet maker by trade, had married Abram and Elizabeth Staig's daughter, Barbara Ann, and following Margaret's death, they took over running the inn.
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| 1864 Town Plan |
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| 1834 Pigot's Alnwick - George Buddle |
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| 1841 Census - George Buddle |
George Buddle died in 1845 leaving wife Barbara and their children to run the business.
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| 1851 Census - Barbara Buddle |
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| 1855 Whellan's Directory - Barbara Buddle |
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| 1858 Post Office Directory (Canongate) |
On Saturday evening, an inquest was held at the house of Barbara Buddle, innkeeper, Alnwick, on the body of Mr Thomas Croft, shoemaker, when a verdict was returned of - Died from excessive drinking.
Friday, Nov. 2, 1860
Publication: Newcastle Courant
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| 1861 Census Barbara Buddle |
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| 1864 Probate of Hannah Buddle |
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| 1871 Census - William Jobson |
DEATH FROM INTEMPERANCE
On Monday last, an inquest was held at the Stag Inn, Alnwick, before T. D. Smith, Esq , coroner for North Northumberland, on the body of John Elliott, mason, touching whose death on the preceding night the following evidence was adduced. Robert Elliott being sworn, said : I am a husbandman and reside at Charlton Myers. The body which the jury have just viewed is that of my son John Elliott, a mason. aged 33 years. He has lately been in the service of Mr Robert Yeaman of this town, and lived in the different localities where his work lay. Last week he was at work about Shilbottle, and he came to Alnwick on Saturday. I came in yesterday to meet him and my other son with whom he generally stayed when he came from the country, I saw him in my son Robert's house about eleven o'clock. He came into the house at that time and went to bed, and lay perfectly quiet until tea time—between four and five o'clock. He then got up, sate at he table, and made his tea heartily with us, and was cheerful with us all. Shortly after tea be shook hands with me and went out I never saw him afterwards alive. Elizabeth Elliott said: I am the wife of Robert Elliott, of this town, carter, the brother of the deceased. About two o'clock on Saturday deceased came to our bouse and had something to eat. He went out about half-an-hour afterwards, and returned about five o'clock ; he seemed rather drunk, and only stayed about three minutes. About seven he came in again, and stayed about half an hour. He then went out and did not return until Sunday forenoon between ten and c even o'clock. I asked him where he had been, but he seemed intoxicated and did not answer. He sat a while and went to sleep, and my husband and I put him to bed. He then sept quietly until about four o'clock. He then got up and had tea with us. He seemed to eat the meat very heartily. but only took one cup of tea. He went out about twenty minutes before five and never returned. He often stayed out late, and sometimes all night. — Dorothy Jobson, spinster, being sworn, said : I was well acquainted with John Elliott; he was in the habit of keeping company with me. I met him in the market on Saturday night about nine o'clock. I left him there; and I saw him again after I came home, about eleven o'clock. He slept in the lounge all night; my uncle John Fletcher slept with him I saw him at breakfast next morning. He did not make much of it. He went out about half-past ten, and I was not in when he came at night; I never spoke to him again. He had a bottle in his pocket when he came in on Saturday night. It had whisky in it. Abraham Maig said: I am a shoemaker and reside in Canongate. Up. Sunday night about nine o'clock I was called in to my mother's house; I there found John Elliott lying on the flour. My wife and I lifted him and put him upon a chair. I fancied for a few minutes he was in a stupor, but about a quarter-of-an-hour after I thought he was dead and sent for Dr Candlish. I saw deceased about five o'clock the same evening in my mother's house. He was quite sober I saw him again about half-past eight in this house. I then observed to the landlord that it did not look well. I heard him vomiting—and afterwards he seemed to be in a Bout of stupor. Henry Candlish, M.D.. said : I am a surgeon practising in this town. On Monday night about ten o'clock I was sent for to visit a man at Mrs Maig's house, who was said to have taken a fit. I was promptly in attendance, and on examination I found life was extinct. I have heard the evidence of the witnesses as to the state of deceased before death, and from that, and the appearance which the body presented, I am of opinion that death was the result of congestion of the brain—and that that was produced by excessive drinking.
Verdict. "Bleed from congestion of the brain, which was produced by excessive drinking."
Saturday, Nov. 11, 1871
Publication: Alnwick Mercury
A Child Burnt to Death
On Friday evening last, an inquest was held at the Stag Inn, Canongate, Alnwick, before Thomas D. Smith, Esq., coroner for North Northumberland, on the body of a child named Phillis Lockey, eight years old, who had died from the effects of a severe burn she had received on the previous morning. It appears the child, with several others, had been left by themselves by the mother, who had gone out to wait upon a neighbour who was dying; and in her absence the child's night dress accidentally caught fire and caused the burn from the effects of which she died.
Verdict, "Died from injuries accidentally received."
Saturday, Nov. 23, 1872
Publication: Alnwick Mercury
MELANCHOLY CASE OF SUICIDE
On Monday evening last, an inquest was held at the Stag Inn, Alnwick, before Thomas D. Smith, Esq., coroner for North Northumberland, on the body of Thomas Givens, who had committed suicide on the same day. The following was the evidence adduced: — John Archbold, being sworn, said: lam a woodman to the Duke of Northumberland, and reside at Abbey Cottage. I identify the body which the jury have just viewed : it is that of Thomas Givens also a woodman, who was fifty-two years of age. I last saw him alive this morning about a quarter past eleven. We had been cutting wood together all the morning up to that time in the Dairy Grounds. I left him at work and went to assist in loading a cart about 300 yards off, and when I returned a few minutes after twelve he was not at his work. We had nearly finished that work, and he promised to follow me ; but he did not do so I went in search of him, and about thirty or forty yards from where we had been at work together, I found him hanging suspended with a cord by the neck. The cord was fastened to a poplar tree- The branch to which it was made fast was six or seven feet from the ground. Close to the tree was a wall, upon which he must have stood to fasten the cord, and he could then swing himself off. The cord is one he had carried in his pocket for some time for the purpose of taking home a bundle of sticks I have known him about three years. He was a good workman, and regular. For some time past he bas been not so talky as usual. On Saturday he complained to me of his head—of giddiness. As soon as I found him, I cut him down, and William Weallens came up at the time and eased the rope. Joseph Coxon, being sworn, said: I am chief woodman to the Duke of Northumberland. Deceased and last witness would be at work as described. I saw the body shortly after twelve o'clock, and life was quite extinct. I have known deceased a long time. About three years ago he got into a strange excited state, and since then he has been subject to fits of despondency, and has had one of them this last week. I saw him this morning, and he did not use his axe in his usual way.
Verdict, "Insanity."
Saturday, Oct. 11, 1873
Publication: Alnwick Mercury
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| Saturday, Jan. 10, 1874 Alnwick Mercury |
BREWSTER SESSIONS
On this day the justices also held the annual Brewster Session for East Coquetdale. The licenses of the following publicans who were on the "Black List", were adjourned till the next Court day for further consideration :—John Bolton, Joiner's Arms Inn, Newton-by-the-Sea; Robert Rogerson, Rising Sun Inn, Christon Bank ; Alice Percy, Castle Inn, Alnwick; Margaret Ternent, Tailor's Arms Inn, Alnwick; and Peter Riddell, Stag Inn, Alnwick.
Saturday, Sept. 12, 1874
Publication: Alnwick Mercury
Larceny by a Militiaman.— Michael Connolly, a recruit belonging to the Northumberland Militia, was sentenced to one month's imprisonment for stealing a shirt and a pair of stockings, value 3s l0d, from John Molloy, another militia recruit, at the Stag Inn Canongate, Alnwick, on Tuesday, the 16th inst.
Saturday, Mar. 27, 1875
Publication: Alnwick Mercury
In late 1878 the inn went up to let, but it never reopened after that time.
The press article below confirms that all three public houses in Canongate closed in the 20 years prior to 1891, which was to make way for redevelopment of the area.
There have also been several beer shops closed. Thirty-one public-houses are still licensed in Alnwick (including the Bee Hive in the Market Place, which has been shut up for several years, and the Pickwick Inn —formerly a brewery —in Roxburgh Place, which has been wanting a tenant since November last.) It, however, cannot be said that temperance has made any great incur upon the publicans' trade in Alnwick, if we take a similar retrospective view. Sixteen and seventeen years ago, Good Templarism flourished in Alnwick—like all novelties—there being three distinct lodges of the brotherhood, and upwards of 600 members. Now there only exists one lodge, the youngest of the three, which has had a very fitful life, but is now, we understand, in more improved circumstances than it has been for several years. There is a mighty lot can be said, for and against the liquor traffic. In our opinion prohibitory measures have a far more demoralising effect than a free unlimited sale.
Saturday, Mar. 21, 1891 Morpeth Herald
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