Address: Fenkle Street, Alnwick
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| Nag's Head c.1960s |
The Nag's Head public house began life as an Elizabethan tavern originally called 'The Griffin' before it was rebuilt and renamed. A worn stone seat and mounting steps outside the building date back to approximately 1598 and the building that still stands today is Grade II listed.
The site originally spread from no.9 to no.13 and featured a large rear yard accessed via a coach archway that once led to stables and a local rear theatre, reflecting Alnwick's role as a busy market and coaching town.
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| 1864 Town Map |
Listed landlords at the Nag's Head were Mrs Appleby (early 1800s), George Pringle (-1828), Robert Harvey (1828-), William Dunn (1851-61), Jane Dunn (1864-), Fergus Clark (1872-81), Robert Nesbitt Turnbull (1885-88), Joseph Grey (1888-98), George Harvey Johnstone (1898-1901), Isabella Burn (1903-05), William Henry Williams (1906), Charles William Dickinson (1907), Richard Hall (1911-21), George Pattison (1939) and John Stanley (1983).
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| 1829 Pigot's Directory George Pringle |
ROBERT HARVEY most respectfully begs leave to inform his Friends and the Public that he has entered to that commodious and well accustomed Public House, lately occupied by Mr Geo. Pringle, well known by the Sign of' THE NAGS HEAD INN, Fenkle Street, Alnwick, where he has laid in a choice Stock of Wines, Spirits, Ales, and London Porter, which he trusts will merit him a share of public favours. R. H. takes this opportunity to assure his friends that his utmost endeavour will be used for their accommodation and comfort. N.B. R.H having had many years experience in the Management and Breaking of Horses, he has commenced in that line; having excellent Stabling and Accommodation, he trusts from Attention to Business, to give Satisfaction to those Gentlemen who may employ him.
Saturday, Dec. 6, 1828
Publication: Newcastle Courant
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| 1834 Pigot's Directory Robert Harvey |
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| 1841 Census Robert Harvey |
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| 1851 Census William Dunn |
The Duke and Duchess of Northumberland gave a substantial supper and entertainment on Saturday evening last, at the Nag's Head Inn, Alnwick, to the whole of the workmen employed upon the extensive alterations and enlargements now in progress aft Alnwick Castle. On that day the noble Duchess laid the foundation stone of the magnificent Prudhoe Tower, which for the future, under the contemplated improvements, will form a conspicuous feature in this fine old baronial residence of the Percys, The works are under the direction of A. Salvin, Esq. the eminent architect, and Mr. Wilson, his Clerk of the works presided at the festive board. About 130 workmen sat down to the abundant repast. At its conclusion the usual loyal toasts were given from the chair, after which the healths of the Duke and Duchess were respectively proposed, and received with enthusiastic cheers. The evening was spent with the most uninterrupted hilarity and good feeling, interspersed with national songs and loyal and patriotic sentiments, and the party separated with grateful feelings for the considerate kindness of the noble Duke and Duchess, and the prospect of long continued employment, provided by His Grace's munificence, at the extensive works at the Castle.
Saturday, Dec. 2, 1854
Publication: Newcastle Journal
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| 1855 Whellan's Directory - William Dunn |
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| 1861 Census William Dunn |
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| Tuesday, May 7, 1861 Newcastle Journal |
Tuesday, Apr. 1, 1862 Alnwick Mercury
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| 11 Apr 1863 Alnwick Mercury |
ALNWICK SESSIONS BALL
Seldom has a more brilliant assemblage met within the Alnwick
Assembly Rooms than was gathered together on Thursday evening last:— " Northumbrian capital had gathered then Her beauty a .d her chivalry, and bright The lamps shone o'er fair women and brave men." A flood of subdued light was poured upon the ball room from the splendid gasaliers that hung from the ceiling, to which the golden tubes, so gracefully winding round them, imparted an additional beauty. Each end of the room was adorned with flowers from the conservatory ; and the long refreshment table was full of grapes, and other fruits and confections, among which wereg intermingled vases of flowers and the tea, coffee, ices, &c., were handed by fair waitresses whose attentions were most praiseworthy. All the arrangements were admirably conducted, and did the utmost ciedit to the skill, taste, and liberality of Mr. and Mrs. Paotling, the wardens of the rooms. The company, which comprised upwards of 200 ladies and gentlemen, began to arrive about nine ; but dancing did not commence till after ten, when the Earl and Couutess Percy arrived with a large and brilliant party from the Castle, consisting of the Earl and Countess of Tankerville ; Lord and Lady Wharncliffe; Miss Percy; Sir Rowland and Miss Erringtou : Sir Edward and Miss Blackett; Sir M. W. Ridley and Miss Ridley, Mr. Ridley, Mr. E. Ridley ; Mr.. Mrs., and Misses Charlton ; Mr. C. W. Orde and Mrs. Orde ; Sir Walter and Lady Riddell ; Mr.. Mrs., and Miss Cuthbert; Miss Eliza and Miss Charlotte Percy ; Miss de Winlow ; Mr. and Mrs. James and Lieutenant James ; Mr. Smith Barry ; and Mr. Charles Blackett. The ball was led off by Earl Percy and Lady Wharucliffe in a country dance, to the ever popular and inspiring 'Keel Row' and a succession of valses, quadrilles, galops. &c., under the experienced and genial superintendence of Wm. Forster. Esq., the master of the ceremonies sped away the hours almost till the morning star began "to pale her ineffectual fires." The music was supplied by Mr. M. Liddell of Newcastle, and the wines and other refreshments by Miss Dunn, of the Nag's' Head Inn, Alnwick.
Saturday, Oct. 20, 1866 Newcastle Journal
William and Sarah left the Inn and 5 years later William was to die in 1868 in Belford.
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| 1868 Probate William Dunn |
By this stage his sister, Jane Dunn was behind the bar at the Nag's Head.
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| 1871 Census Jane Dunn (widow) |
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| Friday, July 19, 1872 Newcastle Courant |
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| Saturday, Jan. 20, 1877 Alnwick Mercury |
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| 1879 Kelly's Directory - Fergus Clark |
Proposed Presentation to Mr Isaac Milburn
A numerous and influential meeting was held at Mr F. Clark's, the Nag's Head Inn, Alnwick, on Wednesday evening, to take into consideration the propriety of presenting a testimonial to Mr Isaac Milburn, bone-setter, who is so well known and so highly respected for his skill and worth. Mr Milburn is now 84 years of age, and it is felt that his long and valuable services deserve some public recognition. Mr Joseph Archbold was in the chair. A committee of fifteen, comprising many influential tradesmen and inhabitants of the town and district, was appointed; and Mr Joseph Archbold and Arthur Cockburn were appointed secretaries. It was stated that the feeling in all those parts of the county where Mr Milburn is known, is strongly in favour of the movement now set on foot. We may therefore anticipate there will be a good subscription list.
Saturday, Jan. 18, 1879 Alnwick Mercury
ADJOURNED BREWSTER SESSIONS.,ALINWICK
The adjourned Brewster Sessions for the Petty Sessional Division of East Coquetdale was held at Alnwick on Saturday, The licenses of Fergus Clark, Nag's Head Inn, Alnwick; David Wright, Robin Hood Inn, Alnwick; and James Connor, Globe Inn, Alnwick, which had been held over for a fortnight, were renewed. Against Connor a charge had been pending of permitting drunkenness on his premises, but this case was heard and dismissed on Saturday, previous to the renewing of the license. Mr Wright had been convicted and his license endorsed on the last court day for selling d4rink during prohibited hours, and his license was renewed with a caution. The only reason why Mr Clark's license had been held over was the fact that on the 4th September, after closing hours, a number of people, many of whom were under the influence of drink and behaving accordingly, were seen by the Superintendent of Police coming out of the passage which is the sole means of entrance from the street to the Nag's Head premises and to a large room formerly used as the theatre which is above Mr Clark's stables. This room is not in any way under Mr Clark's control, and it is let by the owner to dancing masters, Good Templars, and other parties for various purposes. It was stated to be probable that the owner of the premises would arrange that the " theatre " be closed at 11 t., at the same time as the public house.
Friday, Sept. 26, 1879 Newcastle Courant
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| 1881 Census Fergus Clark |
From the Alnwick Mercury, Dec 12th 1885.
The Nag’s Head. In the reign of Queen Elizabeth there stood in Fenkle Street a comfortable hostelry known as the Griffin. Many a trusty liege in doubtlet and trunk hose, with his dame riding behind him on a pillion, alighted at the mounting-block placed near its entrance, many a string of weary pack-horses threaded their way through the narrow passage through the building to the commodious stabling in the rear, all content to find the sufficient accommodation it afforded in those old days. As time went on, however, varied alterations were made, and among them the sign was changed from the Griffin to the Nag’s Head. Under this name, with a theatre built over its large stables in the rear, the old Inn has been handed down to us, homely and hoary, with its narrow entrance way, its stone-mounting block and settle the side of its bay window. Though picturesque in the extreme, it cannot but be allowed that the accommodation that was sufficient in the days of Queen Elizabeth no longer sufficed, and the fact that no vehicles could pass into the stable yard without going round through a remote backway, in consequence of the passageway from the front having been made for horses only, formed a daily inconvenience. With a view to place the Inn upon the level of its ancient reputation, the late much lamented E,. T. Grey, acting for the owner, Mrs Grey, commenced a series of improvements we think should be recorded in these columns. The entrance way has been widened to admit vehicles of all sorts, well lighted and well paved, presenting perhaps, the most characteristic difference in the requirements between Elizabethan and Victorian times, showing the increase of wheeled traffic, better roads and a greater perfection of sanitary matters, generally. A wide well lighted handsome staircase das been placed, giving access to a set of n-w rooms on the first and second floors. On the ground floor is a handy “bar” and additional improvements have been made to a second “snuggery” and to the well known and well frequented .carriers’ hull-kitchen. new commercial room and business room and bedroom, bath room, and w. c. have been added on the first floor. And cu the second floor are two new rooms, one of which by the raising of the quaint old bay window is furnished with a delightful sunny and wide range prospect. Throughout these alterations the strictest attention has been paid to the acquisition of high class sanitary arrangements, by the architect, Mr F. K. Wilson, of this town. The works were executed by the well known firm of Luke and Dixon, builders, likewise of this town. At the beginning of this century this interesting old inn was kept Mrs Appleby. ln the middle of the century it was kept by Mrs Dunn of golden memory. Since then its good name has been well maintained by Mr Fergus Clark, and now under Mr K. Turnbull, with these improvements, we take it for granted it has entered upon a new lease of great hospitable usefulness.
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| 1880s Postcard Fenkle Street - Nag's Head |
PUBLIC-HOUSE AFFAIRS
Transfers of licenses were granted as follows From William Bowey, Hermitage Hotel, Warkworth, to Jane Bowman; from James Robson, Percy Arms, Alnwick, to Margaret Jane Aitcheson; from Robert Nesbitt Turnbull, Nag's Head Hotel, Alnwick, to Joseph Grey; from John Bell, Blinkbonny Hotel, Christon Bank, to William Mordue; from Margaret Jane Aitcheson, Bird and Bush Inn, to William Burn, late of the Ogle Arms Inn, Eglingham. The plans for a proposed alteration and addition of three rooms to the Dock Hotel, Amble, were submitted and allowed.
Saturday, June 9, 1888 Morpeth Herald
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| 1891 Census Joseph Grey |
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| Saturday, Apr. 25, 1891 Morpeth Herald |
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| 1894 Kelly's Directory - Joseph Grey |
ALNWICK PETTY SESSIONS
Saturday, June 4th, 1898. Before Mr. Thomas Tate of Allerburn (in the chair); Mr. T. W. Craster of Craster Tower; and Mr. M. F. McLean, Alnmouth ; also Mr. J. Archer (clerk.) LICENSING MATTERS. An occasional license was granted to Mrs. Home, Star Hotel, Alnwick, to purvey refreshments in the Corn Exchange, on the occasion of the Collinson Testimonial Banquet, June 15th. Transfers of were granted for the "Old Plough Inn," Alnwick, from Thomas Cairns to Joseph Grey, Nag's Head; for the "Blue Bell, Alnwick, from George Harvey Johnston to Thos. Cairns, aforesaid; and for the "Nag's Head," Alnwick, from Joseph Grey aforesaid, to George Harvey Johnston aforesaid; for the " Sun Inn," Alnmouth, from William Clark to Thomas Bowey, Newcastle; and for the "Oddfellows' Arms," Alnwick, from John Whiteford to William Bain. The license of the "George Inn" Alnwick, was endorsed for a further period, to enable the proprietor, William Mack, to give proper notice for transfer.
Saturday, June 11, 1898 Morpeth Herald
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| 1901 Census George H Johnston |
ALNWICK CYCLING CLUB DINNER
Thomas Brown, on behalf of Isabella Burn. landlady of the Nag's Head Hotel, Alnwick, applied for an occasional license to be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors, &c., in the Town Hall, between the hours of 7 and 12 p.m., on the 28th of October 1903, the occasion of the annual supper and gathering of Alnwick Cycling Club.—Granted
LICENSING CHANGES
Temporary transfers of the following licenses were granted:—Freemasons' Tavern, Alnwick, to Thomas Cockburn; Fox and Hounds, Amble, to Charles Johnson; Ship Inn, Newton-by-the-Sea, to Andrew Carr; Three Tuns Inn. Alnwick, to Thos. Henderson; Bird and Hush, Alnwick, to Isabella Burn. Too late applications were made by Oscar Warren for the license of the Blue Hell, Alnwick, and a man from Ulgham for the license of the Nag's Head Hotel, Alnwick, which will have to be closed from the 12th to the 20th May providing that some arrangement is not made with the present license holders to continue the licenses provisionally.
Saturday, May 13, 1905 Morpeth Herald
ALNWICK PETTY SESSIONS
Saturday, December 1, 1906. Before: Major S. F. Widdrington, chairman; Colonel Kenyon Slaney, Major R. Scott, Mr. O. Tate, and Mr T. Tate, Mr. C. Percy, clerk, and Mr. T. Bolton, superintendent of police TEMPORARY TRANSFER. The temporary transfer of the license of the Nag's Head Hotel, Alnwick, from W. B. Williams to Chas. Dickinson, Ashington, was granted.
Saturday, Dec. 8, 1906 Morpeth Herald
PUBLIC-HOUSE CHANGES HANDS
The transfer of the Nag's Head Inn, Alnwick, from William Henry Williams to Charles William Dickinson, miner. Achington, was granted.
Saturday, Jan. 12, 1907 Morpeth Herald
BRIEF NOTES AND NEWS
Mr. Fergus Clark, of Duke Street Alnwick, died on Saturday, at the advanced age of 86 years. Mr. Clark practised as a bone-setter, in which profession he attained considerable repute and which he carried on till a short time before hie death. For several years he was landlord of the Nag's Head Hotel, Alnwick, succeeding the Misses Dunn, and afterwards farmed Mount Hooley at Whittingham for several years. The deceased was a member of the Alnwick Lodge of Freemasons.
Saturday, Dec. 11, 1909 Morpeth Herald
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| 1911 Census Summary Sheet |
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| 1911 Census Richard Hall |
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| 1914 Kelly's Directory - Richard Hall |
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| 1939 Register George Pattison |
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| Friday, Mar. 28, 1947 Morpeth Herald |
In the final decades of its life as a pub, it spent a period of time as 'McCullochs', and was then purchased by John Stanley in 1983 and renamed Stanley's Cask, before eventually closing its doors as a pub. The structure at numbers 9–13 Fenkle Street remains a designated historic building featuring 18th-century core elements and late-19th-century gabled dormers.
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| Nag's Head c.2026 Beauty World |
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