Alnwick (Market Place) - King's Head (Freemasons' Arms)

Name: King's Head (Freemasons' Arms)

Address: 7-9 Market Place (Street), Alnwick

The Northern Angels c.2026, Market Place
previously the King's Head aka Freemasons' Arms

One of Alnwick's oldest pubs dating back to the early 1800s, this inn started life as the King's Head (not to be mistaken with the King's Arms, also on Market Place at the time), but by the 1870s it had changed its name to the Freemasons' Arms, which it remained until post-WWI, when it finally fell victim to the Licensing Act of 1904 and was closed by the local magistrates with compensation offered to the owners. The reason being... there were simply too many pubs in the town for the population at the time!

I'm glad to see that the building, which is thankfully Grade II listed remains to this day and over the last century or so has played host to a variety of businesses, including a restaurant, café, fish and chip shop and ice cream parlour. 

The building's description on the Historic England website reflects how the building has changed since closing as a public house but doesn't reference the fact that it was an inn for over a century...

MARKET STREET 1. 5330 (South Side) Nos 7 and 9 GV 2

Early C19, at slight angle to No 51 Bondgate Within. Three storeys and 2 windows, Plain ashlar with moulded eaves cornice. Slate roof with coped verges and 2 brick chimneys. Glazing bar sash windows. Two C20 shop fronts on ground floor, forming a flat bow.

First reference I can find to the King's Head is in the below newspaper excerpt below in 1815.

A meeting of Brewers, Spirit Merchants, Inn Keepers, and Publicans of Alnwick and its vicinity will be held at Henry Forster's King's Head on Thursday.
13th June 1815
Tyne Mercury

Listed landlords at the pub were Henry Forster (1815-), Jane Lee (1829), Thomas Sharpe (1834), Thomas Archbold (1841-55), John Hogg (1858), Elizabeth Shepherd (1871-1889), Hannah Myers (1889), Henry Stott (-1891), Robert S Wallace (1891-), George Irving (1894-), George Short (1901), Thomas Henderson (-1905), Thomas Cockburn (1905-10) and Isabella Cockburn (1910-). 

1829 Pigots Alnwick - Jane Lee

1864 Town Plan Kings Head PH, Market Place

1834 Pigots Directory Alnwick - Thomas Sharpe

1841 Census Thomas Archbold

1851 Census Thomas Archbold

1855 Whellan's Directory - Thomas Archbold

1858 Post Office Directory - John Hogg

If it wasn't for the Post Office directory, we'd never have known at John Hogg and his wife Mary ran the King's Head, as his primary occupation was that of Mason (see 1861 census below); income from the pub supplementing his business. However, a decade earlier, he and Mary were ensconced behind the bar at the Anchor Inn on Clayport Street.

1861 Census John Hogg

The arrival of an Elizabeth Shepherd in the 1860s appears to have heralded a change of name to the Freemasons' Arms, something that was referenced some 60 years later in the local press.

Local Notes, Oddfellowship in Alnwick

It is probable that the inn (Oddfellows' Arms) received its name through the Oddfellows holding their meetings therein, in the same manner as the King's Head, in the Market Place got the title of the 'Freemasons' Tavern'.

9th July 1921 Alnwick Guardian

In 1861, Elizabeth and her husband Ralph were running the Bird & Bush Inn nearby on Dispensary Street, but sadly Ralph passed away in 1864 and I can only surmise that this coincided with Elizabeth's move to the King's Head.

1871 Census Elizabeth Shepherd (Innkeeper)

1879 Kelly's Directory Elizabeth Shepherd Freemasons' Arms

1881 Census Elizabeth Shepherd (Innkeeper)

ALNWICK HOTSPUR RANGERS

The annual meeting of this club was held on Thursday night at Mrs Shepherd’s, Freemason's Inn, Alnwick, when a fair turn out of members made their appearance. Mr .J. Young occupied the chair. 

Published: Saturday 04 August 1888

Newspaper: Alnwick Guardian and County Advertiser

1889 Probate for Elizabeth Shepherd

10th August 1889 Morpeth Herald

1891 Census Henry Scott (Publican)

ALNWICK PETTY SESSIONS
Robert S. B. Wallace, landlord of the Freemasons' Tavern, Alnwick, was charged with permitting drunkenness on his licensed premises, Alnwick, the 10th of November last.
Published: Saturday 26 December 1891
Newspaper: Morpeth Herald

1894 Kelly's Directory George Irving

George Irving only lasted a year or two at the Inn, his death in 1895 at the tender age of 36 years recorded in the probate record below.

1895 Probate George Irving

1901 Census George Short

Application was made by Mr T Archibold, solicitor, Alnwick, for the transfer of the Freemasons' Arms, Alnwick from Thos. Henderson to Thos. W Cockburn - this was granted.

Published: 13th May 1905

Newspaper: Alnwick Guardian County Advertiser

1910 Probate Thomas Waugh Cockburn

1911 Census Isabella Cockburn (Inn Keeper)

1911 Census Summary Market Place

ALNWICK BREWSTER SESSIONS

After the outbreak of the war a large number men had been employed in labouring work, which had been plentiful. 

The Greys Inn and Freemasons Tavern, Alnwick, as redundant 1914, are still doing business, they question the amount of compensation having been referred.

Published: Monday 08 February 1915