In Search of Nottingham’s Oldest Pubs

by Dr James Wright

So how do we determine whether a pub has existed as long as the claims make out? It’s based on Archival
Research, Archaeological Analysis and Dendrochronology. In the case of the three Nottingham pubs
highlighted in the talk we learned which one was built first, which one was previously a domestic
dwelling and which one has an invented story courtesy of a previous landlord.
The Trip to Jerusalem, Ye Olde Salutation and The Bell were featured and their timelines dissected.
According to Dr Wright, never believe what a tour guide says or what you might read in books or online,
the evidence is in the architecture and if you know what to look for then a more definitive date can be
determined. So The youngest ale house was the Trip to Jerusalem (1670), The Olde Salutation (1440) and
The Bell (1370).
Other establishments were also featured including The Flying Horse in Nottingham, The Saracen’s Head
in Southwell and The Old White Hart in Newark. The latter used to be a pub and if it still was then would
qualify as one of if not the oldest pub in the county.
We also learned the difference between an Ale House, a Tavern and an Inn. Quite simply an Ale House
looked like a domestic house and brewed its ale on site. A Tavern was frequented by ‘posher’ people and
found in urban locations and an Inn was more like an hotel that served both food and drink and more
importantly had to have a gate portal.*
No beer was available on this particular pub crawl but was no less an intoxicating subject.

• An archway leading to a rear courtyard