A beer house that operated from circa 1815-80.
Licensees include: 1822, Daniel Webb. 1827, Martha Webb. 1831, Thomas Hook. The address was given as Back Bond Street in the 1835 directory. He died suddenly in May of the following year. Earlier in 1832, Thomas was involved in a long court case where two lads John Whittle and Thomas Biddle, both aged seventeen, were charged with stealing money and papers from grocer, George Green, on High St. Mr Hook had spotted them in Butt Close Lane around the corner from the Woolpack both acting furtively trying to conceal something under their clothing. Another witness saw them go down a side entry to the Sow & Pigs, and on searching the privy landlord of the Sow & Pigs, John Hitchcock, found papers and money hidden under the slates. The upshot was that both boys were found guilty and were transported to the colonies for life.
1840, William Hopkins. Both William and his wife were prosecuted by the War Office in 1844, charged with conspiracy after a John Bunny took the King’s shilling by enlisting in the Woolpack, spending some in the pub and failing to appear at barracks. After an eleven hour trial both Mr and Mrs Hopkins were acquitted, much to the relief of town folk.
1850, Mr Hopkins to William King; 1851, licence from William King to John Biggs. The following year John Biggs was fined 10/- for giving two butchers a drink after time when they had delivered some pigs heads.
Biggs was at Woolpack until 1868 when he moved to the Crown and Anchor in Milestone Lane. William Peberdy temporally took over.
The alehouse was put up for sale early 1869.
Sometimes the address was given as Union Street, as in a June 1857 inquest held at the Woolpack on Thomas Sutton who was crushed to death between a cart and gate post. Thomas left a pregnant widow and seven children. So moved were the inquest jury that a collection was made for poor Thomas’ widow and family.
Henry Hickinbottom, victualler, applied in September 1879 to have the Woolpack’s licence moved to a ‘new’ Woolpack on the corner of Surrey St and Catherine Street. The building was actually owned by Mr. Fielding Johnson who intended to build a more substantial public house in Catherine Street. He argued that the Woolpack in Bond Street was now little used, if granted its removal, the West Bond Street alehouse would close. The arguments put forward by the temperance movement against were ‘that the original idea of an alehouse was for somewhere to stay whilst away from home not to furnish accommodation for people living in the area, this was extremely fallacious and putting temptation in the way for people to drink’
The removal was granted to Henry Hickinbottom, and he duly moved himself and licence to the new Woolpack.