Stood on the corner of Northgate Street and Pringle Street.
Earliest record thus far is August 1839, when John Barradell advertised for a ‘steady’ man to superintend in his Blacksmiths shop in the beerhouse yard.
In December 1845 Thomas Kinton, victualler at Blacksmiths was fined for being open after permitted hours. Isaac Carter was apparently the owner.
Circa 1850, the pub changed its name to the Stag & Hounds. David Adcock ran his higgling business from here before declining this part of the business and auctioning off the timber and carts in January 1852. David died in October 1854 aged forty five, and Henry Adcock (possibly his son) became victualler. Henry’s wife, Catherine Adcock, took over on his death circa 1895. She died here in 1920 aged eighty six, so it appears the Adcocks lived at the Stag & Hounds for over seventy years. The Adcocks were also listed as owners of the property. Son Tom Adcock now listed as licensee.
In 1920 Wm Storer entered the Stag as licensee, and the owners listed as Worthington, a note at the top of the page dated Nov 29th 1920 in the authorities licensing book noted that when Storer entered the pub it was trading at 11 barrels (no size) per week.
1877 saw a tragic inquest held at the Stag & Hounds. A post mortem on seven-year-old William Mills showed that he only weighed 6lbs at his death. His stomach and intestines were empty, no fat or body fluid, only two teaspoons of creamy fluid could be found. The surgeon found he died of starvation. His mother, Elizabeth Mills, was charged and convicted of manslaughter. She was sentenced to six months hard labour (not much more than for poaching).
The Stag & Hounds was supplied by local brewers Cock & Langmore eventually merging with All Saints Brewery, the history of Cock & Langmore is rather convoluted and can be found on Brewery History site.
Owners according to the licensing records were Isaac Carter c1850, Keith Adcock until 1920 then Worthington, (Could that be grocers?) or Brewery? From then seems to have become Offie and Grocers.