The Shakespeare
NEWPORT HISTORY SOCIETY INNS AND BEER HOUSES WALKING TOUR
THE SHAKESPEARE, 68 UPPER BAR TF10 7AW
Licensed premises from around 1820s until present day
The original building dated from around 1700 or earlier but burned down along with the associated tannery. A will dating from 1707 relates to the old building being called ‘Hoar Withy’.
The tenant at the time was John Old, a tanner. However, the existing deeds date to1822 when the building at the front was recreated from the remains of the fire. A sooty wall at the northern end of the alleyway is perhaps also part of the burnt down property.
It seems likely that the frontage that we see today was was remodelled in the late 19th century with a ‘Tudorbethan’ feel but the unusual situation of the central chimney indicates an earlier property as do the original two door entry at the front. The plaster sculpture of William Shakespeare is based on a marble bust by John Chelle, which belongs to the Royal Family. The inn never advertised home brewed ale, and by the end of the 19th century it became a tied house of George J Holt of Shrewsbury.
This was an Inn for a posting service not for coaches. Postal networks included predefined routes known as post roads and the postal riders could mount fresh horses at each stage on a route. The stabling and warehousing has been substantially reduced from what it was.
In 1910, the Shakespeare Inn was described as a:
Tied House. Sitting Room, 4 Bedrooms + Club Room Up.
Bar, Smoke Room. Kitchen and Scullery Down.
A view of there Shakespeare Inn around 1905-1910
The door to the smoke room still survives
In the front bay, the very fine stained-glass windows are believed to be dated from the 1st half of the 20th century
In the cellar, some of the walls are sandstone; indicating part of the earlier ‘Hoar withy’ building.
In the mid 20th century there was a Pigeon Fanciers Club , which used the club room upstairs, and Newport Football team, used the warehouse as their changing rooms in the mid 20th century. Martyn Withnell, whose parents were the licensees, remembered that, in this era, ‘stall-holders from Pat Collins Fair used to park their caravans on the Shakespeare yard. This was not a car park in those days …… . The fairs were held in May every year on a field at the back of the Police Station, where part of Ellesmere Court and Hawkstone Ave is now, and, because of this, I always had free rides at the fair.’
Researched by Newport & District History Society
Funded by Newport and District History Society, Newport Town Council and BTW Pride in your High St funds.