Pub history

The Butler’s Bell

For many years, the Wheatsheaf was at no.29 (north end of Gaolgate Street), the Three Tuns at no.33 and the Maid’s Head Inn further along, at the corner of Market Square. All three public houses were trading in 1830, yet the first two long outlived the Maid’s Head Inn; it burned down in 1887. Around that time, Bailey’s ironmongery store was at 25 Gaolgate Street, selling a huge range of products, such as solid brass lanterns or butler’s bells on a metal coil – with a powerful ring.