The Royal Stag

A Potted History

There is much to be found on the internet about the history of “The Royal Stag” but here are some of the most interesting stories

Reputed to be the oldest house in the village dating from the 1400’s and may have been an ale house from the 1500’s when it was called The Five Bells. Later on it was called The High Flyer and changed to The Royal Stag in 1796

The Royal Stag is reputed to be haunted and indeed the previous managers maintain that there are ghosts present upstairs and have been seen in the bar.

Most famous or infamous as the case may be is the ghostly handprint which appears from time to time on one window pane overlooking the church graveyard. The new management have witnessed this apparition and many regular customers will testify to its presence. It is said to be the handprint of a child who died outside in the churchyard while waiting for its father on a cold night. A photo of the handprint was taken in 1979 and is displayed in the pub.

Not only that, there is also the broken tombstone of William Herbert inside the pub, who may be associated with the pubs history and it is claimed he had a troubled life. William was born in 1638 and died in 1705. John Hebert. Reputed to be Williams son took over the tenancy of the pub in 1730 and lost the tenancy in 1736

The earliest licensees are recorded as follows:
Five Bells
1753-1762 Edmund Early
1763 John Jones
1764-1769 John Quick
1770-1787 Ann Quick
1788-1791 Edmund Carter

High Flyer 
1792-1793 Edmund Carter
1794-1795 William Davies

Royal Stag
1796-1797 Edward Mathews
1798-1812 John Northcroft
1813-1818 Leonard Addison
1819-1821 James Prior
1822-1823 John Turfey
1824-1828 Edmund Land