Stag and Hounds Public House
Encyclopedia
The Stag and Hounds Public House is on Old Market Street, Old Market
, Bristol
.
It was built originally in 1483, probably as a private house. However the current building is predominantly from the early 18th century, when it was a Public house
and it has been partly rebuilt in the 1960s, and refurbished in 1987.
At one time the inn was flanked by houses, but the building of a dual carriageway underpass has left it isolated.
It has been designated by English Heritage
as a grade II listed building.
A well in the former rear court has a 19th century iron hand pump with fly wheel and pump rods, an early example of an installation for raising water from a well. This old iron pump, operated by a wheel six foot in diameter, is in fine condition and all its parts still move. It is unique in Bristol.
There is also a minute window looking out onto the courtyard, which opens onto a small room set between floors and is only accessible through a trap-door in what is now a bathroom. It is possible that this may be a survival from the days of priest-hunting
.
times a court was set up to deal summarily with thieves and debtors of a market called the Pie-Poudre Court
(also spelt pie poudre or Piepowders). The name comes from the French, "pieds poudrés" which can be translated as "dusty feet", and was a temporary court set up for the duration of a fair or market to deal with travelers who were not resident in the town.
It was held in the open air under an ancient oak
tree, the site of which the Stag and Hounds was built upon. There is no actual record of when the court moved into the inn, which was reputedly held in the first-floor room.
It is believed that this was the last "active" Court of Piepowders, being abolished by the Courts Act 1971
. Although it had not actually met since the abolition of the fair in 1870, an annual proclamation was still read on the last day of September under the portico of the inn.
Old Market, Bristol
Old Market is a Conservation Area of national significance, to the east of the city centre in Bristol, England. Old Market Street and West Street form the central axis of the area, which is approximately bounded by New Street and Lawfords Gate to the north, Trinity Road and Trinity Street to the...
, Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
.
It was built originally in 1483, probably as a private house. However the current building is predominantly from the early 18th century, when it was a Public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
and it has been partly rebuilt in the 1960s, and refurbished in 1987.
At one time the inn was flanked by houses, but the building of a dual carriageway underpass has left it isolated.
It has been designated by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
as a grade II listed building.
A well in the former rear court has a 19th century iron hand pump with fly wheel and pump rods, an early example of an installation for raising water from a well. This old iron pump, operated by a wheel six foot in diameter, is in fine condition and all its parts still move. It is unique in Bristol.
There is also a minute window looking out onto the courtyard, which opens onto a small room set between floors and is only accessible through a trap-door in what is now a bathroom. It is possible that this may be a survival from the days of priest-hunting
Priest hole
"Priest hole" is the term given to hiding places for priests built into many of the principal Catholic houses of England during the period when Catholics were persecuted by law in England, from the beginning of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I in 1558....
.
Pie-Poudre Court
In NormanNormans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
times a court was set up to deal summarily with thieves and debtors of a market called the Pie-Poudre Court
Court of Piepowders
A Court of Piepowders was a special tribunal in England organised by a borough on the occasion of a fair or market. These courts had unlimited jurisdiction over personal actions for events taking place in the market, including disputes between merchants, theft, and acts of violence...
(also spelt pie poudre or Piepowders). The name comes from the French, "pieds poudrés" which can be translated as "dusty feet", and was a temporary court set up for the duration of a fair or market to deal with travelers who were not resident in the town.
It was held in the open air under an ancient oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
tree, the site of which the Stag and Hounds was built upon. There is no actual record of when the court moved into the inn, which was reputedly held in the first-floor room.
It is believed that this was the last "active" Court of Piepowders, being abolished by the Courts Act 1971
Courts Act 1971
The Courts Act 1971 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom the purpose of which was to reform and modernise the courts system of England and Wales....
. Although it had not actually met since the abolition of the fair in 1870, an annual proclamation was still read on the last day of September under the portico of the inn.