Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem

...want to take you to Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem, you'll love it!" I jumped at the chance.

WHAT IS YE OLDE TRIP TO JERUSALEM?

In short Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem claims to be the oldest Pub in the World, dating from 1189AD. There are however some who dispute this claim on the grounds that during its early years it was a private Inn belonging to Castle, these non believers claim that that title belongs to another of ...
...& DRINK

Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem prides itself on the Real Ales that it sells which include a selection of Ales brewed by a local Brewery called Hardy's & Hansons. This small, independent Brewery has been Brewing Real Ales since 1832 and even has a Beer called "Ye Olde Trip Ale."

In recent years the Pub has introduced an extensive Food menu, which ranges from traditional dishes like Fish & Chips and Steak, ... more

When I recently visited Nottingham for a Weekend one of the things at the top of my list of things to do was a visit to "Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem." Over the Years it is a place that I have often heard spoken about, and I have always known that it is well known throughout the World, yet I was somewhat blissfully ignorant as to exactly what it was, so whilst in Nottingham when a friend said to me "I want to take you to Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem, you'll love it!" I jumped at the chance.

WHAT IS YE OLDE TRIP TO JERUSALEM?

In short Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem claims to be the oldest Pub in the World, dating from 1189AD. There are however some who dispute this claim on the grounds that during its early years it was a private Inn belonging to Castle, these non believers claim that that title belongs to another of Nottingham's Pubs called the Salutation.

Ye Olde trip To Jerusalem is signposted from absolutely everywhere in Nottingham City Centre and so it is very easy to find. The Pub itself is actually built inside the Sandstone Caves beneath Nottingham Castle, which makes this a very bizarre place indeed. It's location beneath the Castle, which dominates the Centre of the City also makes it very easy to find.

WHY SUCH A STRANGE NAME?

Apparently I was not alone in wondering where such a strange name for a Pub came from. The present owners told me that when they first moved into this Pub it was the one question that everyone asked. After a while they hung a note on the Wall at the side of the Bar which now tells all customers about the history of the name, as well as a brief history of the place itself, and now should you ask whilst they are busy, you are likely to be directed towards this sign.

The clue to the name comes from the date and the location. 1189 was the year that King Richard the First came to the English Throne. King Richard would be remembered by historians 800 years later as Richard the Lionheart, and those same historians will tell us that amongst his many conquests as King, perhaps his most famous conquest was to lead a crusade in the Holy Land against the Saracens.

Nottingham Castle was a stronghold of the King and legend has it that the brave Knights and the men who rallied to his call to fight in this Crusade, gathered at the Castle to rest before journeying on to Jerusalem. It is also said that they would gather here and rest for a few days enjoying the Ale that was brewed in the Caves.

Today it is a rather sobering thought to that think that the majority of these men who "enjoyed one for the road" before setting off on their journey to the Middle East would never return.

THE HISTORY

Nottingham Castle dates from the year 1068 when the building of the Castle was completed by William Peverill for William the Conquerer. Although it is not documented the Castle almost certainly had a Brewhouse attached to it, since the quality of drinking Water was notoriously bad in the Middle Ages. Ale would have been brewed and drunk, because as well as providing alcohol, the brewing process also sterilised the drink. The brewing of Ale also requires a steady temperature and the Caves beneath the Castle Rock would have been ideal because they provided not only a very effective 'air-conditioning' system, but they also provided the necessary storage space.

The earliest recorded date of the Inn however is from 1189, which is the date displayed on the sign outside, but a Brewhouse almost certainly existed long before this date, although it is not known if this would have been in the exact location as where "Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem" exists today. After this date there are very few historical records that exist until 1618 when details of the Inn appear in the records of the City Council.

The Black and White outer Timber structure that still exists today almost certainly dates from between 1650 and 1660, when the building was extensively modernised, and it was shortly after this date that the Inn was acquired by William Standford. William Standford was responsible for the modernisation of many period Buildings in Nottingham and the results of the alterations that he made have created the Building as we see it today.

There are no references as to the name of the Inn until 1751 when the Inn is referred to as "The Pilgrim." but in 1799 the Inn was being referred to as "Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem." Interestingly in deeds of sale for the Building dating from 1834 the Inn is referred to as "Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem, formerly known as the Pilgrim."

In 1894 the licence of "Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem" was taken over by a man called George Henry Ward, who was the licensee of two other Pubs in the Centre of Nottingham. He was perhaps the Inn's most colourful character and he was known throughout Nottingham by his nickname "Yorkey." Yorkey had his name inscribed into the Wall and remained the licensee until his death in 1914.

THE PRESENT DAY

From the outside of the Building the Pub looks rather small, but do not be decieved, for what you see from the outside is just the Black and White Timber structure of the Building. The majority of what forms the Pub itself is cut out of the Sandstone Caves behind it.

As you walk inside the Building through the small, narrow Doors the first thing that you sense is that you are stepping back into time, and it is obvious from the feel of the place that this place has remained virtually unchanged for hundreds of years.

Immediately inside the Building the small Bar is located directly in front of you, in an area known as the Ward Room. The Ward Room has a very unusual feature known as the Chimney alcove, where the Chimneys to the Fireplace emerge through a hole in the top of the Rock of the Ceiling. These days the Fireplace is no longer used but it remains there as an interesting feature.

From the Ward Room a short flight of steep steps takes you up into the Upstairs Lounge. Here the Ceilings are quite low and the whole area has a very cosy feel to it. This is also the area of the Pub where you will find the most comfortable seating.

To the other side of the Bar a small alcove takes you into Yorkey's Lounge. This area is exactly as it was when it was originally built around 1660, with Black, Solid Oak Beams running across the low Ceiling that dissect the Room and give it a true 17th century charm. On the Wall here there is a Photograph of Yorkey.

At the very far end of Yorkey's Lounge is an area known as the Haunted Snug, where many customer's claimed to have seen strange things. This area has had many uses over the years and was once used as a Shop, and even as the living quarters of the Inn for a short while.

Perhaps the most famous Room of all is known as the Rock Room. The most interesting feature is a huge hole in the Roof which extends for over sixty feet into the Roof of the Caves above. This Room was originally used as the Malting Room, and although the hole in the Roof is undoubtedly a natural feature it is believed it was used as a massive Chimney, and as such was probably opened up and enlarged. It is also said that this shaft was used as a hoist to transport the Ale to and from the Castle since it is believed to link into the extensive network of Caves that honeycombs the Rock beneath the castle.

The centre piece of the Rock Room is an armoured figure known as the Cursed Galleon. It is said that this figure was presented as a gift but in return for what it is unclear. Legend has it that three different people who have cleaned this figure have each died shortly afterwards in strange circumstances, little wonder therefore that the figure now stands inside a Glass Cabinet, beneath over fifty years of dirt and dust.

Close to the Cursed Galleon there is a old Timber Chair known as the pregnancy Chair, where it is said that any female who sits upon it becomes pregnant, so you have been warned!

Outside there is a large Beer Garden located in the original Brewhouse Yard, and it is here where the Toilets are located. There is also a large Grassy area to the side of the Building where you are allowed to take your drinks onto, which is ideal if the weather is fine.

MORTIMER'S HOLE & THE CAVE CELLARS

One of the legends that is associated with the Inn concerns a Man called Roger Mortimer, the Earl of March and the illicit lover of the then Queen Mother, Isabella.

In the year 1330 King Edward the third entered the Building and arrested Mortimer, the lover of his Mother, who had committed treason and murdered his Father the previous year. Mortimer was arrested and subsequently hanged.

It is said that Mortimer and Isabella used to meet in a secret Room cut out of the Caves at the back of the Inn, which was connected to the Castle via a network of small Passages through the Caves. When the King came to arrest Mortimer it is said that it was to this secret Room that he fled and it was here that he was subsequently found.

Beneath the present day Pub, and normally out of view of the general public are the Cave Cellars. These still house part of the original Castle Jail and also a Cock-fighting Pit

THE FOOD & DRINK

Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem prides itself on the Real Ales that it sells which include a selection of Ales brewed by a local Brewery called Hardy's & Hansons. This small, independent Brewery has been Brewing Real Ales since 1832 and even has a Beer called "Ye Olde Trip Ale."

In recent years the Pub has introduced an extensive Food menu, which ranges from traditional dishes like Fish & Chips and Steak, through to seasonal Dishes. Since I didn't sample any Food during my visit I am unable to comment further on this aspect.

OTHER INFORMATION

The address is as below:

Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem
Brewhouse Yard
Nottingham England
NG1 6AD

Telephone: 0115 947 3171.

Thank you for reading.

 

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