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Potted History
The Skirrid Mountain Inn stands in the shadow of the Skirrid Mountain, sometimes called the Holy Mountain, which, according to legend, broke in two at the time of the crucifixion of Christ during a violent storm.
In the forecourt of the Inn Owen Glendower rallied his troops before marching on to Pontrilas.
Halfway up the magnificent square spiral staircase stands the cell, now used as a storeroom, where many a prisoner spent his last night before being sentenced to death by Bloody Judge Jefferies.
The hanging was carried out from a beam placed across the joist of the staircase and the slab on which the bodies were placed may still be seen at the well of the stairs.
The Skirrid Inn claims to have some of the finest oak beams in the country, made from ship's timbers and containing the original peg holes.
The stone structure is original as also are some of the windows and a doorway.
The stone structure is original as also are some of the windows and a doorway.
The old mounting-stone, standing in the forecourt, has been used by many of England's past Kings.
The last person to be executed here was hanged on the instructions of Oliver Cromwell; the crime - sheep stealing.
The skirrid Inn is the oldest Public house within the borders of the Principality of Wales and among the foremost claimants to the title of the oldest Public House in Great Britain. Many of the contenders listed in the Guinness Book of Records are not original structures, being newer buildings on old foundations or have been extended or restored over the centuries. The Skirrid Inn however has stood for nine centuries.
The main rivals for the title of the Oldest Inn in Great Britain are Nottingham's "Trip to Jerusalem" (1070), the "Fighting Cocks" at St. Albans (11th century structure on an 8th century site), the "Godbegot" at Winchester (1002). The "Bingley Arms", Bardsay near Leeds is recorded as the Priests Inn (AD 905), while "Ye Old Ferry Boat Inn" at Holywell Cambridgeshire claims an origin as early as AD 560.
More Historical Facts about The Skirrid Mountain Inn
Fifty years after the Norman Conquest of Britain, two men stood trial before a court assembled in the main room of a new alehouse on a dusty road below the Skirrid Mountain.
The alehouse was called "Millbrook" and the men were brothers, James and John Crowther. James was sentenced to nine months for robberies with violence and John ended his days swinging from an inn beam - his crime? - Sheep stealing.
Thus in 1110 is first recorded the existence of the inn known for centuries as "The Skirrid".
The Devil rode abroad in these early days of ignorance and as the night wins howled in the black night, inside the walls of the Inn, the Innkeeper solemnly poured out a pot of "Devils Brew" for His Satanic majesty - and placed it upon the shelf above the fireplace hence "to sip with the Devil"
The Innkeeper may have also left a jug of "pwcca" on the Skirrid doorstep when the last of his customers disappeared into the night, to appease the evil or mischievous spirits of the darkness.
Shakespeare is thought to have got his idea for Puck of Mid Summer Nights Dream from "y pwcca".
The Innkeeper may have also left a jug of "pwcca" on the Skirrid doorstep when the last of his customers disappeared into the night, to appease the evil or mischievous spirits of the darkness.
Shakespeare is thought to have got his idea for Puck of Mid Summer Nights Dream from "y pwcca".
The mists of time shroud the early centuries of the Inns existence, but occasionally out of the pages of history steps a legend like Owain Glyndwr (1359 - 1416), who is said to have rallied his troops in the cobbled forecourt of the Skirrid before climbing onto the Mounting Stone and riding at their head in the march on Pontrilas.
This now ancient stone is believed to have been used not only by the Welsh King, but by many of the succeeding Princes of Wales and Kings of England.
This now ancient stone is believed to have been used not only by the Welsh King, but by many of the succeeding Princes of Wales and Kings of England.
As far as can be ascertained the stone structure is original and that somewhere behind the first Elizabethan plasterwork is the inscription "JHT 1306" recording the new additional to the early structure.
The main doorway and many of the windows are medieval. The oak beams made from ships timbers and containing the original markings and peg-holes, are amongst the finest in Britain.
The panelling in the dining room is said to be from a British man o' war of the age when Drake and Raleigh prowled the Spanish Main.
It is likely that both beams and panelling were salvaged when one of the Royal Navy's fighting ships was being broken up, perhaps in Bristol.
The Skirrid belonged to the Barony of Abergavenny conferred on Edward Nevyle in c. 1530; it was lost and then restored to the family by an Act of Parliament in the third year of the reign of Mary Tudor.
In 1535 on the death of George Neville, 3rd Baron of Abergavenny, the ownership of the land was willed to all his successors and remained in the family until 1900 when the Most honourable William, Marquis of Abergavenny sold the property to David Lewis, a professional Innkeeper.
In 1535 on the death of George Neville, 3rd Baron of Abergavenny, the ownership of the land was willed to all his successors and remained in the family until 1900 when the Most honourable William, Marquis of Abergavenny sold the property to David Lewis, a professional Innkeeper.
From earliest times the Skirrid was a public meetinghouse as well as an alehouse and courts were held within its walls.
Between 1100 and 1485 Manorial Courts could have been staged, with Church Courts, Assize Courts and possibly the Skenfrith Petty Sessions in later centuries. It is assumed that the first floor was a courtroom, complete with a Judges retiring room.
A "mesne" floor halfway up the stairs to the courtroom was used to house the prisoners, both before and after their trials, and it was here that many common criminals - foot-pad, highwayman, robber, thief or cheat spent his last miserable night listening to the sound of a low alehouse below.
Between 1100 and 1485 Manorial Courts could have been staged, with Church Courts, Assize Courts and possibly the Skenfrith Petty Sessions in later centuries. It is assumed that the first floor was a courtroom, complete with a Judges retiring room.
A "mesne" floor halfway up the stairs to the courtroom was used to house the prisoners, both before and after their trials, and it was here that many common criminals - foot-pad, highwayman, robber, thief or cheat spent his last miserable night listening to the sound of a low alehouse below.
It is at the bottom of the stairs where many of them are thought to have met their end, hanging from a beam, upon which scorch and drag marks of the rope can still be seen.
Although no exact or positive records exist, local legend that passes from generation to generation by word of mouth suggests that upwards of 180 persons were hanged at the Skirrid Inn between the 12th and 17th centuries - the last, as was the first, for sheep stealing in the time of Oliver Cromwell. The hanging cycle had come full circle.
Although no exact or positive records exist, local legend that passes from generation to generation by word of mouth suggests that upwards of 180 persons were hanged at the Skirrid Inn between the 12th and 17th centuries - the last, as was the first, for sheep stealing in the time of Oliver Cromwell. The hanging cycle had come full circle.
Did the bloody hand of the Hanging Judge brush the Skirrid? Did the Master Hangman Bloody Judge Jeffreys (1644 - 1689) sit in judgement in the Skirrid's courtroom? There is a widespread belief that Jeffreys may have been the Kings reaper in dealing with the localised Papish plot scare of about 1679 in Monmouthshire. He certainly played a grim part in suppressing Monmouth's rebellion 15 years later, but this was James, Duke of Monmouth, nothing to do with the County of Monmouth.
It is possible however, that during the supposed Papish plot the fervent anti-catholic occupant of Llanviangle Court, Squire Arnold, may have prosecuted local Catholics and tried them in his Courthouse - the Skirrid - and that Judge Jeffreys, a son of the Marches might have been ordered from London to put down murder and violence.
Jeffreys at this time was Recorder of London under Lord Chief Justice Scrogs.
Jeffreys at this time was Recorder of London under Lord Chief Justice Scrogs.
It can be supposed that a brief bloody taste of power over life or death dealing with an anti catholic backlash in the Marchland backwater, may have helped him towards his post of Lost Chief Justice (1683) and to prepare him for the red-harvest in Somerset - the Bloody Assize in 1685.
Skirrid Inn history
