Old Ship Inn

The oldest pub in Worksop

By Ellie Bob

Legend has it that this, the oldest pub in Worksop, contains a number of wooden beams that came from ships which took part in the Battle of Trafalgar - hence its name. Folklore also has it that the ‘Old Ship’ is connected to the Welbeck estate via a secret passage and that it contains a hidden recess where priests used to hide. Whether this is true or not is open to debate. One thing that is certain, however, is that the pub still contains a framed drawing of the building in former days which shows it was a much larger establishment. It was presented to a previous innkeeper by a satisfied guest signing himself Charles Tracher, and who stayed here in 1841.

Around 1993 the pub underwent a brief change of name to the ‘Tut ‘N’ Shive’ before returning to its 'Old Ship' title in April 1995.

Extract from The Inns and Pubs of Nottinghamshire: the story behind the names by G. Wright (Nottinghamshire County Council) – Find this book in many Nottinghamshire Libraries including Worksop and Retford Library.

Find many photos of Worksop pubs and shops at Picture the Past