The Wheatsheaf.

The inn was first recorded as a public house in 1780 and has always been known as either the Wheatsheaf or the Old Wheatsheaf. The inn is housed in a building, which dates back to the 17th century. Until recently it has been clad in a mock Victorian timber-frame, which was removed when the inn was completely renovated in 2003.

During the early part of the 19th century the inn was sold twice, the first time in March 1803 when Mr. J. Lawrence at the Castle Hotel sold it by auction. It was the first lot and consisted of 'All that messuage or public house known by the name of the Wheatsheaf situated on the Wyle Cop, now in the occupation of Mrs Pugh.' The composer of the auction details has obviously got the location of the inn wrong as Wyle Cop ends on the other corner of Milk Street and an inn known as the Wheatsheaf has never been recorded on the Cop. The Wheatsheaf was being sold as the owner Richard Davies had been declared bankrupt. Several of his properties were sold at the auction, including the Sun Tavern, just around the corner in Milk Street, where he was landlord. The inn was auctioned again in September 1822 along with the adjoining house, which were both occupied by a Mr. Roberts.

In 1900 the inn was privately own by James Sykes of Dale Street in Liverpool and the landlady was Mrs Emma Atkinson who took over from her husband Thomas and continued to run it until the 1920s. During this period the inn consisted of thirteen rooms, of which the public used eight. There was also accommodation for six people in three bedrooms and stabling for two horses.

The corner where it stands at the junction of High Street and Milk Street was recorded in the Mercer's book in 1811 as Crockett's Corner, probably after a former landlord of the inn.