Rowley's.

This inn has had several changes of name during its long history. It was first recorded as the Slipper in 1780, the Hope and Anchor between 1828 and 1835 and the Oddfellow's Arms from 1851 to 1856 but had reverted back to the Old Slipper Inn by 1868. The old inn stood in front of the present building but was demolished in the 1930s to widen Barker Street. In 1900 the old inn consisted of twelve rooms, seven private and five for public use. There was also overnight accommodation for six people in two bedrooms. The owner and landlord was John Palmer who was reported to be a well-organised man who managed his business well. He had a good outdoor trade and his customers were mainly the residents of Barker Street, which at this time was densely populated. In Court One that ran to the side and rear of the inn there were ten houses in a very cramped area.

The new inn was opened in 1939 and was reported to have a fine sign over the door showing a man known as the "Slipper" unleashing a greyhound at a hare-coursing match. Unfortunately by the 1970s this had been replaced by one depicting an oriental type shoe with a large pompom on the toe!

In recent years the inn has changed its name several times as it has been altered and has changed its image. In the mid 1990s it closed for refurbishment and was opened in1998 as Jackson's. In 2002 it became known as the Merchant Stores until the end of 2004 when it was renamed Rowley's, taking its name from the rich merchants who had built the fine timber-framed house and mansion across the road.