Olde Murenger House, Newport

The title 'Murenger' referred to the tax collector charged with collecting the 'murage' or money for the upkeep of the town walls. The title was discontinued in 1324 and eventually the original stone built Murenger house which had become the Fleur-de-Lys pub was demolished in 1816. Today's building has foundations with a traditional date of origin of 1530, although some sources place it earlier, some later at 1541. The original half-timbered black & white building was first mentioned in 1533 when it was the town house of the Herberts of St Julians Manor (Sir Charles Herbert was High Sheriff of Monmouthshire in 1541). Upstairs, out of public view, are plaster mouldings of intertwined Tudor roses and Spanish pineapples, symbolising the marriage of Henry VIII to Catherine of Aragon. It later appears to have become a pub before becoming a warehouse where it's thought a Chartist leader, John Frost, may have had his drapery business here in 1830. It was an eating house by the mid 1800s and again licensed to sell beer. Old 19th century photos show the Old Murenger House with a mock Tudor frontage selling Bass ale. Samuel Smith's of Tadcaster restored the pub in the early 1980s and it reopened in 1983. Today it is a characterful well run pub still strongly linked to Newport's medieval past with a decor and ambience to match thanks to Sam Smith's sympathetic treatment of this Tudor building. There's no music or TV but who cares? Just settle down in one of several linked sections and enjoy a pint of a fine Yorkshire brew at a keen price while taking in the cosy dark wooded low beamed Victorian style interior, high back settles (some upholstered), and general hubbub of a traditional pub. Dotted around the walls are pictures depicting mainly local scenes and personalities of bygone days. Note also the collection of books for sale, the proceeds of which are donated to a local hospice.