The Kings Head Inn

Church Street's medieval name was Soutergate, ' the street of the shoemakers', or 'Shoemaker Street.' With Souter meaning a person who makes shoes. The term 'gate' which appears in many of Berwick's street names comes from the Viking term for 'street'; it has nothing to do with the town's fortifications.

We learn from the Council Book the Mayor had liberty by the Statute 5th of Edward VI to put down the selling of ale and beer. He was urged in the year 1574 to use his power to reduce the excessive number of licensed houses, and to see that good order was kept in those licensed, and that no unlawful games were engaged in.

As to the excessive number of such houses the following statement may be of interest:
In 1594 there were –

 

Alehouses	Beerhouses	Street
Ten	Three	Castlegate and Greens
Sixteen	Two	Marygate (Uddinggate)
Nine	Two	And one Innkeeper in Briggate (Bridge Street)
Five	One	And one Vintner is Crossgate (Woolmarket)
Four	Three	Hidehill
Three	One	Sandgate (Segate)
Six	None	Eastern Lane
Two	None	Western Lane
Five	Two	Walkergate
Three	Three	Ratten Raw
Nine	Two	Soutergate (Church Street)
Three	None	Hidegate
Four	Three	Ness

In all there were 79 ale houses and 22 beerhouses, one Vintner, and one Inn Keeper in 1594.

 

Kings Head Licensees 1903 - 1946
Thomas Robertson	1903 - 1920
George Albert Robertson	1920 - 1926
William Fairbairn	1926 - 1936
George Currey	1937
William Fairbairn	1938 - 1940
James Malcolmson	1941  - 1943
Matthew Joseph Malone	1944 - 1946