Staff of Life

This property is located at Smedley's Buildings or West End, although sometimes it was said to be on Church Street; the side of the building did face onto Church Street. It's first directory entry in 1830 placed it on 'Windmill Hill'.

Built in 1760, A windmill, with bakery, stood at the back of the original building which gave it its name. John and William Chambers also worked the Mill during their occupancy, with John Chambers described as a "Miller and Brewer" in 1876.. The Windmill was still marked at the rear of the building on the 1877 map.

In May 1880, the property was put up for auction and was described as having a "five sail stone wind corn mill adjoining".

Between 1832 and 1940, the pub had been looked after by eleven different landlords (an avarage of a decade apiece) but Mr Sam Sadler remained as Landlord for 27 years until October 1967, when the old building was demolished. 

The new Staff of Life was reopened in April 1968, and is still open.

Known occupants were:

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Page updated 8th February 2005