The claim
Usually called Sheffield's oldest surviving house, a close-studded timber-framed building of about 1475 with carved figure posts, it now trades as a pub. It only became part of a pub in the Victorian era, but its jettied front and ancient beams make it one of the most atmospheric places for a pint in South Yorkshire.
What the records show
Historic England dates the timber-framed house to c. 1475 and it is first recorded in a 1582 inventory. The list entry carries no superlative: it describes a house, now public house, of c1475 with 19th- and 20th-century additions, citing Pevsner's West Riding volume. Sheffield's oldest surviving domestic building is Wikipedia's phrase, sourced there to the Pevsner city guide of 2004, and the press repeats it. Pub use is much later: a pub opened in an adjacent building in 1840 and expanded into the medieval house after 1862.
| Year | What | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1475 | Claimed founding | Its listing |
| c.1475 | Present building | Building fabric |
| 1582 | First record of a drinking house here | Wikipedia, on the 1582 inventory of Shrewsbury's estate |
What to look for inside
- Usually called Sheffield's oldest domestic building
- Carved figure posts and bressumer
- First recorded in a 1582 inventory
Visiting
Old Queen's Head is in Sheffield, England, at 40 Pond Hill, Sheffield S1 2BG. We do not list opening times, because they change; the pub’s own site is the place to check before you set out.
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Queen%27s_Head
- historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1247088
- www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/heritage-and-retro/heritage/yorkshires-historic-pubs-14-of-the-oldest-pubs-in-yorkshire-including-the-golden-fleece-in-york-and-old-queens-head-in-sheffield-3958162
- ratings.food.gov.uk/business/582916
Know something we don’t?Suggest a correctionLast checked Sept 2026
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