The historic market town of Guildford began as a small Saxon settlement beside a fort. By the early 10th century it had grown into a modest town of only a few hundred people, yet it was already thriving and even had its own royal mint.
In 1257, Guildford received its first charter, granting the right to hold a market and an annual fair. The town’s market tradition continues today, with a bustling Farmers’ Market held on the first Tuesday of every month.
Guildford Castle
The Kings Head stands at the base of Guildford Castle, a structure built shortly after the Norman Conquest of 1066. Designed in the classic motte-and-bailey style, the castle was one of many constructed under William the Conqueror to secure key locations in England. Guildford was chosen for its strategic position on the route between London and the south and west coasts. Today, the castle is a popular visitor attraction, offering panoramic views of the town from the Great Tower and holds beautifully landscaped gardens.
Our Pub
The Kings Head itself is a timber-framed building dating back to the late 16th or early 17th century. It originally consisted of two separate houses, later combined to create the public house we know today. In the cellar, you can still find the foundations of a square corner of the castle’s former outer wall, which once extended down Castle Street and along Quarry Street.
Records show the pub was sold in 1819 to Edmund and William Elkins, and later, in 1847, to Hodgsons Kingston Brewery. Hodgsons was eventually acquired by Messrs Courage in 1943.
Renowned as Guildford’s most haunted pub, The Kings Head has been the subject of numerous paranormal investigations and is a highlight on the popular Ghost Tour of Guildford.