The Stag Inn is a public house in the Old Town area of Hastings, a port and seaside resort in East Sussex, England. One of many ancient buildings on All Saints Street, the 16th-century timber-framed inn was refronted in the 18th century, but many of its original features remain. The preserved bodies of two smoke-blackened mummified cats have been displayed on a wall since their discovery in the 19th century; witchcraft has been suggested as an explanation for this "grisly sight". The inn, which claims to be Hastings' oldest surviving pub, is operated as a tied house by the Shepherd Neame Brewery, and has been listed at Grade II by English Heritage for its architectural and historical importance. History and description Hastings developed as a fishing port from the 10th century or earlier: its first documented reference in 928 indicates that it was already important locally, and it was soon the leader of the Cinque Ports. Two streams ran into the English Channel between the East and West Hills, steep promontories which forced the town to develop inwards along the valley floor. Two parallel roads, High Street and All Saints Street, ran up the valley and formed the heart of the Old Town area. The oldest surviving buildings on All Saints Street, named after the ancient parish church at the north end, are 15th-century. The Victoria County History of Sussex identifies only three ancient inns as existing in 1657, but Hastings was in fact infamous for the large number of drinking establishments in its small, crowded central area. Towards the north end of All Saints Street, a timber-framed building erected in the Elizabethan era became a public house known as the Stag Inn at an unknown date—reputedly 1547, which would make it the oldest surviving inn in the town (and slightly older than Elizabethan). Hastings was a centre for smuggling activity for many years, and the inn was apparently frequented by smugglers in its early years. The façade of the building was altered in the mid-18th century. The upper storey was originally jettied, but the lower storey was built out to bring it in line. New gables and a parapet were added to the roof, and the front elevation was plastered. This work gave the building a Neo-Georgian appearance, although the old timber framing was retained behind this. The Stag Inn was listed at Grade II by English Heritage on