ɪt wʌz nˈoʊn æz ðə bˈɛɹ ˈɪn baɪ wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd fˈoːɹhˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti sˈɛvən, ænd baɪ wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd fˈaɪvhˈʌndɹɪd twˈɛnti θɹˈiː ðə lˈænd æt ðə ɹˈɪɹ wʌz pˈɑːɹt ʌvðə pˈʌbz pɹˈɑːpɚɾi; ɪt kəntˈeɪnd stˈeɪbəlz fɚðə kˈoʊtʃɪŋ hˈɔːɹsᵻz, ænd wʌz bˈaʊndᵻd tə ðə sˈaʊθ baɪ sənt ˈɛdwɚdz tʃˈɜːtʃjɑːɹd.
It was known as The Bear Inn by 1457, and by 1523 the land at the rear was part of the pub's property; it contained stables for the coaching horses, and was bounded to the south by St Edward's churchyard.