Reputably there has been an inn on this site since at least 1583 and this was borne out by the discovery of coins dating from 1621 found during some renovations carried out some years ago. Originally the inn was called a different name and was renamed to The Dukes Head at around 1748, possibly after the Duke of Cumberland.
The inn has always occupied a prime position at the point where the main roads from Salisbury and Stockbridge met at the crossing of the River Test. At the time the old bridge crossed the river just behind the Dukes Head but has subsequently been moved to its new position.
Romsey has always been a flourishing settlement stretching back to the time of the Norman Conquest centred around the church which has grown over the years to become the current Abbey. Romsey did suffer during the English Civil War but regained its prosperity after that.
One of the trades to flourish was the brewing trade and the local licensed trade. Many of the local inns have long histories but few can predate The Dukes Head
