The Black Dog Inn is the oldest pub in Oadby. Built on the site of a smaller thatched alehouse and cottage, the present building dates from around 1787. The famous poacher James Hawker lived next to the pub in former times. The rogue was found dead at the junction of Stoughton Road and New Street in Oadby. The epitaph on his gravestone reads: "I will poach till I die". Oadby legend suggests a tunnel runs from St.Peters Church across to the Black Dog Inn. This is a tale I've heard in many pubs but at least The Black Dog has some empirical evidence. The cellar walls show signs of bricked-up entrances. The owner of the original Black Dog Inn thatched alehouse/pub was George Wright, a major landowner in Oadby. Frances Holmes was the victualler in the mid-1700's. The pub's long skittle alley is still officially listed as a morgue and helps to contribute to the Black Dog's stories of ghosts. Years ago, whenever there was a long alley skittles match, the Black Dog Inn had to transfer anyone "lying around" to the nearby Police station until the match had finished! At some stage in its history the long skittle alley was also used for boxing matches and stables. Horse rings can still be seen on the walls of the skittle alley. MORE........
	Licensees:  1740s - Frances Holmes  1750s - Richard Ludlam  1756 Hannah Ludlam  1760 Frances Homes  1773 William Murton  1787 John Cockram  1798 Cath Cockram  1800 Joseph Cockram  1816 John Smalley  1835 William Watts  1861 Peter Howard  1862 - 1875 Otho Juba  1875 - 1875 William Watts  1875 Isaac Hurst  1884 Harry Payne Curtis  1908 Frank Ludlam	1922 Frank Smalley 1928 Alf Glover 1930 Alf Stanhope 1958 Len Noseley 1960 Stan Watkins 1968 Sid Newell 1971 Kazys Velutis 1974 Albert Jones 1977 Tom Potter 1982 Don Tucker 1984 James Neal 1985 Ian Hurst 1985-1986 Phil Ogden 1986 Graham and Alexis 1993/4? Sean Loughran 2000 - Norman & Maureen Green