Description:The seventeenth century Bear Inn on Greengate Street was built on the site of the Old Black Bear Inn; it is possible some of the old building was used in the structure of the present.
In the eighteenth century the inn was known as the White Bear and was one of four coaching inns in Stafford, the other three being The Star and The George on Market Square, and The Swan (opposite The Bear). Only The Bear and The Swan survive to this day.
The inn's sign, a large carved wooden bear, is associated with the Beresford family; their crest featured a rampant black bear. The bear no longer stands on its hind legs as this made it vulnerable to strong winds.
The shop on the right was formerly the Jolly Bacchus public house. The building is now a tobacconists and sweet shop, and the bay window can still be seen.