Plea to crack open 16th Century pub's locked safe

A safe in a 16th Century pub's cellar wall may have been locked for decades and drinkers curious about what is inside want to be put out of their misery and get help to crack it open.

For years staff and customers at Low Lights Tavern in North Shields have mulled over what could be behind the cast iron door, with guesses including gold, treasure, deeds to the tavern or - worst case scenario - nothing at all.

Pub manager Lyndsey Guthrie said no-one could find the key to open the ornate lock.

Customer Carol Davidson said she was "obsessed" with solving the mystery and has set the challenge for someone to crack the safe.

Carol, who writes for I Love North Shields magazine, said: "The pub is on the Fish Quay so has a history with pirates, so it could be full of gold doubloons.

"It's almost black with rust. You can see it's very old and built into a solid brick wall so I guess accessing it would mean smashing the wall down, which we don't want to do."

Musician Sam Fender, who was working at the tavern when he was discovered, previously put it on the map when he donated his 2019 Critics' Choice and 2022 Best Alternative/Rock Act Brit awards and they were turned into beer pumps.

Speaking to Radio Newcastle, Lyndsey said: "It looks like the safe has been there for years and years, the tavern was built in 1657.

"We've never been able to get into it in 10 years.

"We've tried but there's nothing budging it, it may be full of money."

She said the name Richard M Lord of Wolverhampton was written on the safe and believed to be the manufacturer, but there was no date inscription.

Carol was invited to do a write up on the pub for the magazine and was given a tour of its "nooks and crannies".

"I was shown the safe in its white-washed corner - a big, rusty old safe with its ornate handle and I was obsessed."

She believes the safe is not as old as the pub, possibly dating from the 19th Century and there was no damage or signs of attempts to force it open.

She said she had tried to find someone to open it but was worried sledgehammers and heavy duty equipment would be needed which would damage the wall.

"We did put out a magazine appeal for any locksmiths or anyone who had an idea to get into it to get in touch," she said.

"But no-one with a master key has been in touch to say they can get into it so the mystery remains.

"If anyone wants to have a go and come to the Low Lights and put us out of our misery, that would be great."

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