The only pub in the United Kingdom with this name of which it's origins are still shrouded in history. There are various stories but the most likely is that the inn is named not after a ship, but a man - The Merchant Of Aleppo. The man was named John Matthews whose trade was in wool and linen in the Middle East who eventually settled locally and opened up the inn. According to legend, he was more of a pirate than anything else and could well have even named the inn after a ship that brought him so much wealth! There is a cosy restaurant by the smaller wood beamed bar and a larger locals bar which has been recently modernised.