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The Saracens Head Inns

 

The Old Saracen’s Head Inn

Saracen’s Head took its name from an old drovers inn of the same name.Extract from the book by E.H. Gooch “Place names in Holland. Lincolnshire’s and their’ meaning.”

Saracen’s Head – a hamlet in the parish of Whaplode. takes its name from an inn, so named because it was the ambition of anyone returning from the Crusades to bring home the head of an ‘infidel’ or Saracen.

One who was ‘fortunate’ enough to possess such a gruesome relic was looked on as a hero. People came for miles to see the skull of one who was not a ‘Christian.’

Naturally the ‘lucky’ owner did not let such an opportunity slip by of profiting from these visitors to his house. He sold them refreshment and the house thus became known as “The Saracens Head.”

The old inn stood by the side of the Washway Road on the north side of the village and the Village grew up around the old inn. In the 19th century the village was known as Whaplode Saracens Head (being always in the Parish of Whaplode.)

Sometime during the last century, the old pub closed and another inn opened in a private house at the South end of the village and became known as the New Saracens Head and it remains to the present time.

This sign originally hung outside “The Old Saracen’s Head Inn” reputed to have been over 400 years old, and demolished in 1961. The Village derived its name from this inn. This sign was obtained from Steward and Patterson, the last owners of the inn, by Mr. AB. Temple, the headmaster from 1943 until 1965.

The Saracens Head opened again as The Old Saracens Head. It was reputed to be 400 years old and was the oldest building in the village.

In the early days, the inn had a thatched roof but later this was replaced by a zinc roof. In the 1920’s the word in large letters SOULBY was painted on the roof with white luminous paint and could be seen for a great distance when travelling from Boston advertising Soulbys Ales.

It was a Drover’s inn and drovers would put their’ cattle in a 3/12 acre grass field adjoining the inn with a pond in it for the beasts to drink water and in earlier times on common ground to the north of the Village while the drovers stayed overnight at the inn.

Inside the inn’ across the stairway was a little gate to stop the drovers’ dogs from going up the stairs.

In the tap-room there was a pipe rack where the customers put their pipes. A skittle alley made of wood with a tiled roof was at the rear of the inn. Skittle matches took place with the other inns in the area.

Music was supplied by a Polyphone. It was 6ft high and a large steel disc was fitted facing outwards in the top half of the cabinet and a glass door closed. A tune was played twice for a penny. The inn was sketched by a tramp on the road for 2/6d in the 1920’s. This was a lot of money in those days and the sketch is still in the possession of the married daughter of the last landlord.

In harvest time, several smallholders stacked their corn in the large yard of the inn. The small stacks were threshed by Carters Threshing Tackle. The inn needed repairing badly but owing to the falling off of trade it would not pay to have it done, so it closed down.

Sadly, the old inn was demolished in 1961. A tiny brick building still remains and is used for tools by a local farmer and it acts like a memorial (while it stands) to the old Drovers Inn from which Saracens Head took its name. The inn had the usual clubs, competitions and matches in the 19th century and well into the 20th century. There was a large number of members present, the club room was crowded. There were several first class songs sung during the evening.

The host and hostess were Mr. & Mrs. Carter and the accounts were audited by ML Chouler. The annual meeting was reported in the Free Press.

This was a Dividing Club and the dividend distributed in December 1925 was 18s.10d. This was greatly appreciated by the 45 members. Officers and Committee were elected. This was the 3lst annual meeting.

In living memory, the old pub was kept by Mr. & Mrs. Reid.

Note: Penny Hill was from the Latin “Penna” meaning “a wing”. They used to fly hawks there years ago. Thus, many names are a derivation or “corruption”.

The New Inn

The New Inn was situated in Pipwell Gate on the edge of the Saltern. Like so many other inns in the district it had finally closed down in the mid-sixties. Motorists were going further afield and trade was beginning to drop off. It is now a private house. The inn made an impressive sight all white in its hay day.

A shop selling fruit and general stores was tried after the inn closed. The private house is now called “The Old New Inn”. The ridiculous name is a reminder of the old pub.

Mr John Feeney was the last tenant of the inn. When he left, he took over Cecil Hotchkins farm in Saltney Gate in 1974. The New Inn was owned by John Hardy Carter of the old brewery at Holbeach. In 1905, it was sold to Soames and Stewards & Patterson were the last owners of this inn.

The Inn had the usual clubs, competitions and matches in the old days. In 1912, a Ploughing Match in connection with the New Inn was held on Mr G. Twells field. The competitors numbered 60 and all these were experienced men at the plough.

There used to be a public house called “The Carpenters Arms” in the house on the Bank Road that later became the Post Office. We think this was just an ordinary pub, but its worth mention.

The New Saracens Head Inn

In the early part of the century there were three inns in the village. Before the turn of the century there were five.

At the rear of the New Saracens Head was a paddock in the old days before 1930 where sheep and cattle rested before going on their way but this building was not actually a Drovers Inn.

A cutting from the scrapbook mentioned that two steam engines pulled into the yard while the drivers stayed the night before the First World War. During the early part of the century Mr. Harry Slator was the local baker before taking over as Landlord of the New Inn. This was during the first war. Then during the second war the Slators moved to the New Saracens Head. One daughter, Miss Connie Slator, became the Landlady.

There were some alterations done and it became privately owned and a Free House. In history, the usual meetings were held of the Dividing Clubs who then paid a dividend to members. They were called the Eclipse and the Excelsior Clubs. Mr. Hardy the blind fiddler accompanied the songs which were sung between toasts and speeches.

On Boxing Day 1893, a supper was provided by Mr. Bailey who was then the Landlord. About 30 people attended this and the dividend allocated was 25s.7d. each.

Mr. J. Mashford was again elected Secretary.

People called Cope and then Franks ran this Inn and then Slators in more recent times. 30th April 1980 was the last night the Slators were at the Inn, being in that line of work for 65 years.

The Story of Saracens Head by Chris Chouler and Mary Waters

Vistor comments

7 Responses

  1. Very interesting story. I am researching the Reid family and Sydney Reid the landlord was a cousin of mine but it is only recently I found out he moved to Saracens Head having been born in Shoreditch, London. He died in 1954 and I believe he was landlord of the Old Saracens Head from about 1915/1920 to the time of his death. Is the date of the picture known as it could possibly be Mr and Mrs Reid standing in front. That would put the icing on the cake of my research! Once again thanks for an interesting story.

      1. There is a report in the Lincolnshire Free Press dated 22 September 1953 regarding a Major Holland who dressed Sydney’s wounds during the First World war and how they lived (in 1953) just two miles away from each other. There is also a lovely report about the Old Saracens Head Inn with a picture of Sydney Reid who was then in his mid 70’s. Sydney died in 1954 although his wife Mabel survived him for another 8 years, passing away in 1962.
        Regrettably I cannot upload the article to this website but if anyone would like me to email them a copy please feel free to contact me bill@lorelei.org.uk

  2. http://www.teachergenealogist007.com/2010/04/bond-9936-9937.html
    from the site listed above, plus other sites, I have confirmed that my 8th Great Grandfather, William Pitt in 1622 owned the Saracen’s Head. His father, willed it to him as he is also mentioned.
    1607, “Bargain and sale 1. Mathewe Haveland, mayor, and the Burgesses and Cominaltye of Bristol. 2. William Pitt, merchant. Premises: One messuage in the parish of St.Thomas the Apostle extending from Redcliffe Street to the Avon, 25′ front breadth, 29′ at the back”. (S) UKNA.
    5/1/1613, William left “my tenement without the Temple Gate within the Liberty of the City of Bristol, which is now in the possession of George Tyce, Innholder, called Saracen’s Head; …” in the will of his father; and was named executor.
    1614, “Ancient lease: Corporation of Bristol to William Pitt Property – Welsh Back”. (S) UKNA.
    3/13/1622, William wrote his will; [abstract] To my wife Mary £500; to son William £250; to son Robert £70; to son Henry £250; to dau. Mary Pitt £250; to dau. Anne Pitt £250; to day. Maude Pitt £250; to dau. Martha Pitt £250. To my wife Mary a lease of the house wherein I now dwell in Redcliffe Street and also house in same street where … and my garden in Thomas Lane for life … To my son Robert the tenement without Temple Gate called the Saracens Inn and the new house built there by my father … Thomas Pitt as appearth in his last will and testament.

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