From Two to Eleven and Back Again: A History of Pirton’s Pubs

From Two to Eleven and Back Again: A History of Pirton’s Pubs

Pirton today has two pubs: The Fox and The Motte & Bailey.

Two hundred years ago, the village also had two pubs: The Motte, then known as The White Horse, and the long-closed Shoulder of Mutton.

But by 1870, Pirton had eleven pubs. That worked out at roughly one pub for every 30 adult men in the village.

Many of the names of these lost pubs, including The Blacksmith’s Arms, The Old Hall and The Red Lion, are still familiar to villagers today.

If you would like to know more, Jonny Mein will be giving a talk on 22 June at 8pm at the new pavilion about the history of Pirton’s pubs from c.1800 to 1920. He will explore the reasons for both that sharp jump in number to 1870 and the subsequent decline that arguably continues today.