Inns and public houses have been around this country since Roman times.  Whilst Littleover cannot claim to have any of that age, there are some that go back for more than two centuries and certainly for longer.  The inns and public houses, following, are those that are known or have been found in newspaper articles or advertisements.

Argosy

Manor Road

1956 Onwards

The Argosy public house was built in the mid 1950’s and has since been extended, nearly trebling its size.  The pub was named after the ship Argo, from Greek mythology, romanticized in the film Jason and the Argonauts.  This pub is addressed as Manor Road, Littleover although there is no access from that road, entry is from Constable Lane.

The Argosy is a friendly and relaxed pub, serving quality food fresh from the grill.  Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served along with a selection of drinks.

Blue Ball

Littleover Common (Burton Road)

1773

The Derby Mercury on the 12 March 1773 had an advertisement for the sale of the Blue Ball as follows:-

To be sold by auction.  On Saturday the 20th day of this instant March, between the hours of three and six in the afternoon of that day, at the house of Charles Clarke, (Gelder) known by the Sign of the Blue Ball, on Littleover Common;  The said convenient new well-built brick house, with good cellars, a brewhouse, and a garden of about an acre of ground thereto adjoining.  N. B. The above premises are about a mile from Derby, and stand on the side of the great road to Burton and Litchfield, and are well situate for public business.

Due to this public house’s location on Littleover Common and its distance from the town boundary, of that time, was it later changed to the Rising Sun?

Bulls Head

Uttoxeter Road

1831

In an advertisement for the sale of a large number of trees in the Derby Mercury on the 26 January 1831 the Bulls Head is mentioned, extract as follows:-

Valuable Timber Standing on Foulbrook Farm, near Derby. – To Be Sold By Auction, By Eyre & Son, (Without Reserve.) (By order of the Trustees of Haughton’s Charity,) At the house of Mrs Greatorex, the Bull’s Head Inn, Foulbrook Farm, on Saturday the 5th of February, 1831, at eleven o’clock in the forenoon,…….

The farm was situated on the south side of Uttoxeter Road and it now mostly forms car park number seven of the Derby Royal Hospital.

Coppice Hotel

Pastures Hill

1951 – 1970

Built originally as a large private house, it opened as a hotel in 1951. It was briefly named the Crescent before becoming the Coppice. 

Crest Motel

Pastures Hill

1970 - 1991

The Crest Motel was formerly the Coppice.  This hotel was extensively extended to become a motel in November 1970.  Before changing its name to the Forte Posthouse Hotel,

Forte Posthouse Hotel

Pastures Hill

1991 - 2002

Formerly the Crest Hotel and the hotel was renamed the Forte Posthouse Hotel in 1991.  A disastrous fire ravaged through the hotel and it was demolished c2002.  A housing development now stands where the hotel once stood.

Half Moon

Burton Road

by 1793 Onwards

The first mention of the Half Moon appeared in the Derby Mercury on the 4 April 1793 when an advertisement asking for the owner of a lost cow to collect it from the pub as follows:-

Taken up, at Littleover, near Derby, the 1st of March, 1793, a cow.  Any person having lost a cow, and proving this to be their property, may have her again by applying to James Ratcliff, at the Sign of the Half Moon in Littleover aforesaid, on paying expenses.

Whilst that may be the earliest known date it may have been in existence over two centuries before then, on or before 1577.  An early description of the Half Moon was given in an advertisement for its sale in the Derby & Chesterfield Reporter on the 15 October1835, an extract is given follows:-

A good accustomed, well-built public-house, with its appurtenances, situate in Littleover, in the County of Derby, known by the sign of The Half-Moon, and now in the possession of Mr James Ratcliffe.  The house consists of one good parlour, a kitchen, two lodging rooms, a large club-room which is occasionally converted into two lodging rooms, a brewhouse, cellar and good pantry.  There is a large stable, two pig courts, garden and yard, containing altogether about half an acre of land.  The premises are in good condition.

The Half Moon was rebuilt in the middle of the nineteenth century and then underwent an extensive refurbishment in 1984.  The pub was gutted internally and externally part of the stables remain.Today the Half Moon still has some of its traditional features and has the welcoming atmosphere of a village pub.  It has a long bar that stretches across the front room, with a separate comfortable lounge at the rear.  Outside is a large attractive garden.  A variety of entertainment is offered each night of the week.

Panther/Oaklands

Oaklands Avenue

1961 Onwards

The Panther Hotel is located at 123 Oaklands Avenue.  This Panther was opened in August 1961 and later renamed the Oaklands as a public house.

The Oaklands sits in the heart of the community.  It is a place for a quiet drink, for you to eat and share great times with friends.  The Oaklands provide live sports, live music entertainments in abundance

Plough

Huffen Heath (Uttoxeter Road)

by 1838  - 1871

The Plough public house, appeared in the Derby & Chesterfield Reporter on the 22 March 1838 when an advertisement was placed for its sale, part of which is as follows:-

A most eligible public house, with two crofts of excellent freehold land and garden.To be sold by auction, on the premises of the owner and occupier, Mr. Thomas Pywell, at the Sign of the Plough, Hufton Heath (sic), in the parish of Littleover, in the county of Derby, … … .

In 1871 what was possibly the last sale advertisement for the Plough public house was carried in the Derby Mercury on the 6 September 1871  The advert commenced as follows:-

Valuable old-licenced public-house and freehold land, Huffen Heath, near Derby.  To be sold by auction, by Messrs Oliver and Newbold, at the Plough Inn, Huffen Heath (about 2½ miles from Derby, on the Derby and Uttoxeter turnpike-road), on Thursday, the 21st day of September, 1871, … … . All that old-licenced freehold public-house, known by the name of the Plough Inn, situate at Huffen Heath, in the township of Littleover, in the county of Derby……. 

In the National Registration of 1939 the Old Plough House was located between house numbers 178 and 186 Uttoxeter Road.

Rising Sun

Littleover Common (Burton Road)

by 1836 -1851

The Rising Sun was used in an advertisement in the Derby Mercury on the 2 March 1836 to locate fields where three stacks of prime old hay were to be sold by auction.  An extract from the advert follows:-

The stacks are standing in fields nearly opposite the Rising Sun, about 1½ miles from Derby on the Burton Road.

The Rising Sun was mentioned in the Derby & Chesterfield Reporter on the 6 July 1837 when it reported on a fight of 38 rounds took place in a Littleover field.  The fight, on 4 July, lasted an hour and a half was between Joseph Clark and Edward Dorrington.  An extract from the report was as follows:-

At the close, Clark was carried to the Rising Sun beer shop, close by, in a state of insensibility.  A surgeon was sent for, but he was so severely beaten that he expired at about eleven o’clock at night.

The Rising Sun appears to be at the Littleover Common Farm or part of it.  In an advertisement headed ‘Littleover Common, Late The Rising Sun Inn’ in the Derby Mercury 12 March 1851, the premises was put up for sale, see the extract as follows:-

To be sold by auction, by Mr. Jarman, on the premises, on Tuesday,March 18th, 1851,the property of Mr. Thos. Smith, who is leaving Littleover Common Farm.

As this public house was located on Littleover Common, was it previously the Blue Ball and its name later changed to the Rising Sun? There is no evidence as to the actual location of the Rising Sun but it is possible that it was on or near where 399 Burton Road is today.

Swan/White Swan

Shepherd Street

by 1768 Onwards

Originally called the Swan, a belated notice appeared in the Derby Mercury on the 29 April 1768 and was as follows:-

The Swan, in Littleover, 27th April, 1768.  This is to give notice.  That a meeting of Commissioners appointed by Act of Parliament, for dividing and inclosing the commons, open fields, common meadows, and common pastures in the Liberty of Littleover, in the Parish of Mickleover, in the County of Derby, will be held in the house of Robert Campion being the Sign of the Swan in Littleover aforesaid, on Tuesday the tenth day of May next, at 10 o’clock in the forenoon.

An early sale of the Swan appeared in an advertisement in the Derby Mercury on the 11 March 1813.  Part of the advert is as follows:-

Freehold property in Littleover, (within a mile and a half of the town of Derby), to be sold by auction, by Mr R Finney, at the house of Mr James Walker, the Sign of the Swan, in Littleover aforesaid, on Saturday the 13th day of March, 1813, at three o’clock in the afternoon.  All the old established public house situate in Littleover aforesaid, known by the Sign of the Swan, with a ten quarter malthouse, barn, stables, and other convenient outbuildings and croft of very excellent land thereto containing altogether about 3 acres, … … .

Today the White Swan pub is a charming and inviting establishment that offers a warm and friendly atmosphere.  This traditional pub is known for its cozy interior and welcoming staff. The pub offers a wide selection of beverages, including a variety of beers, wines, and spirits, ensuring that there is something to suit every taste. The pub also prides itself on its delicious food, serving up hearty and satisfying meals that are sure to please.

Chris Drury 

June 2025