The Angel

The Angel

This inn, now gone (Angel Court, a housing development of retirement bungalows built in late 1960s/ early '70s, being in its place) was on the western side of the main street (Ermine Street) in Ancaster, more or less opposite the present Village Hall.

A early photograph of the Angel Inn reveals it to have been a substantial stone-built building; the frontage having architectural features, such as windows, in common with those seen on surviving properties such as Plane House, sited nearby.

The Angel (and the Red Lion) were offered for sale²⁰ in 1945 by the trustees of the late Edmund Lucas Calcraft having been part of the Ancaster Hall estate. The property was then sold²¹, together with farm buildings and a grass paddock for £2000, to Messrs Hole &Co. Ltd, brewers of the Castle Brewery, Newark).

The earliest known reference to The Angel appears in the will, proved in 1579, of William Gedney, inn-holder of Ancaster. 'My house in Ancaster called the Angell with one oxgang of land, meadow and pasture belonging' was bequeathed by William Gedney to his wife for her natural life, with his son Nicholas Gedney to ultimately inherit. An inventory of the goods and chattels of William Gedney listed long tables and long settles as being present in the 'hall' which may have accommodated travellers. Malt was listed (needed for beer making) as well as corn, kyne (cattle), oxen, horses, young beasts and two hundred sheep. The Gedneys were, or became a family of high status, gentry class with considerable land holdings in Ancaster and surrounding hamlets and villages. At this early date The Angel Inn which William Gedney owned and lived in was not the same building which was demolished to be replaced by Angel Court, nor can we assume it occupied the same site.

In 1796 'a good - accustomed inn known by the Sign of the Angel' in Ancaster was advertised²² for sale as part of a large estate which included the manors of both Sudbrook and Willoughby, the advowson of the vicarage of Ancaster with farms and over 1200 acres of land. This estate belonged to the Roe family of Sudbrook Hall. John Roe, only son and heir of William Roe died in March 1796. It appears that he had died childless, his four sisters being beneficiaries.

The 1790 Directory¹⁹ records Edward Grasby as an innkeeper, probably of the Angel Inn, in Ancaster. He was a freeholder indicating that he owned land. Edward Grasby of Ancaster died in 1806, but he had a son, also Edward Grasby. This Edward Grasby was of the Angel Inn in 1808 when he gave notice²³ of a heifer having been found in a close belonging to him. In 1812, at the house of Mr. 'Grassby', the sign of the Angel, in Ancaster, a sale by auction was advertised²⁴ of a dwelling house in the occupation of Mr. Peter Tyler.

By 1818, however Edward Grasby was innkeeper at the Red Lion. Mrs. Hodson, of the Angel Inn, Ancaster died there in 1826, followed by her husband James Hodson in 1829. In 1829, William Johnson posted²⁵ a notice to say that he had taken over at the Angel from his late uncle, James Hodson. The 1842 Directory⁹ records that William Johnson was innkeeper at the Angel, and he probably remained there until his death in 1859.

At Ancaster in 1836, Elizabeth, only child of William Johnson married William Ward. William Ward is recorded²⁶ as innkeeper at the Angel in 1859 when he offered a reward for the return of 'Sweep', his lost greyhound. William Ward was also a farmer; he farmed 205 acres in 1871. He was still at the Angel in 1881. During William Ward's tenure of the Angel, apart from being where auction sales and inquests were held, it was also a venue, in 1860, for the Ancaster and Willoughby Coursing Meeting. Results of the hare coursing event were reported²⁷, greyhounds belonging to various gentlemen having earlier competed in pairs. After presentations had been made, those present sat down to 'an excellent repast', provided by Mr. Ward. A similar event took place at the Angel Inn in 1864, with Mr. Ward, the host providing a meal 'in his usual liberal style'. In 1867, Ancaster Races were advertised²⁸ which was to include racing for the Ancaster Cup (two miles over hurdles), value £15, also the Ancaster Stakes (two miles) and a pony race. Entries were to Mr. Ward at the Angel Inn. By 1891 William Ward had been succeeded at the Angel by his son William Edward Ward who was a butcher as well as an innkeeper and farmer. William Edward Ward died in 1900, and he, in turn was succeeded at the Angel by his brother Arthur John Ward. Arthur John Ward had been the manager of the Talbot Hotel, Nottingham and in 1897 he organised what was intended to be a series of annual excursions for the staff of the Talbot - to Ancaster! There was a big welcome for Arthur Ward in Ancaster (his birthplace), and a presentation on his birthday²⁹. The church bells were rung, there were invited guests, with a luncheon and marquee. The whole party attended a programme of music in Ancaster Valley. On the occasion of the third 'Talbot Outing' in 1899 a marquee was set up at the Angel and a luncheon provided³⁰ for about 130 by Mrs. Ward. The party, which arrived by special train from Nottingham had brought with them much musical talent. There were many other visitors and the concert organised to take place in the Valley attracted more than 2000 people. 'The spot selected was ideal for an open-air concert, the valley forming a natural amphitheatre, the musicians on one side, and the crowd of people sitting or reclining on the opposite slopes beneath the grateful shade of the trees'. On 'Talbot-day' in 1900, once again³¹ there was the visiting party from the Talbot Hotel, Nottingham, but this occasion was combined with the wedding, in Ancaster Church, of Arthur J. Ward to the leading vocalist from 1899, Kate Geraldine Potier. More than 200 people attended the wedding luncheon in the yard at the Angel Inn. Arthur Ward who was now to become landlord of the Angel said he was sorry to leave the Talbot. This year the concert in Ancaster Valley drew large crowds with over 3000 people attending.

1915 Edward Porter was the innkeeper and a farmer at the Angel Inn by 1911. The Angel had 9 rooms. Edward and Sarah Porter had six children living with them, including their son Joseph who in died 1915, a casualty of WW1.

9. History, Gazetteer and Directory of Lincolnshire 1842

19. The Universal British Directory of Trade, Commerce and Manufacture Vol. II 1790

20. Grantham Journal 9 Feb. 1945 21. Grantham Journal 16 Mar. 1945

22. Stamford Mercury 9 Sept. 1796

23. Stamford Mercury 8 July 1808

24. Stamford Mercury 8 Jan. 1812

25. Stamford Mercury 27 Feb. 1829

26. Grantham Journal 15 Oct. 1859

27. Grantham Journal 6 Oct. 1860

28. Grantham Journal 18 May 1867

29. Grantham Journal 24 July 1897

30. Grantham Journal 22 July 1899

31. Grantham Journal 7 July 1900