The Butcher's Arms

The Butcher's Arms

The Ermine Way, which closed in 2014 and now is converted for residential use, was formerly called the Butcher's Arms. Situated alongside the main road running through Ancaster, this distinctive building, constructed in brick, with 'Tudor-style' black and white half -timberwork bears the date 1898. A report⁴ in 1898 makes it clear that this was then a new building, but not a new inn; being a replacement for the old Butcher's Arms. One of the workmen was reported to have fallen and sustained an injury whist pulling down the old Butcher's arms 'preparatory to erecting a new house'.

The history of Butcher's Arms goes back much further, the earliest known reference being in 1809 when a house and land at Sudbrook were advertised⁵ to be sold by auction 'at the house of Mr. Thomas Roper, the sign of the Butcher's Arms, in Ancaster'. Several notices in 1822 indicate that Thomas Roper, butcher and farmer of Ancaster was bankrupt, and a meeting of his creditors was called⁶, taking place at the Butcher's Arms. In 1823, an auction sale of the estate, in Ancaster of William Leachman, was advertised⁷ to take place at the house of Thomas Roper, the Butcher's Arms. The death of Thomas Roper of the Butcher's Arms was reported⁸ in 1831.

The 1842 Directory⁹ reveals that Thomas Everitt then ran the Butcher's Arms, but in 1846, Samuel Worley (late of Grantham) posted a notice¹⁰ declaring that he was entering upon the 'commodious inn' (the Butcher's Arms Inn at Ancaster).

The Butcher's Arms Inn was a convenient venue for auction sales of land, property and growing timber, or for events such as inquests, during the nineteenth century; the Red Lion and the Angel Inn in Ancaster being similarly used. An inquest held¹¹ at the Butcher's Arms in 1851 into the death of a sixteen-year-old farm worker crushed under the wheels of a waggon. George Castledine was innkeeper and grocer at the Butcher's Arms in 1861.

A curious event took place in 1870. It was reported¹² (below) that the inhabitants of Ancaster had just had a 'great treat'. Mr. Charles Toone, a 'noted Professor of Phrenology from Cambridge' briefly took up took rooms at the Butcher's Arms, ordering the 'best flavoured and tenderest steak' before providing the Ancasteronians with consultations for 'very moderate charges'. After just one day, Mr. Toone departed, leaving early the following morning, and without paying his bill! The Grantham Journal advised readers to steer clear of Mr. Toone. Nobody, today, would believe that an examination of the bumps on someone's skull would reveal their personality traits - or would they?

By 1871 George Castledine had left (perhaps embarrassed by the Phrenology incident?), and John Henry Teat had become innkeeper at the Butcher's Arms. A farmer as well as innkeeper, he died in 1879. During the 1880s the Ancaster and District Cow Club held their annual meeting and dinner at the Butcher's Arms, Mrs Ann Cater being the hostess¹³. Ann Teat, the widow of John Teat had married Arthur Cater in 1883; she was still innkeeper of the Butcher's Arms in 1891. In 1893, Mr and Mrs G. H. Teat of the Butcher's Arms were reported¹⁴ to have become seriously ill after partaking mushrooms, but were recovering after being given emetics. The 1896 Directory¹⁵ recorded George Teat (son of John Henry and Ann Teat) as being the landlord of the Butcher's Arms public house.

During the celebrations for the Ancaster Feast in 1898 music for dancing was provided at the 'newly erected' Butcher's Arms, rooms for dancing being open there as well as at the Angel and Red Lion¹⁶. George Johnson was innkeeper of the Butcher's Arms in 1901. Amongst later licensees of the Butcher's Arms was Thomas Hather Dennis, innkeeper there by 1906, and until his retirement¹⁷ in 1935.

4. Grantham Journal 19 March 1898

5. Stamford Journal 13 Jan. 1809

6. Stamford Mercury 20 Sept. 1822

7. Stamford Mercury 21 Feb. 1823

8. Stamford Mercury 15 April 1831

9. History, Gazetteer and Directory of Lincolnshire 1842

10. Stamford Mercury 27 Mar. 1846

11. Lincolnshire Chronicle 26 Sept. 1851

12. Grantham Journal 3 Dec. 1870

13. Grantham Journal 10 Jan. 1885

14. Grantham Journal 4 Nov. 1893

15. Kelly's Directory of Lincolnshire 1896

16. Grantham Journal 8 Oct 1898

17. Grantham Journal 22 Feb. 1946