Chequers Inn, Ledsham

Attractive creeper covered stone village pub belonging to the Ledston Estate. For 180 years and until only recently the pub was closed every Sunday – the pub states this was at the insistence of the Lady of the Manor due to a drunken incident so the building was ordered to be closed to adhere to the holy day of rest.

Its interior conveys a sense of age-old rambling character but much of it derives from a comprehensive refit of 1962, partly done in the heavy-timber-and-exposed-stone idiom (which became quite fashionable for rural ‘destination’ pubs) of which this is a good early example. From 1962 further rooms (to the original pre-war two) have been added with admirable concern for keeping the pub’s essential compartmented character. The old pub entrance was blocked-up in 1962 and you now enter from the car park side.

The highlight is the splendid small room on the corner of the building – it is separated from the tiny area in front of the servery by two settles. One is three-quarters height with an iron stay holding it to the ceiling and on the low doorway side of it is the figure ‘1’; the other is curved side and of half height. The seating is old with panelled backs and upholstered seat situated on stone plinths. There is a stone fireplace with a wooden overmantle and log fire; also a beam and plank ceiling.

The island servery was added in 1962 and consists of stone counters with wooden tops facing two directions and a central stillage of shelving. The other original pub room is the small one on the opposite side of the servery with a narrow door having the figure ‘2’ on it. It has old dado panelling; some more of the fixed seating of the upholstered style on stone plinths; a stone fireplace reaching the ceiling with a log fire; and here the counter is curved.

From this room go up two steps to another small room with double doors; carpet; dado panelling looks 1960s; two pieces of fixed seating on stone bases; and a 1950/60s brick fireplace with a modern stove in it.

Toby Room is another small one off the settle room with upholstered fixed seating on stone bases all around; a stone fireplace reaching the ceiling with large timber uprights holding up the top section and a log burner; and a baffle by the door.

On the first floor is the Hastings Room restaurant accessed via a stone staircase from the flagstone passage which leads to toilets.