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Offton Shoulder of Mutton
Offton Shoulder of Mutton
South West, 52.10112,1.02904
Closed: Between 1901 and 1909?
opened 1770
Ipswich Rd
grid reference TM 075 490
The pub can be seen on this old OS map from about the end of the 19th century. interactive map
This sixteenth century house was bought by the Suffolk Author H W Freeman's parents and he later lived there with his German wife Betty (Elizabeth Boebecker). The house is on the left hand side of the road if you go from the Offton Limeburners towards Ipswich, just after the Elmsett turning. I don't think it has been a pub since around the 1850's.
(Information from a book on Harold Freeman's life, and my father who did a lot of work on the house for Freeman - Rob Hughes)
This pub's location was a detached part of Willisham Parish until about 1890.
The last publican we have a record for was in 1901. The 1909 Rate book lists the building as "late an inn", so it evidently closed between those dates, probably nearer to 1909 than 1901.
Gallery
Historical interest
A reference appears in the Ipswich Journal, 15 August 15th 1741***, to the Shoulder of Mutton at Willisham
To be sold by auction all that eligible and well situated Inn or Public House, called the Shoulder of Mutton, in Willisham, adjoining the principal road from Bildeston to Ipswich…
Landlords
(Most pub, location & historic details collated by Nigel, Tony or Keith - original sources are credited)
(some old PO directory information courtesy of londonpublichouse.com)
(1891 census information from Dudley Diaper)
(** historic newspaper information from Stuart Ansell)
Old OS map reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland.