android appGreat Blakenham Chequers
last updated Feb 20th, 2023.
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Great Blakenham Chequers
North East, 52.11484,1.09166
Closed: 21st century
Converted into an Indian restaurant September 2022
last owner/operator: Chequers (Great Blakenham) Limited
19 Stowmarket Rd, IP6 0LP
grid reference TM 117 507
The pub is shown on this old OS map from about 1902 (interactive map)
Landlord (David Lang) was here for over 23 years. Pub has been significantly refurbished and expanded in 2017 with new function rooms added for weddings and parties etc. Mobile bar available for events, etc. The one cask beer was usually selected from Woodforde Wherry, Greene King IPA and Adnams Ghost Ship.
Pub closed Sep 2022 and changed to a restaurant without planning approval.
One of only eight Suffolk pubs to appear in the first (1972) edition of CAMRA's Good Beer Guide, when it sold Tolly Cobbold Mild & Bitter, both from the wood.
Gallery
Sorrel Horse 0.64 mile
Greyhound 1.02 miles
Crown 1.06 miles
Cross Keys 2.4 miles
Duke of Marlborough 2.4 miles
Lion 2.7 milesHistorical interest
Owner/operator: Pubmaster
Marginal real ale outlet;hand-pumped beer often unavailable.
Beers: Tolly Original (occasional)CAMRA's 1997 Suffolk Real Ale Guide
A Main of Cocks at the Chequer, Blakenham.Ipswich Journal, January 24th 1747***
Cocking at Paul Perkin's, the Blakenham Chequer.Ipswich Journal, June 16th 1750***
Cocking at Paul Perkins', the Blakenham Chequer.Ipswich Journal, July 4th 1752***
A reference appears in the Ipswich Journal*** on 1 April 1769 to Mr. Samuel Turner, late of Great Blakenham, Innholder (name not given), deceased.
Died on 14 Feb 1815, Mrs Hunt, of the Blakenham Chequers, aged 67. Ipswich Journal, Feb 1815**
Died on 9 April 1815, at Needham Market, aged 70, Mr Anthony Hunt, late of the Chequers at Blakenham, which house he kept for upwards of 53 years…
Landlords
Footnote
The Chequers sign is an ancient sign probably brought to England by the Romans. Later the sign became associated with a money table e.g. an exchequer or type of chessboard. Some pubs displayed the sign to indicate that they would change money or acted as bankers in some way.
(Most pub, location & historic details collated by Nigel, Tony or Keith - original sources are credited)
(census information from Dudley Diaper)
(** historic newspaper information from Stuart Ansell)
(*** historic newspaper information from Bob Mitchell)
(**** Last Orders is a free local newsletter - published by Suffolk CAMRA memers since 1978)
Old OS map reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland.
