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Walsham le Willows Blue Boar
Walsham le Willows Blue Boar
formerly Boar
North West, 52.30224,0.93203
Real Ale is sold here.
The Street, IP31 3AA
grid reference TM 000 711
bar / diner, opened 1817
A true free house with a fine selection of ales on hand-pump.
The Blue Boar is a historic country Pub set in the beautiful village of Walsham-le-Willows in Suffolk.
It was first recorded as brewing and selling ale in 1360 and is still serving the local area The pub boasts traditional exposed beams, open fires and a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Breakfast and afternoon teas served.
There is an extensive beer garden.
St Marys Church is directly next door,
The building dates from the 15th century, with many subsequent alterations. The pub can apparently be traced back as far as 1360.
Closed and empty when visited in April 2022, having been repossessed by the building's owners.
Facilities
Accessible to disabled customers
Beer garden or other outside drinking area
Beer served direct from the barrel by gravity
Beer served through handpumps
Cider (real draught, not keg) available
Dogs welcome
Evening meals
Family friendly
Live music
Lunchtime meals (not just snacks)
Parking
Real fire
Restaurant or separate dining area
Traditional pub games available
Gallery
Nearest railway station
Other nearby Suffolk pubs
Historical interest
The pub is shown on this old OS map from about 1903 (interactive map)
A Public House was first recorded as brewing and selling ale near here in 1360. the current building dates from 1420 and was built as a private house. The first occupant was Alice Pye, an ale-wife (she brewed and sold ale). In 1447 it was granted to John and Alice Bay and became known as Pyes or Bayes. It belonged to Church House manor and John Bay was a member of the court jury as were later tenants of the house; being a large house in a prominent spot it attracted prominent tenants. During much of the 17th century it was the home of Reginald Page who was bailiff of the manor and a churchwarden. In 1817 it was recorded as being a public house named the "Boar" where local auctions were held. …
Landlords
Footnote
The blue boar was a heraldic sign for the Earl of Oxford a leading supporter of the Lancastrians who defeated and killed King Richard III at Bosworth in 1495 - Henry Tudor then became Henry VII - Richard's emblem was a white boar forcing some pub signs to be hastily repainted.
(Most pub, location & historic details collated by Nigel, Tony or Keith - original sources are credited)
(1891 census information from Dudley Diaper)
(some old PO directory information courtesy of londonpublichouse.com)
(** historic newspaper information from Stuart Ansell)
(*** historic newspaper information from Bob Mitchell)
