A BRIEF HISTORY

The Plough Inn is one of only a couple of pubs in the country which is owned by it’s Parish Council. Thanks for the following information which was researched by Jill Pickard, wife of our Parish Council Chairman, John Pickard.

Quote from the ‘Lincoln, Rutland & Stamford Mercury’ dated 11 December, 1811.

Horbling, Lincolnshire, Public House & Land.

To be let and entered on at Lady Day, next March 25^th, and old established PUBLIC HOUSE, called or known by the name or sign ‘The Plough’, with 34 acres of arable and grass land, situated in HORBLING, aforesaid, and now in the occupation of Mr. Francis Root. The proprietors of this estate purpose, early in the ensuing Spring to erect a new house (instead of the present house, which will afterwards be taken down) and suitable buildings for the accommodation of travellers and others, which will make the situation very desirable, as conveniences are only wanting to enable an occupier to carry on a considerable and respectable business.

Notice will be given in this paper of the time when the premises will be let, which will not be before January 1811, and persons desirous of taking the same are requested to signify such is their desire before the first of January (if by letter, the postage to be paid) to Messrs. Smith and Worth, solicitors at Horbling aforesaid.

The above article clearly shows that prior to the present building being completed in 1812 there was an inn called The Plough which preceded it. The bill for a day’s work pulling down was £2.7.0d. This suggests that the old building may well have been built of mud and stud. Many of the cottages would have been made of this material and would be quickly demolished if needs be.

The cost of building the new Plough Inn came to a total of £565.7.6½d.

Lincolnshire Archive.

The Plough Inn is owned by Horbling Parish Council. Parish Councils as we know them came about in the year 1894. Prior to this their work was conducted by a body of people known as the Parish Vestry and, as their name implies, they met in the Church Vestry.

The Overseers of the Poor were chosen by the Parish Vestry. Their office was created by an Act of Parliament in the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1 in 1601.

On December 11^th 1700, Horbling Overseers of the Poor purchased form Elizabeth, Pheobe and Marttia Jenkinson three-quarters of a cottage and two acres of ley ground within Horbling at a cost of £22.00.0d. ‘To hold the same to and for the sole and only use and benefit and behof of the inhabitants for the time being of the said town of Horbling for ever’.

In February 1804, the remaining quarter of the sane cottage and land was, in consideration of £5.0.0d, conveyed by William Groom and wife to Edward Brown and five others ‘in trust for the said inhabitants of the said town of Horbling for ever’.

The money required to purchase the properties no doubt came from several charitable bequests left for the benefit of the poor of the village. Why such a long time passed between purchasing both cottages has not been discovered.

Purchasing the remaining quarter of the cottage would give the Overseers control of the whole property and thus enable them, after a few years, to demolish it and rebuild ‘The Plough’ as we know it today. There is no record of when the first cottage became the Plough Inn as referred to in the Mercury notice.

Jill Pickard.