Home > Dorset > Godmanstone > Smiths Arms Smiths Arms
Date of photo: 1998	Picture source: Michael Croxford
The Smiths Arms was situated on the A352. This grade-II listed pub was said to be the smaillest in England when it closed c2010.
My wife and I had the picture below taken at the Smith's Arms, probably around 1990. A chap who was outside the pub at the time offered to take the picture and I remember him saying that it would be nice to have a photograph that would have both of us in it, which I thought was very kind. We have this picture framed as a reminder of our time in Dorset. At the time I would have been around 26 and my girlfriend at the time was 24. I also remember that he had a metal halo bracket fixed to his neck and now realise that this was the landlord John Foster who had been a jockey before suffering a riding accident. We will be celebrating our 34th anniversary in June this year and are often in this part of the world. It's very sad the the pub is no longer open as it holds a special place in our hearts. We actually returned again this year and stopped off to take a photo of my wife outside of the pub as it is today! I found the old pub sign tucked round the corner in a car park. Very sad Thank you for jogging some very old memories!
Mark & Susan Robertson (July 2025)
From The Good Pub Guide 1983:
'England's smallest inn' has been the claim for this old thatched pub. The bar has one high-backed old settle, and though most of the other cushioned seats are modern there's a feeling of the past in this dim-lit rectangular room with its coal fire and harness hanging from its mansard ceiling. One tale is that it was originally licensed by Charles II, who stopped here when it was still a blacksmith's to have his horse reshod. Devenish Bitter and Wessex Best on tap; home-made pies and a selection of rolls. You can sit by the roadside on the fairy-lit crazy paving terrace, or on a grassy mound by a millstream (the River Cerne), a path beyond which goes up past the pastures of Cowdon Hill to the next value - the Trent or, if you prefer if, the Piddle.
Listed building details:
Small Public-House. Cl8, much restored C20. Flint rubble walls and rubble-stone quoins. Thatch roof, hipped with decorative block ridging. C20 brick stack at north side, west end. Single storey. Windows are small 2-light casements with glazing-bars. Fixed window with glazing-bars lighting the bar. C20 door on entrance to road with frosted lights. Claims to be the smallest Public House in England, converted from smithy temp. Charles II.
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Name Dates Comments Adam Davies 1987/2002 Used to visit with my girlfriend and became good friends with John and Linda. Good nights playing Yahtzee, Spoof, John and myself often the last two, with John saying "you and me in the final". Also situating a putting machine half behind a chair leg at the end of the pub - last one to pot it buys the round - always Ouzo - everything was for Ouzo. Wake up the next morning with a fuzzy head, sometimes with an empty Wallet. Great times, miss em
Other Photos
Date of photo: 2010	© Copyright Mike Faherty and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
Date of photo: 2013	Picture source: Grant Cleverley
Date of photo: c1990	Picture source: Mark & Susan Robertson