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Home > Dorset >
Godmanstone > Smiths Arms
Smiths Arms
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Date of photo: 1998 |
Picture source:
Michael Croxford |
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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. |
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From The Good Pub Guide 1983: |
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'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. |
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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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Contacts |
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Make email contact with other ex-customers and landlords of this pub by adding your details to this page. |
| Name |
Dates |
Comments |
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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 |
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Other Photos |
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Date of photo: 2010 |
© Copyright Mike
Faherty and
licensed for reuse under
this Creative
Commons Licence |
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Date of photo: 2013 |
Picture source:
Grant Cleverley |
