The Cricketers - History

Shroton or Iwerne Courtney

Interestingly, this enchanting village was the scene of warfare as General Wolfe trained his troops before his assult on Quebec in the mid 18th-century. They trained on Hambledon Hill, which rises to 600ft above the pretty village.

The parish church of St.Mary has a magnificent tower dating from the 14th-century. Sir Thomas Freke rebuilt the nave and aisles at the turn of the 17th-century and the interior of the church contains a memorial to him and his wife. It was commissioned by their children in 1654.

Shroton has an ancient history and was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. In 1961 the village celebrated the 700th anniversary of its charter but the happy days of fairs and pony sales ended long ago and a fair has not been held in the village since the days before World War One.

It is a pretty and peaceful place, the village lies in open countryside a short distance from Blandford Forum. Should you decide to visit, it is worth noting that it is sometimes known as Iwerne Courtney and can be found close to Cranbourne Chase which is renowned for its lovely scenery.

The Cricketers

We understand that the original mediaeval pub was bought by Hall and Woodhouse in the early twentieth century. At some point this was demolished and replaced by the current redbrick building. At around the same time they created a garden for the pub by purchasing land from two of the neighbouring cottages. The result is a lovely secluded garden which is tucked away at the side of the pub between two rows of mediaeval cottages.

In the 1960s the pub was trading as a traditional village boozer. As trade declined, Hall and Woodhouse decided to sell and The Cricketers came into independent ownership. In private hands, the new owners started to develop a food trade. By the 1990s The Cricketers had become renowned not only for its setting and well-kept beers, but also for its food. To this day The Cricketers remains a favourite destination not only for locals but also amongst hungry travellers from further afield.

Do you know anything about the history of The Cricketers?

We are thirsty for information and old photographs of The Cricketers. If you know anything of the history of the pub or its predecessors on the site, and especially if you have any old photos, we would love to hear from you.