Meynell Ingram Arms - Hoar Cross: Pub History, Publicans, Photographs

In the 2000's the Meynell Ingram Arms had gained a reputation for its food, resulting in the premises being listed in many a food guide, along with recommendations from a number of food critics. This can lead to a building drifting from being a pub and becoming more of a restaurant. The Meynell Ingram Arms is, however, trying hard to retain some sense of its past. Having cycled down from Ashbourne, I have only spent a short time here enjoying a sandwich and a pint of Timothy Taylor Landlord Bitter. The experience was agreeable, though I should have taken some more photographs for this page. However, at times, one simply wants to enjoy a pub lunch rather than trying to record everything. This inter-war scene captures the rural character of Hoar Cross in days of old. Some suggest that the pub was named after the Meynell Hunt but I would have thought that it was simply a case of tipping one's hat to the local gentry by showing some sort of deference to the owners of Hoar Cross Hall. The pub's name changed around 1860. Formerly known as the Shoulder of Mutton, it would appear that William Collier renamed the building. It must be remembered however that the Meynell family have an important link with fox hunting. Hugo Meynell is regarded as pioneer of the sport and he was appointed Master of Fox Hounds for the Quorn Hunt in Leicestershire in 1753. The origins of the Meynell Hunt can be traced back to 1793, a time when the Vernon family of Sudbury led a pack of hounds on the border of south Derbyshire and north Staffordshire. Following the death of Lord Vernon in 1813, the Meynell family took over the hounds and the name was changed from the Sudbury Hunt to the Hoar Cross Hunt. Standing on the crossroads, the pub was a natural choice for the hunt meet. The Meynell Ingram Arms formed part of a small farmholding during the 19th century. The publicans were generally farmers and victuallers. William and Mary Ann Collier were in charge of the pub during the 1860's and 1870's. The Meynell Ingram Arms enjoyed inn status and the census returns of the mid-19th show quite a number of people boarding at the pub. Joseph Locker was the licensee of the Meynell Ingram Arms in the early 1880's. In addition to running the pub he was also a farmer of 23 acres. Born in Newborough around 1805, he proved there was life in the old dog by having a child at the age of 69. His wife Mary was, of course, much younger than him, having been born in Scotland around 1829. The couple had moved to the Meynell Ingram Arms from another farm in the parish. Following the death of Joseph Locker, his wife Mary Locker became the licensee, and was helped by her son Thomas. Thomas and Alice Read were running the Meynell Ingram Arms towards the end of the Victorian era. In 1901 the census enumerator recorded the Oxfordshire-born publican as a grocer, suggesting that the property was now serving a dual role in Hoar Cross. This seems to be the case in the colour image above. Dating from around 1906, the image appears to show that there are separate entrances for the pub and the shop. Thomas Read served his apprenticeship in the grocery trade at his home village of Cassington between Oxford and Witney. An element of the Meynell Ingram Arms that I should have investigated further was a memorial to Bob Hole [see photograph gallery at the top]. Clearly he was a regular of the pub and must have occupied the same position when he frequented the place. However, I should have tried to find out more about him. I'll try to address this in the near future. © Copyright. Images supplied by Digital Photographic Images and Staffordshire Past-Track.		1861 - William Collier 1871 - Mary Ann Collier 1880 - Joseph Locker 1901 - Thomas Read If you have a genealogy story or query regarding this pub you can contact me and I will post it here in addition to including your message within the website pages for Staffordshire Genealogy. Click here for more information on the sign of The Meynell Ingram Arms. "There is nothing which has yet been contrived by man, by which so much happiness is produced as by a good tavern or inn.” Samuel Johnson		"Thousands of spectators watched in amazement as thrill-seekers in fancy dress careered downhill in home-made karts at an annual post-Christmas event in Staffordshire. More than 40 soapboxes took part in The Downhill Spectacular at Hoar Cross, near Lichfield, yesterday, where drivers took turns to bomb downhill against the clock to their own chosen songs. The event is organised by the Mad Club - Meynell Ingram Arms Drinkers - fundraisers who meet in the Hoar Cross pub every Sunday. Yesterday's event is expected to have raised more than £50,000 for the new burns unit at Birmingham Children's Hospital. Mad Club member Shane Boulton, aged 41, an electrician from nearby Woodmill, said: "It was just happy, crazy fun." Fastest down the half-a-mile route was the Wrecked 'Em Racing team, in under 50 seconds. John German estate agents were thrilled when their entry made by 10 to 12-year-olds at Foremark School in Repton, came second. Driver Paul Barnes, aged 44, of Armitage, said: "The first part of the hill is the steepest and you just have to take a deep breath around the bends." There were up to 5,000 spectators who lined the route, which ended at the Meynell Ingram Arms, and also watched it on giant TV screens. Student Sam Williams, aged 18, from Lichfield said: "It was fantastic and so good that you could watch it on big screens." Another spectator, Lillian Butler, aged 63, from Lichfield, said: "I enjoyed it so much I want to take part next year." "It's downhill all the way for wacky racers" by Victoria Hoe in Express and Star December 29th 2006 © Copyright. Image supplied by Express and Star "A Staffordshire pub company has bought one of the country’s most iconic country pubs, the award-winning Meynell Ingram Arms in Hoar Cross, near Abbots Bromley. The 150-year-old pub joins 10 other pubs and hotels in the Mercury Inns portfolio. Tamworth-based Mercury is a privately-owned company specialising in high quality rural pubs. Mercury’s joint managing director Mark Butler said the pub was a perfect fit for Mercury’s group of non-branded, individual food-led venues in the Midlands. He said: “The Meynell is a well known and historic pub with a loyal clientele, many of whom travel quite long distances to get there. It has won many awards for its superb food and is one of the last high-quality freehold pub properties in the region. “We intend to invest in the pub and ensure that it continues to offer well-kept real ale, food of the highest quality, and excellent value for both local trade and visitors from farther afield,” he said. Mercury has bought the freehold of the Meynell Arms from local businessman and farmer Roger Mercer who put the pub up for sale for £1.5 million. The new manager at the Meynell Ingram Arms is 48-year-old Guy Wallis who has worked for Mercury for 10 years. His most recent pub was the Belper Arms near Measham, the oldest pub in Leicestershire, which he transformed from a run-down pub to a very successful food-led destination. He also ran the Golden Cross in Stratford-upon-Avon. All staff at the Meynell will be retained including award-winning head chef Craig Malone who joined the Meynell a year ago from the prestigious Rookery Hall Hotel in Nantwich. The Meynell Ingram Arms has won several awards in recent years including Restaurant of the Year and Pub of the Year, and has held an AA Rosette for four years. The pub dates back to the mid-1800’s. Mercury Inns was formed 10 years ago by co-managing directors Mark Butler and Kevin Thornton and operations director Andrew Chapman." "Pub favourite snapped up" in Express and Star November 15th 2007 At the Meynell Ingram Arms, chef Keith Parton, country sports enthusiast Peter Kenyon-Smith and landlord Guy Wallis celebrate the start of the game season. "A pub chef has come up with a tasty new dish to celebrate the start of the grouse shooting season. Keith Parton from the Meynell Ingram Arms at Hoar Cross, near Rugeley, is presenting the new game dish of duck with monkfish as his signature meal. It's the Glorious 12th and grouse shooters are targeting a bumper season aimed at boosting rural businesses. Keith said: "Fish with meat is hardly new as a combination dish, however it's the sauces that help to create the blend. I'm sure diners won't mind some culinary licence in presenting a different partnership on a plate. We will of course be also serving traditional game dishes from September. Local country sports enthusiast Peter Kenyon-Smith will be helping to supply his favourite pub with game. This year's annual count by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust [GWCT] showed populations of red grouse on upland heather moorland had increased by an average of almost a quarter on last year." "Tasty start to grouse season" by John Corser in Express and Star August 12th 2011 © Copyright. Image supplied by Express and Star		Staffordshire Places Alton Amblecote Barton-u-Needwood Bilston Blackheath Bloxwich Bobbington Brewood Brierley Hill Brockmoor Burton-on-Trent Cannock Chasetown Cheadle Cheslyn Hay Clifton Campville Codsall Coseley Cradley Heath Darlaston Eccleshall Edingale Enville Ettingshall Fazeley Fenton Gornal Great Bridge Greensforge Hanbury Hanley Harlaston Hednesford Himley Hopwas Kidsgrove Kingswinford Kinver Leek Lichfield Newborough Newcastle-u-Lyme Ogley Hay Old Hill Pattingham Penkridge Penn Pensnett Quarry Bank Rowley Regis Sedgley Shenstone Silverdale Smethwick Stafford Stoke-on-Trent Stone Swindon Tamworth Tatenhill Tipton Tividale Trysull Tunstall Upper Arley Uttoxeter Wall Heath Walsall Wednesbury Wednesfield West Bromwich Whittington Wigginton Willenhall Wolverhampton Wombourne Woodsetton Wordsley

In the 2000's the Meynell Ingram Arms had gained a reputation for its food, resulting in the premises being listed in many a food guide, along with recommendations from a number of food critics. This can lead to a building drifting from being a pub and becoming more of a restaurant. The Meynell Ingram Arms is, however, trying hard to retain some sense of its past. Having cycled down from Ashbourne, I have only spent a short time here enjoying a sandwich and a pint of Timothy Taylor Landlord Bitter. The experience was agreeable, though I should have taken some more photographs for this page. However, at times, one simply wants to enjoy a pub lunch rather than trying to record everything.

Meynell Hunt Meet outside the Meynell Ingram Arms [c.1929]

This inter-war scene captures the rural character of Hoar Cross in days of old. Some suggest that the pub was named after the Meynell Hunt but I would have thought that it was simply a case of tipping one's hat to the local gentry by showing some sort of deference to the owners of Hoar Cross Hall. The pub's name changed around 1860. Formerly known as the Shoulder of Mutton, it would appear that William Collier renamed the building. It must be remembered however that the Meynell family have an important link with fox hunting. Hugo Meynell is regarded as pioneer of the sport and he was appointed Master of Fox Hounds for the Quorn Hunt in Leicestershire in 1753.

The origins of the Meynell Hunt can be traced back to 1793, a time when the Vernon family of Sudbury led a pack of hounds on the border of south Derbyshire and north Staffordshire. Following the death of Lord Vernon in 1813, the Meynell family took over the hounds and the name was changed from the Sudbury Hunt to the Hoar Cross Hunt. Standing on the crossroads, the pub was a natural choice for the hunt meet.

Hoar Cross - Meynell Ingram Arms [c.1906]

The Meynell Ingram Arms formed part of a small farmholding during the 19th century. The publicans were generally farmers and victuallers. William and Mary Ann Collier were in charge of the pub during the 1860's and 1870's. The Meynell Ingram Arms enjoyed inn status and the census returns of the mid-19th show quite a number of people boarding at the pub.

Joseph Locker was the licensee of the Meynell Ingram Arms in the early 1880's. In addition to running the pub he was also a farmer of 23 acres. Born in Newborough around 1805, he proved there was life in the old dog by having a child at the age of 69. His wife Mary was, of course, much younger than him, having been born in Scotland around 1829. The couple had moved to the Meynell Ingram Arms from another farm in the parish.

Following the death of Joseph Locker, his wife Mary Locker became the licensee, and was helped by her son Thomas.

Thomas and Alice Read were running the Meynell Ingram Arms towards the end of the Victorian era. In 1901 the census enumerator recorded the Oxfordshire-born publican as a grocer, suggesting that the property was now serving a dual role in Hoar Cross. This seems to be the case in the colour image above. Dating from around 1906, the image appears to show that there are separate entrances for the pub and the shop. Thomas Read served his apprenticeship in the grocery trade at his home village of Cassington between Oxford and Witney.

An element of the Meynell Ingram Arms that I should have investigated further was a memorial to Bob Hole [see photograph gallery at the top]. Clearly he was a regular of the pub and must have occupied the same position when he frequented the place. However, I should have tried to find out more about him. I'll try to address this in the near future.
© Copyright. Images supplied by Digital Photographic Images
and Staffordshire Past-Track.

1861 - William Collier
1871 - Mary Ann Collier
1880 - Joseph Locker
1901 - Thomas Read

If you have a genealogy story or query regarding this pub you can contact me and I will post it here in addition to including your message within the website pages for Staffordshire Genealogy.

Click here for more information on the sign of The Meynell Ingram Arms.

Fox Hunting by George Wright

Not One to Mix with the Riff-Raff in the Bar

Samuel Johnson painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds [c.1772]
"There is nothing which has yet been contrived by man, by which so much happiness is produced as by a good tavern or inn.”
Samuel Johnson

The Movers Pirate Ship Cruises Along in the Downhill Spectacular at Hoar Cross
"Thousands of spectators watched in amazement as thrill-seekers in fancy dress careered downhill in home-made karts at an annual post-Christmas event in Staffordshire.

More than 40 soapboxes took part in The Downhill Spectacular at Hoar Cross, near Lichfield, yesterday, where drivers took turns to bomb downhill against the clock to their own chosen songs.

The event is organised by the Mad Club - Meynell Ingram Arms Drinkers - fundraisers who meet in the Hoar Cross pub every Sunday. Yesterday's event is expected to have raised more than £50,000 for the new burns unit at Birmingham Children's Hospital.

Mad Club member Shane Boulton, aged 41, an electrician from nearby Woodmill, said: "It was just happy, crazy fun."

Fastest down the half-a-mile route was the Wrecked 'Em Racing team, in under 50 seconds. John German estate agents were thrilled when their entry made by 10 to 12-year-olds at Foremark School in Repton, came second. Driver Paul Barnes, aged 44, of Armitage, said: "The first part of the hill is the steepest and you just have to take a deep breath around the bends."

There were up to 5,000 spectators who lined the route, which ended at the Meynell Ingram Arms, and also watched it on giant TV screens. Student Sam Williams, aged 18, from Lichfield said: "It was fantastic and so good that you could watch it on big screens."

Another spectator, Lillian Butler, aged 63, from Lichfield, said: "I enjoyed it so much I want to take part next year."
"It's downhill all the way for wacky racers"
by Victoria Hoe in Express and Star
December 29th 2006
© Copyright. Image supplied by Express and Star

"A Staffordshire pub company has bought one of the country’s most iconic country pubs, the award-winning Meynell Ingram Arms in Hoar Cross, near Abbots Bromley.

The 150-year-old pub joins 10 other pubs and hotels in the Mercury Inns portfolio.

Tamworth-based Mercury is a privately-owned company specialising in high quality rural pubs.

Mercury’s joint managing director Mark Butler said the pub was a perfect fit for Mercury’s group of non-branded, individual food-led venues in the Midlands.

He said: “The Meynell is a well known and historic pub with a loyal clientele, many of whom travel quite long distances to get there. It has won many awards for its superb food and is one of the last high-quality freehold pub properties in the region.

“We intend to invest in the pub and ensure that it continues to offer well-kept real ale, food of the highest quality, and excellent value for both local trade and visitors from farther afield,” he said.

Mercury has bought the freehold of the Meynell Arms from local businessman and farmer Roger Mercer who put the pub up for sale for £1.5 million.

The new manager at the Meynell Ingram Arms is 48-year-old Guy Wallis who has worked for Mercury for 10 years. His most recent pub was the Belper Arms near Measham, the oldest pub in Leicestershire, which he transformed from a run-down pub to a very successful food-led destination. He also ran the Golden Cross in Stratford-upon-Avon.

All staff at the Meynell will be retained including award-winning head chef Craig Malone who joined the Meynell a year ago from the prestigious Rookery Hall Hotel in Nantwich.

The Meynell Ingram Arms has won several awards in recent years including Restaurant of the Year and Pub of the Year, and has held an AA Rosette for four years. The pub dates back to the mid-1800’s. Mercury Inns was formed 10 years ago by co-managing directors Mark Butler and Kevin Thornton and operations director Andrew Chapman."
"Pub favourite snapped up"
in Express and Star
November 15th 2007

Hoar Cross - Meynell Ingram Arms
At the Meynell Ingram Arms, chef Keith Parton, country sports enthusiast Peter Kenyon-Smith and landlord Guy Wallis celebrate the start of the game season.

"A pub chef has come up with a tasty new dish to celebrate the start of the grouse shooting season.

Keith Parton from the Meynell Ingram Arms at Hoar Cross, near Rugeley, is presenting the new game dish of duck with monkfish as his signature meal.

It's the Glorious 12th and grouse shooters are targeting a bumper season aimed at boosting rural businesses.

Keith said: "Fish with meat is hardly new as a combination dish, however it's the sauces that help to create the blend. I'm sure diners won't mind some culinary licence in presenting a different partnership on a plate. We will of course be also serving traditional game dishes from September.

Local country sports enthusiast Peter Kenyon-Smith will be helping to supply his favourite pub with game.

This year's annual count by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust [GWCT] showed populations of red grouse on upland heather moorland had increased by an average of almost a quarter on last year."
"Tasty start to grouse season"
by John Corser in Express and Star
August 12th 2011
© Copyright. Image supplied by Express and Star

History of the Meynell Ingram Arms at Hoar Cross in the county of Staffordshire. Research is augmented with photographs, details of licensees, stories of local folklore, census data, newspaper articles and a genealogy connections section for those studying their family history.

Staffordshire Places