Inns and Alehouses of Clun: White Horse Inn

September 2024

The White Horse Inn has pride of place in the Market Square of Clun, and has been there for about five centuries. It is one of only two pubs still open in Clun today (2025) and as you walk through the doors you understand why. There are historic photos and memorabilia on the walls and the pub retains its multi-room layout and charm. Part of its success down the years has been the quality of the beers, being a regular entry in the Good Beer Guide.

It was previously owned by the Wrekin Brewery of Wellington, which was in operation between 1870 and the 1960s.

These days, the White Horse is owned by landlord Jack Limond, who set up Clun Brewery at the back of the Inn with Matt Williamson back in 2007 to supply local craft beers to the pub.

Listed landlords at the White Horse Inn are Richard Beddoes (1828), Charles Oldbury (1841-51), William Lloyd (1861), Charles Oldbury Jnr. (-1873), Elizabeth Oldbury (1873-77), Job William Graves and Elizabeth Graves (prev. Oldbury) (1877-1896), Elizabeth Graves (1896-1922), Susannah Agnes Oldbury (1922-), John Passey (1939) and Jack Limond (2001-)

1828 Pigot's Directory Richard Beddoes

1841 Census Chas Oldbury

1851 Census Charles Oldbury

Charles Oldbury died in 1851 at the age of 47 years and this led to a change of landlord at the Inn, a William Lloyd taking over for a number of years, although I suspect the Inn remained in the ownership of the Oldbury family, as by 1871 Charles Oldbury Jnr was running the business with his wife Elizabeth.

Hereford Times 21 April 1855

1861 Census William Lloyd

Hereford Times 02 August 1862

Charles Oldbury Jnr. married Elizabeth Southall in Bishops Frome, Hereford on 22nd March 1865 and I suspect that shortly after the wedding they took up residence at the White Horse. She was brought up from a young age by her mother Susannah following her father's death, along with her siblings, Thomas, William and John. Her mother, Susannah worked as an agricultural labourer to support the family, so times were hard, Elizabeth working as a house maid in her early teens for the local mayor.

1871 Census Charles Oldbury Jnr.

Sadly, Charles Oldbury Jnr was to die young, like his father (and Elizabeth's), passing away in 1873 at the age of 40 years, his probate record below supporting this fact.

1873 Probate Charles Oldbury

Wellington Journal 26 August 1876

His widow, Elizabeth continued to run the business on her own for the next few years until she remarried Job William Graves on 27th April 1877 in Clun, and together, they ran the pub for nearly 20 years until Job's death in 1896.

1881 Census Job William Graves

Morning Post 14 April 1883

1891 Census Job William Graves

Elizabeth must have been a woman of fantastic grit and determination, widowed twice whilst running the White Horse Inn, she continued to run the Inn alongside her daughter Susannah Agnes Oldbury for a further 26 years until she finally passed away in 1922, having been a permanent fixture behind the bar for between 50 and 60 years...some achievement!

1901 Census Elizabeth Graves

1911 Census Elizabeth Graves

1911 Census Summary Sheet

1921 Census Elizabeth Graves & Susannah Agnes Oldbury

Elizabeth passed away the year after the 1921 census leaving daughter Susannah to run the Inn, but by 1939 we find a John Passey behind the bar.

1939 Register John Passey

1949 Probate Susannah Agnes Oldbury

Susannah's probate in 1949 is interesting, as it went to the Hamar family, including Tom, who by this stage had founded the Clun Museum. I'm not sure whether they were distantly related or all just friends in the town.