PUB HISTORY

Now Ickleton has just one pub but within living memory there were six in the village – The White Horse, Jolly Butchers and the Red Lion (now the Ickleton Lion) on Abbey Street, the Duke of Wellington (previously the Chequer) on the Green, the Beehive on Frogge Street and the New Inn on Brookhampton Street.  There was also the Greyhound at the turn into London Road, Great Chesterford.  This area was part of Ickleton parish until the 1960s when it ‘moved’ into Great Chesterford.  Going further back, in 1592 there was a pub called the Bell, and in the same century there was an inn that may have been called the Rose.  The Three Horse Shoes and the Horse Shoes may have been one and the same and become the White Horse.  The White Lion had been on the site of the Duke of Wellington but burnt down. 

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The Victoria County History records that there was a pub in Abbey Street called the Lion by 1728.  This may well be the same as the Red Lion which was recorded in 1800.  Since then, if not before, it has been owned by a brewery and run by a tenant.

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The first recorded brewery owner was Hawkes Bird and Woodham (recorded on the Enclosure map of 1810).  In 1877 Hawkes was sold to James Wigan and then on to Benskins in 1898.  In 1916 the Hawkes brewery closed and in 1957 Benskins was bought by Ind Coope.  Finally, the pub passed to Greene King.

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In January 1940 Douglas Bader, the famous flying ace who had lost both his legs in a flying accident, was posted to RAF Duxford (now the Imperial War Museum, Duxford).  He and his companions are reputed to have drunk in the Lion.  Residents who were children and young teenagers at during the war, also recall Bader’s ‘Duxford Wing’ of aircraft assembling in the skies behind Ickleton.  

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From 1943 to the end of the war, the United States Army Air Forces used RAF Duxford and other nearby airfields.  Derek Plumb, who was a boy at the time and lived almost adjacent to the Lion, recalls in his memoir, Little Un’s Story, teasing the ‘Yanks’ who came to drink at the Lion.  On one occasion he and his friends slightly loosened the seats, brake blocks, and back wheels on their bicycles.  After a drink or two the Yanks would be riding off to another pub or back to base when their bikes would collapse.  They soon learnt that a bottle of lemonade or a packet pf crips was enough to ensure they could proceed safely.  The Yanks also seemed to have a never ending supply of chewing gum, nylon stockings, and cigarettes.

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In 1965 an article in the local press described the Red Lion as “A straightforward English pub with no gimmicks, but instead the attraction of a warm, friendly atmosphere. …….. A popular and well-known feature of the pub is the use made of it by the Traction Engine Club.”  The club had a room decorated with photographs of engine.  With several traction engines in the village, the group met regularly to discuss their hobby and also held a rally at the pub on Christmas Day and Boxing Day 1964.  “Also popular at the pub are the parties which are done in fine style.”

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In the 1980s the Red Lion was renamed the Ickleton Lion and long-time Ickleton resident and lover of the pub, Molly East, unveiled the new sign.  The Lion has continued to be at the centre of much social life in the village.  It has been used for meetings of a number of village groups including, for example, the cricket club; for parties, family and work lunches, music, wakes and much more.  After events in the next door Village Hall or on the recreation ground, it has been a convenient stopping off point for a drink.

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DID YOU KNOW THAT BY BUYING SHARES IN THE ICKLETON LION, YOU HAVE BOUGHT

A PIECE OF TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR HISTORY?

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John Ripsher (1840-1907) was the 1st President of the Tottenham Hotspur Football

Club. His parents were Henry Ripsher (1811-1868) and Jane Ripsher (nee Loader)

(1808-1856). Henry was born in Ickleton and was employed as a railway clerk hence

moving to London where he married and settled. 

 

Henry’s parents were Swann Ripsher (1766-1847) and Swann’s 2nd wife, Margaret Ripsher (nee

Andrews) (1778-1837). Swann was an Ickletonian. Margaret was from Hinxton. Swann was a farmer.

Swann’s 1st wife was Mary Ripsher (nee Simperingham) (1766-1801) from Sawston. One of their

children was William Ripsher (1787-1860), who married Rebecca Ripsher (nee Brown) (1797-1858).

Both of them Ickletonians and both publicans of Ickleton Lion.

 

Therefore, this makes John Ripsher the half nephew of the publicans of the Ickleton Lion !!!!!

Thank you to our members, Jan (who is William Ripsher’s 3x great granddaughter) and Emma, for

highlighting the connection with Spurs and providing the text above.

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