Peacock, Chelsworth

A Grade II 14th-century Listed Building with 16th-century additions was previously used as a shop. Owner until 2010 was Enterprise. The book "The Story of a Little Suffolk Village" by Bernard Quinlan** (first published in 1956 & updated in 1994) contains the following extract: George Gage was born in 1817 & died in 1896 after having 12 children with his wife, Mary, from Bildeston. He became the village grocer & beer house keeper at the Peacock. As no earlier record of the pub has been found, it may be assumed that it was George who launched it. Mary's maiden name was Peacock which may account for the Inn's name, & her will expressed particular concern that the "business" should be kept within the family. A shop was run for many years in the front part of the pub, but it closed its doors in 1977 because of declining support from village residents. In the 1970s, a jazz night started at the Peacock. In the 1990s, the organisers moved to the Boxford Fleece, where Jazz at the Fleece became a world-renowned venue. In Aug/Sep 1981 edition of Last Orders*** it was reported that Tony & Norma were new landlords of the Peacock with Adnams, GK & Tolly beers on handpump in this Free House with folk music. Re-opened Dec. 2008 after a short closure & now trading as a Free House under new landlords. Photographs of this pub and more historical information about it can be found at suffolk.camra.org.uk/pub/196