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Heritage Pub

Ship Inn, Shaftesbury

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24 Bleke Street, Shaftesbury, SP7 8JZ (View on Google Map)
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Stone built town pub at the top of the steep Tout Hill. The single bar serves the four different areas; the main bar; a games room with pool, darts, fruit machine and jukebox, a snug with an open fire and a lounge bar. Outside there is a sunny patio and covered smoking area. No hot food is available but they will order food for you from local takeaways or bring your own.

Historic Interest

Probably 17th century. Grade II Listed. Historic England list entry 1108763

Information for this venue is provided by the East Dorset Branch of CAMRA
Previous Names
Local Authority
North Dorset District
Last updated
25/04/2024
Last surveyed
16/01/2024
Pub ID
WSX/32
Asset of Community Value

Two star - A pub interior of very special national historic interest

Listed status: II

17th-century building converted to a pub in 1937 when the original Ship Hotel was demolished. In the main bar, the counter has a panelled front and shutters which are believed to work – but nobody dares lower them in case they get stuck! There is a mirrored bar-back and, alongside to the right, another bar-back fitting which may have come from the old Ship – as, almost certainly, did the bell-box on the wall. Opposite the counter is a small area formed by a ceiling-height panelled partition with fixed seating attached. Left of the entrance is the snug with high-backed fitted seating on one side and an old bench on the other. Front left, a latch door leads to the bare-boarded ‘Whine Bar’, served from a hatch and with dado panelling, some fixed seating and a good carved fireplace. A passage to the right accesses a small bar with a panelled counter and fixed seating. The lower-level area is in an extension into former cottages.

General information about historic pub interiors

17th century building with original stone mullioned windows which up to 1930s was in use as a doctor’s surgery. Its layout of three small rooms off a lobby bar makes it look like it has always been a pub and it still retains most of the fittings added at that time. In 1937 the original Ship hotel was demolished and the Matthews family of Wyke converted this property into a pub. Apparently Dr Harris's daughter married one of the Matthews family.

You walk into the main bar with a red and cream diamond quarry tiled area and opposite the bar counter is a small snug area formed by a floor to ceiling short partition of fielded panelling with fixed seating attached to it and the dado panelling. The bar counter has a front of fielded panelling and still retains its shutters which it is believed still work but no one dares to lower them just in case they can't get them back up into position! There is a mirrored bar back which looks like it could date from the 1930s - look for the handpump shaped corner struts on the left side and beyond it the 17th century dado panelling on the staircase and a newel post. Alongside to the right is another bar back fitting which might have come from the old Ship - the bell box on the wall opposite the bar counter almost certainly did with its four windows including a Jug & Bottle one, also Private Room, Saloon, Tap Room. Note also the brass plaque from the days it was a surgery "A Wilkinson, MD, WJ Harris, MB".

To the left of the main door a doorway leads to the snug with one side of high backed fitted seating from the 1930s, another old bench on the left and a small cast-iron fireplace. On the rear left a latch door leads to the bare boarded 'Whine Bar' served from a hatch to the left of the servery. It has a fielded panelling dado all around with some fixed seating attached and good carved wood surround fireplace. The quarry tiled area near the bar continues into a passage leading to the right and a small bar with a panelled counter and tiny fixed seating. In 19XX it was extended back into former cottages so there is another area on a lower level.

General information about historic pub interiors
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Monday
1:00pm - 11:30pm
Tuesday
1:00pm - 11:30pm
Wednesday
1:00pm - 11:30pm
Thursday
1:00pm - 11:30pm
Friday
1:00pm - 11:30pm
Saturday
Noon - 11:30pm
Sunday
Noon - 11:30pm
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Current beers

This Pub serves 2 changing beers (at least 1 strong beer) and 2 regular beers.

Regular and recently seen

Ship Inn, Shaftesbury

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Facilities
Sports TV Sports TV
Garden Garden
Dog Friendly Dog Friendly
Real Fire Real Fire
Smoking Smoking
Wi Fi Wi Fi
Features
Real Ale Real Ale
Real Heritage Pub Real Heritage Pub
Cask Marque Cask Marque
Transport
Close to bus routes (160m)
Go South Coast: 29 59; South West Coaches: 158
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