72 Church Street once The Sign of The Gate

Hill View Cottages No 72 -6 from Haslingfield Rd house in 1968. note lower roof line of No 76

(Bates)

Nos 76 & 72 Church St -Hill View Cottages

(Deacon)

72 Church St 2015

(Griffin)

Sign of the Gate

Build around the 1750s were originally three cottages – 1, 2 & 3 Hillview Cottages.

At some time around 1840s, No72, the right hand cottage, became a beerhouse probably to take advantage of the heavy-drinking coprolite diggers operating in the nearby workings of Button End. There is no record of when it ceased to operate as a pub but probably by the end of C19 with the decline of the coprolite industry. The pub was called The Sign of The Gate and it had a sign on which was written:

‘The Gate hangs high and hinders none, Pay and drink and jog along’

Rev Hugh Mansfield-Williams, vicar of Harston 1954-60, recalls that from the kitchen window of his vicarage he could see the iron stanchion (no longer there) fixed to the chimney pot which had held the sign.

He also recounts that one of his predecessors, Edward Bosanquet, vicar 1836-48, had lodgings in the inn since the original vicarage was so damp.

We have been unable so far to find any information about landlords or any early photos – can you help?

No 72 Church St- Hill View Cottage

The original three cottages have been converted and extended making just two cottages now. No72 is now the right-hand one and combined two previous cottages built in the second half of C18- its two doors shown in the earlier photos- now just one. It still has old wooden ceiling beams showing its original timber frame. The name of the row of Cottages is still visible on the front of the cottage.