History
Welcome to The Alvanley Arms in the delightful hamlet of Cotebrook.
Cotebrook was originally in the township of Rushton , in the parish of Tarporley. Cotebrook derives its name from the custom of ‘coteing’ or penning the sheep ready for washing in the brook which is near the Alvanley Arms.
Medieval times
At one time Delamere forest covered a great part of Cheshire and as it was designated a Royal hunting forest, medieval inhabitants of Cotebrook would have been subject to harsh justice of the Forest Courts if they had been caught committing such heinous crimes as keeping a greyhound, taking timber or ploughing land. The Foresters became a benevolent society whose officers held ancient titles and met at this Inn.
The earliest reference to an Inn at Cotebrook on this site dates back to 1602 in the Quarter sessions, when the landlord of the day, George Richardson, was fined for the lodging of rogues, whores, lewd and wandering persons.
Modernisation
Part of the Inn was rebuilt in 1642, when it was modernised and the thatched roof replaced with slate, however a much larger sandstone extension took place twenty four years later. On the outside of the building can be seen a date stone: R.H.E.1666. This was the home of Roger and Elizabeth Hynton, who is described as an Ale Seller & Husbandman. The Inn remained in their family for many years when it was known as the Arden Arms
Above you can see a picture of the Alvanley Arms in the early 1900’s, as you can see the road wasn’t quite as busy then, the Barn and stables which you can see were demolished in the early 1960’s ( picture attached separately)
The Alvanley Arms
Sir Richard Pepper Arden was born in 1745. He was a distinguished lawyer and in 1783 became an M.P. In 1801 he was called to the House of Lords as Baron Alvanley, Cheshire, the title being derived from his brothers estate.
The Inn changed from the Arden Arms and became known as the Lord Alvanley Arms.
Sir Richard Pepper Arden died in 1804 and his son , William Arden, the second Baron Alvanley purchased the Inn as part of his estate in 1824 from Joseph Lewis who remained here until his death on October 23rd 1840.
Joseph Lewis was succeeded by his daughter Mary who lived here with her three sisters and two brothers. The Inn passed to a cousin Samuel Lewis who farmed 43 acres adjacent to the Inn , with his wife Alioce , and employed four servants. There were seven houses in Cotebrook at this time.
Richard Pepper Arden became the third Baron Alvanley in 1849 and the Inn at this time was known as the Alvanley Arms, when it was owned by the Earl of Haddington.
In 1861, Samuel Lewis is described as a Farmer & Publican, he later married Martha Cowell, one of the five servants he employed, but died on September 24th 1867 aged 59. Martha changed the name back to the Arden Arms for a short period of time. She farmed 44 acres and employed a dairymaid and 2 servants. As the Inn was so popular with coaches and visitors there was a Toll-keeper nearby, Elizabeth Furnivall.
By 1881 Martha Lewis had changed the name back to the Alvanley Arms and the Inn at this time was described thus; 3 beds for travellers & one stable for 6 horses. It could also supply refreshments for 40 visitors and had one front and back entrance. It was described as a good roadside Inn with plenty of room.. The Earl of Haddington by now resided at Ardern Hall, Tarporley.
In 1904 Joseph Lewis succeeded his mother as innkeeper of the Alvanley Arms and it remained in the Lewis family until 1928, a period of 116 years.
Right: here you can see the date 1666 which is subscribed into the
lintel above the rear door on the sandstone part of the building. (picture attached separately)
Recent Years
On 18th January 1945 Frederic Robinson Ltd, a family brewery from Stockport, purchased the Alvanley Arms for the sum of £8350 from the Hon. Captain Arden at which time it still held a six day licence.
1953 saw the arrival of motor racing at nearby Oulton Park and it is alleged that Ruth Ellis, who was the last woman to be hanged in Britain in 1955, stayed here with her lover shortly before her arrest.
Her ghost is said to haunt the Inn.
In 1969 Alistair became the youngest licencee in the country at the age of 20 when he became the Innkeeper at the Alvanley Arms. He stayed for 14 years and returned in 2000 with his wife Janet.
Today the Alvanley Arms is the home of the King Family and their Shire Horses, where you are assured of a warm and friendly welcome.
Past Innkeepers
1666~1748 Roger & Eliza Hynton
1749~1812 Joseph Stones Snr & Jnr (Arden Arms)
1812~1840 Joseph Lewis
1840~1843 Mary Lewis
1844~1867 Samuel Lewis
1867~1904 Martha Lewis
1904~1927 Joseph Lewis
1927~1928 Mary Gradwell Lewis
1928~1929 Captain Benjamin Charles Elwell
1929~1931 William Henry Moffat
1931~1938 Fred Moffat
1938~1940 Fred Baker
1940~1943 Alice Mary Maude Lightfoot
1943~1951 Richard Richardson Hall
1951~1952 Eliza Annie Hall-Rogers
1952~1962 Herbert Kent
1962~1969 John Williams
1969~1983 William Alistair King
1983~1986 Sheila King-Jones
1986~1989 Kenneth Moulton
1989~1997 Doreen Ellen White
1997~2000 Michael John Newby
2000~ Janet Anne King
