History
How it started, from across the road!
Just opposite The Blacksmith's Arms lies the old 'smithy' - a blacksmith's workshop giving our pub its name. The smithy was in the ownership of the Holmes family for over 100 years and was still in existence in 1935.
At that time its best customer was the Quorn Hunt, arguably the most famous hunt in the world. The photograph shows a horse being shod by Thomas Broom, who worked at the smithy for over 30 years.
The Illustrated Leicester Chronicle described the smithy in 1935: ‘This is a typical old English smithy, with no windows, the old blower, and the rows of iron bars stretched across the roof. Old horse shoes and scrap iron decorate the outside of the shop. This is indeed one of the last of the really old smithies left in this part of the country.’
The Blacksmith's Arms
The Blacksmith's Arms evolved from being a farmhouse to an alehouse between 1861-1876. In 1892, Mrs Harriet Barnett had taken over the licence, and thus "The Blacksmith's Arms" was born.
This photograph was taken at around 1934, and provides a perspective of The Blacksmith's Arms alehouse directly opposite the still-operational smithy's.
The Quorn Hunt
Founded by Mr Thomas Boothby in 1696, the Quorn Hunt is quite likely the oldest Hunt in England. The Hunt took place at Tooley Park, Leicestershire, but acquired its name as the hounds were kennelled in the village of Quorn.
The Hunt had a direct influence on much of the countryside surrounding Quorn and The Blacksmith's Arms today. To create spaces where a fox might easily be found, the making of new coverts in the woodland were commissioned, and so began the process of what can be seen in Leicestershire and beyond: small woods surrounded by hedged pastureland.
The picture shows a rare engraving of the Quorn Hunt kennels from The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News November 1884 edition, acquired from Quorn Museum.
The 82nd US Royal Airborne
The 82nd US Royal Airborne Division are an airborne infantry division of the United States Army. On February 14th, 1944, the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division set foot in the rural Leicestershire village of Quorn, where they would remain for the coming months in preparation for D-Day. Setting up camp on the Farnham estate, the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment quickly won over the hearts and minds of local villagers and frequented the local pubs Quorn had to offer.
