GRIFFYDAM HISTORY

The location of the Inn is shown on the map below. Inns were commonly built next to coal mines or quarries and there are numerous examples of these in the area. It is reasonable to assume that this was the reason for the Holly Bush Inn being in this location. Imbibers after a hard days work at the quarry, no doubt covered in dust, would have visited it on their way home.

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It is not known when the Holly Bush was first opened, but it was certainly plying its trade in 1842 as it appeared in the Ashby-de-la Zouch first register for licensed houses list at that time. Based on other records of Inns in the area, it is quite likely that it goes back to the 18th century and would just have been listed as an Ale House at that time.

 

On the 26th June 1964, an application from the Ashby Petty Divisional Session was not renewed, and the Inn was pulled down in 1965 to make way for the quarry to be extended.

 

In the book ‘Hand-me-down Hearsays’ by John Dawson there is an entry by Ralph Roberts which states:-

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"The men who worked at Cloud Hill used to go to the Holly Bush, and on pay days, the wives had to go to Cloud Hill for the money or else they wouldn’t have got any. Although the pub was supposed to be licensed, it was open all hours, and they were getting 20 to 25 shillings a week then (1911/12). Mind you, there wasn’t much drunkenness. I mean, although beer was cheap at 2d per pint, 4d at best, it didn’t affect them. Working at the quarry, you needed a drink".

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