The Boot Inn is thought to have been originally three shops, a butchers, a cobblers and a funeral parlour, which may partly explain the variety of trades plied by past licensees!
One example is John Price, licensee in 1851, who was also a mason. Another is Charles Lawrence, a local butcher who was the licensee in 1876. He was followed by George Lawrence, his son and also a butcher. Appropriately, in the late nineteenth century, both Alfred Drew and William Jones, both of whom lived and worked near The Boot, were boot makers. Perhaps this is where the pub gained its name, although beer and cider was at one time served in a leather ‘jack’ or ‘boot’, so we can’t be absolutely sure!
As you might expect from an old, atmospheric hostelry like The Boot, there are many tall tales and rumours of ghosts. One apparently relates to a painting of the pub in the back room, in which a figure (one Joe Vale) has been painted out after arguing with the landlord. His ghostly figure is said to return from time to time to take revenge on the landlord…