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Cartwright Arms

 

 

The Cartwright Arms, which was one of three pubs in the village at one time, was originally known as the Red Lion until the 1820s.
In 1633, Richard Cartwright (the first of the dynasty) is recorded as being upset about the dilapidated state; its landlady, one of his tenants presented at the Lady Day Court of 1633 (25th May, then New Years Day) when Cartwright wrote a note to his steward ‘You must view the Red Lion’.
In the late 17th Century the landlord was Thomas Norris — he issued his own tokens (coinage) which meant they could only be used at his pub!.

 

The pub signpost is topped by a Pope’s mitre (Gen Sir Fairfax Cartwright (1859 — 1928) married an Italian countess who was related to a pope).
The motto on sign translates as ‘take the path to honesty’
There were large wooden gates in the archway, the slots for which can still be seen on the right. These were shut at night. Mail was lowered from the window above by rope if the coach was late. There is also a recessed boot scraper on left.

 
Outside the pub mullioned windows can be seen at ground level leading to the cellar. The pub brewed its own beer until 1917.
The third pub, The Bell inn, was believed to have been sited on the right hand side of the Banbury Road somewhere near the junction to Charlton.
 
walk past the pub into The Square