History

The Church Inn stands on one of the most ancient sites in Ludlow, going back at least seven centuries and for much of that time was known as the Cross Keys - the name dates from pre-reformation times, because two crossed keys were the sign of Saint Peter and hence all Popes.

It is mentioned in a document of 1446 as belonging to Ludlow's notable Palmers Guild, who in 1551 had to pass it over to Ludlow Corporation when the Dissolution caused religious houses to be surrendered.

It has had many uses down the centuries - barber-surgeon, blacksmith, saddler, druggist and many more - but it was still generally described as the Cross Keys.

But in 1792, from which time a list of Ludlow's hotels, inns and pubs survives (there were 55 then), it had become the Wine Tavern near the Cross (the 16th Century Buttercross outside the front door), and the name Cross Keys wandered around at least another three locations in Ludlow, never to return to Church Street.

In 1846 Ludlow Corporation had to sell a vast number of its properties to pay for a losing a lawsuit, including these premises. They went out of licensed use again, and tenants included Ambrose Grounds who was Mayor 1852/3 and an early manager of Ludlow Gas Company.

They reverted to their old trade quickly because in 1876 John Wollaston was operating them as Wollastons Wine Vaults. His widow was letting them at £85 a year in 1890 until selling out in 1895 to the Cheltenham Original Brewery Company, who renamed them the Exchange Vaults.

This continued under two other breweries' ownership until 1974 when after an extensive refurbishment they became the Gaiety.

Just before January 1979, the name was changed yet again, this time to the Church Inn - as apt a name as the ancient Cross Keys because this is the nearest licensed house to St Laurence's parish church.