Magpie, Stonham Parva

The building dates from the 15th century, with 16th & 19th century additions. Historic Inn, post office & posting house. Shown on the 1904 OS map as "Stonham Pie Inn". May also be listed on Turnpike Road. A report in the Ipswich Journal** on Dec-11 in 1869 when Elizabeth Dorling was the landlord of the "pye" states that : "Dorling was given a £5 note to purchase 6d worth gin & water by a William Harvey who was accused of forgery. He was tried & along with his brother Henry found not guilty." Alfred Hedges' 1976 book, "Inns & Inn Signs of Norfolk & Suffolk" tells us: "The inn itself dates from at least 1481. In that year, together with adjacent properties , it was bequeathed to "feoffees in trust", with instructions that the profits be spent on the repair of the roads in Little Stonham." In 1696, much to the dismay of the parish, the trustees let the Magpie at a peppercorn rent for 160 years & attempts to have this & subsequent leases set aside all failed. The property however reverted to the parish in 1856 & the Magpie was leased to Messrs Tollemache who subsequently purchased it in 1930. Within living memory, a live magpie was confined within a cage on the pub's wall as a living pub-sign. According to Alfred Hedges' 1976 book "Inns an Inn Signs of Norfolk & Suffolk", this is one of only a dozen remaining pubs in the country with a sign spanning the road. So probably fewer today...