History of the Hercules Country Inn

The Hercules Country Inn and Restaurant is and old Coaching Inn situated in the heart of the Leicestershire Countryside, tucked away in the picturesque village of Sutton Cheney, and facing the church where King Richard 3rd is reputed to have taken his last mass, the night before the battle of Bosworth Field. The Inn, which is believed to be named after a notable local horse, is within walking distance of Sutton Cheney Wharf, on the Ashby Canal.Built originally as a Coaching Inn, parts of the building date back to the 17th Century.

The ‘hostelry’ was situated within the front two sections of the current bar, with it’s side entrance in the wall under the arch, which can still be seen today. The rest of the main building was accommodation, and stables opposite within the restaurant area. The deep cellars below the front bar area was flooded when water main work was carried out on the road in front of the pub, but the old steps remain intact, and the ring, through which draymen used to thread rope, to lower the heavy casks, remains in place under the front arch.

Livestock was also kept on the premises, being ‘penned’ in the current bottle store, and the butchery being on the restaurant side.

The Hercules name is found in records dating back to 1846, with the then Landlord listed in the commercial directory as Abel Ward, Victualler ‘Hercules’ Farmer and Maltster. Prior to this time, the village hostelry was named as ‘the King and Crown’, likely due to the connection with the Church opposite, where King Richard held vigil the night prior to the Battle of Bosworth Field.

The name Hercules is linked with the solitary statue of Hercules, dramatically posed, subduing the Nemeon Lion, silhouetted against the Southwood Park, in view of Lady Agnes Drive and Sutton Lane. The statue can be seen to the right, along the gated road between Sutton Cheney and Market Bosworth.

It is believed that the 4th or 5th Baronet Dixie brought the statue back from a grand European tour in the late 18th century. At that time it was common practise for the Aristocracy to return with souvenirs from foreign countries, often in the form of a statue or a bust to enhance the estate parkland.

After the departure of the Dixie's some years later, the squire of Bosworth Hall, Charles Tollemache Scott named his racehorse after the monument, and the Hercules Inn, in turn was named after the horse.

The racehorse, Hercules, lies to this day, buried under a flat stone, close to the monument – this is sometimes referred to as ‘The Hercules stone’

Over the years, there have been many tales of the Ghost of the Hercules Inn, reputed to be that of Mary McDonnagh, who had her hands cut off for stealing brandy. She has been reported to be seen wearing a white cap, and wandering through the restaurant area. Staff to this day, report sightings, and objects have been seen to move from place to place, thus signifying Mary’s presence.
It is an interesting fact, that, given reference to the origin of the ghost, on researching pervious Landlords since 1849, one Frast McDonnagh, is the last of the 14 listed. Mc Donna would have become Landlord in the late 1930’s, although the family is previously listed as part of the village. People of Irish descent moved in to the area as ‘gangs’ to build the canal system (the canal is only 10 minutes walk from the pub) and some would have integrated over time, with canal side communities, such as Sutton Cheney. (The Ashby Canal running from Marston to Moira opened in 1804)