Many thanks to Ray one of the Woolpack's regulars who bought in this old brochure
Thanks Ray, If you have any old photo's or menus etc please send them to the Webmaster or bring them in.
The Inn's history dates back to the 16th century. Records of this period are difficult to trace, however with the help of Thrapston District Historical Society we have pieced together some details that we hope might interest you!
The Inn is not mentioned by name until 1796, however John Vorley born - 1715 was registered as the alehouse keeper in 1762. He died in 1777 and left the Inn, along with the leasehold estates in Lowick and Islip to his son, Sibley Vorley, Thus Sibley became the alehouse keeper aged only 18. sibley married three times, his last wife was Elisabeth Easton whose family were grocers in Thrapston. Sibley died in 1796 leaving his widow to run the Inn. Elisabeth Easton is named in the 1796 alekeeper, as is recognised as the landlady to The Woolpack Inn Islip.
In less than a year Elisabeth remarried one William Blunson who was a member of Thrapston Baptist Church and became lay preacher taking sermons in the surrounding villages, the curious mixture of preacher and publican didn't seem to matter. Other Inn keepers stood surety for him whilst he went about his preaching, During this time 1826, to 1828 Thomas Dartnell was on the record of alehouse keepers appearing again in 1830. William Blunson was associated with the Woolpack until his death in 1838 and Elisabeth died in 1840.
William's brother, John Blunson took over the Inn who has previously run the "George" in Thrapston for a number of years. He ran the pub until his death in 1846. His widow Elisabeth Blunson (Nee Knight ) continued to run the Inn with her daughter Ann. Ann married Lewis Wells in 1861 and he became landlord until his death in 1878. This ended a run of landlords and landladies keeping it in the family for more than 140 years.
William Beaver took over, he was well known as a singer and entertained his clientele with comic songs,'club Dinners' were held in the clubroom upstairs. The Dayton estate also held "rent dinners" at The Woolpack where tenants paid their rent. William was a staunch Conservative and the Islip conservative association held smoking concerts at The Woolpack.
On Williams death in 1914 the license moved on.
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