The Mallard Inn
The Mallard Inn in Little Bytham closed its doors in 2002. Named after the record breaking LNER Class A4 locomotive which broke, and still holds, the world speed record for a steam locomotive on the adjacent East Coast Mainline, between Little Bytham and Essendine, achieving a speed of 126mph on 3 July 1938.
The inn was previously known as The Green Man until it was taken over by John and Liz Winspeare in ???.
Added : 11/12/11 : MG
I just revisted your pages for the umpteenth time. On this occasion I was brought to you trying to find a photograph of the “Green Man” sign that used to hang at Little Bytham outside the hostelry that became “The Mallard” in 1975. I have a vision of the sign showing a man dressed in green being shot, but I have yet to meet anyone who can confirm that. My closest view would have been from the top of a Lincolnshire Roadcar double-decker (used on the route on Fridays and Saturdays) taking us to school in Stamford in the era 1968 to 1972. I wonder if anyone has a photograph of that Green Men sign to share with us. I would love for my memory to be either confirmed or disproved all these years on.
i should add that The Mallard was renamed from The Green Man when it was refurbished by the Bailey family in 1975. It was quickly sold on to Peter and Jenny Bateman from Leicester, who in turn sold it to Barrie and Jessie Smith from Nottingham in January 1977. The Smiths kept The Mallard for ten years, eventually moving to The Marquis of Granby in Hoveringham, Notts., where they remained until their retirement in December 1999.
I am a keen traveller, by car and by train; and know my way around quite well, but like to explore areas off the beaten track (pun not intended).
I have been watching Dan Snow’s Railways programme and was interested in The Mallard and Little Bytham, so just like having called into some pubs further up like in Carlton-on-Trent where trains belt past while I am having a drink; I was looking to see what was around Little Bytham. At first I saw The Mallard PH, but was disappointed to see it is no longer in business.
I shall still pay a visit to the village to see for myself where Mallard set a new steam locomotive world speed record and it still stands. I visit Rutland and Stamford, so this is fairly near.
When I was working for Mansfield Brewery in the 1980s, I explored the idea of owning a pub myself. My wife and I visited The Mallard, in which year I cannot remember, but coincidentally the incumbent licensees moved on to The Marquis of Granby in Hoveringham, where I was living at the time!
I resided at the Green Man pub for several months in 1967, while working as an Electrical Pylon Linesman on the construction of power lines nearby. Four of us stayed in a large 4-bed room above the main bar. Lovely people, hearty food, and sadly, a local girl I lost track of named Susan.
My father, Arnold Rickards was the landlord of The Green Man @ 1967. I am trying to find out more information about his time spent here. I would be grateful for any help/comments.
I’m still hoping that someone can come up with a photo of the Green Man pub sign as it was in the 1970s.