Pig and Whistle, Shippea Hill, Burnt Fen

History of the Pig and Whistle

Shippea Hill, Burnt Fen OS 1885

In 1991 Harry Bye related the following to Fenland Past and Present:

A mile south of the Shippea Hill Station, off the A1101, stands the wreck of an old pub called the ‘Pig and Whistle’, which closed several years ago.

At the other end of the small field still near the roadside once stood a Weslyn Chapel which closed some years before the pub due to lack of attendance.

About 100 years ago there was a farmer named Seaber who had the pub and chapel built one each end of the field. He said he would have heaven at one end and hell at the other. The latter mostly had the largest attendance!

When I attended the chapel sometimes there was only a congregation of less than 12. One Sunday evening when I attended, the preacher failed to turn up, so the service was conducted by three farm workers who did the job quite well!

About the Monday after the Sunday school anniversary at the chapel, there was held an annual fare in the vicinity of the chapel and pub and it was called the Pig and Whistle Bussell.

You could have a ride in the swinging boats, gamble on the stalls, buy some rock or try your strength by hitting the clouter with a heavy hammer and making the bell ring at the top of the board.