Theddlethorpe History Club
The Prussian Queen Inn,
Saltfleetby
Detailed History of the Prussian Queen Pub,
and lives of all known former publicans since 1792.
With a long and very eventful history including: hosting a unique Dutch Auction, being accidentally bombed, defending the coast in the Napoleonic wars and World Wars I and II. Its been a site of tragedies and celebrations for hundreds of years. This beautiful village pub has an extraordinary story, the social hub of a Lincolnshire Marsh village for generations.
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Researched from material from the Lincolnshire Archives, National Archives, British Newspaper Archive, Ancestry.com, Find-your-past, and other sources.
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Any contributions to add such as photos, memories and more information is welcome.
You can email photos to: historyclub@myyahoo.com
A3 Cover for booklet about the History of the Prussian Queen, including Family Tree of Prussian Kings and Queens
The three short articles that appeared in the Saltfleetby Newsletter:
Part 1 up to 1939
Part 2 1939-1950
Part 3 1950-1965
The Prussian Queen Sign in 2022, © Copyright David Lally on Geograph
It depicts Louise Auguste Wilhelmine Amalie of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the Queen of Prussia from 1797-1810, though it's unknown if the pub is named after her, another queen, or a ship named after a Queen of Prussia.
The Prussian Queen from the Main Road and MarDyke Drain looking East towards the coast
Census form from 1841, Saltfleetby All Saints, showing John Richardson (Publican), his wife Ann, daughters Mary (age 7), Susannah (age 6) and Azubah (age 3 months) and son George (age 5). Also Eliza Dobson, age 20, a servant (F.S. = Female Servant) employed to help at the pub.
1861 Census showing widow Ann Richardson (age 49) as the Inn Keeper, her daughter Susannah (age 25) as the cook, son George (23) an agricultural labourer, daughter Victoria Azubah (20) a bar maid. Ann's granddaughter Susannah (Mary's daughter) is staying with them, age 2. Also lodger, William Plumtree, a gardener age 70 is living there.
1888 map showing the Prussian Queen Public House, Saltfleetby All Saints.
From the National Library of Scotland Historic Maps Website.
1907 Map showing the Prussian Queen in relation to the North Sea at Saltfleetby St Clements, Lincolnshire
Map from National Library of Scotland https://maps.nls.uk/view/101588393
The Mystery of the Pub's Name
In the 1980s and 90s there was a lot of discussion in the local newspapers about the mysterious origin of the unusual pub name:
Grimsby Daily Telegraph 13th April 1983
Grimsby Daily Telegraph 27th April 1983
Grimsby Daily Telegraph 11th May 1983
Grimsby Daily Telegraph 28th September 1983
Grimsby Daily Telegraph 18th August 1990
Grimsby Evening Telegraph 8th August 1992
The Prussian Queen seen 1.2 miles away across the fields from Saltergate in May 2025
Louth Standard 27th October 1945
Former landlord of the Prussian Queen, Frank Yexley, was a famous boxing master of ceremonies in Nottingham throughout the 1950s and 60s. During his career he introduced many famous boxers, and frequently appeared on television and radio. A compilation of clips where you can see him working as an MC can be seen here: https://youtu.be/FRWY266HoXU
The Diamond Wedding of William and Martha Wright at Theddlethorpe in 1960.
They lived at the Prussian Queen between 1945-50 with their daughter and son in law Mary and Frank Yexley
Nottingham Guardian 5th August 1960
Louth Standard 12th August 1960
