The first record of the pub found so far is the Declaration of the commutation of Tithes dated 1838, in which the Pub and associated cottages and buildings are rated at £12.10s for the support of the poor of the parish. The Pub paid a tithe to the church of One Shilling (5p), probably in respect of land held rather than as a pub. One Joseph Lattimer is given as the Publican and the signatory to the deed. The next references are Kellys and Whites Directories of 1850, which gives the publican as Phoebe Lattimer. (Spellings of Latimer and Lattimer seem mixed together, I have used the ‘tt’ version). The census of 1851 calls it a beer house with Matilda Lattimer as the publican. Morriss’s Directory of 1866 and Whites of 1874 describe it as "Antelope" and "Antelope Inn" respectively, in the charge of William Lattimer. The Lattimer’s held it until some time in the mid 1890’s when a Mr James Healey had taken over by 1896. The Lattimer’s seem to have been related to the Hunt family.

The Name.

The sign is taken from the badge of the Warwickshire Regiment. In addition to the two possible origins, it is also possible that the antelope was used as a symbol because, like lions and dragons, it is one of the royal beasts.

The Antelope is standing on a strip of six pieces. This is said to be the six feet of turf representing the old name of the 6^th Regiment of Foot.

The old Regiments of Foot were given county affinities on June 30^th 1881 to encourage recruitment and provide a positive identity. The 6^th chose Warwickshire as they had been recruiting there and had been stationed there twice in the ten years prior to 1881.

The Regiment also has an antelope as a mascot.

There is another possibility for the name. The Verney arms include an Antelope, but this is a strange looking spotted beast with curled back horns, a beard and snarling teeth, really more like a rabid goat. It is also shown standing on its back feet, or rampant, in the heraldic sense, whereas the sign has the antelope standing with all four feet on the ground. The Lord of the manor, Lord Willoughby de Broke, also had a Yacht called "The Antelope" which he sailed from London to St Petersburg and back to Cowes in 1825.

Pictures taken earlier this century show that the pub used to have the front door centrally in the front of the building into what is now the lower bar. The left hand side of the house was part of the house, the bar being on the right hand side as you went in. There was a hallway between the two, leading to what is now the upper bar. The point where the stairs went to the floor upstairs and the remains of a stone staircase to the cellar can also be seen.

The cellar contains a door which opens below ground level to the left and below the original central door. This is alongside an old built up door to the malthouse and was probably where the beer was put in the cellar. There is an old chute access, also currently below ground level on the other side of the door, which may have been for coal. The ceiling is vaulted into two bays, the roof is stone but one end is brick. There are two recesses cut into the walls.

The pub also served as a shop and Post office for a while, the small hatch on the side of the building serving as a counter.

Next to the pub is the malt house, converted to dwellings in the 1980’s, although census records indicate that it had included staff apartments in the last century. The cottages opposite were known as Lattimers cottages and were either let or used by pub employees. It is rumoured that a passage extends under the road from the pub to the cottages. If this exists it is possibly an extention of the cellar. This would be sensible if the beer was brewed across the road in Lattimers cottages as some people claim.

The Building.

The present building is thought to date from the early 18^th Century. Built of squared coursed limestone with an old tile hipped roof; partly rebuilt brickright end and rear ridge stacks. L-Plan, with wing on right to rear. Two storeys and attic; 3-window range. Late 20^th century porch to righthand side with glazed doors and panel.

Photographs from earlier this century show an addition to the building on the fight hand side that no longer exists. Apparently this was a manger which also served as a laying out room for the dead. According to Mr Adams, a friend of his was laid out in here after drowning in the fishponds. This extention was removed some time in the 1940’s or 50’s.

THE BADGE IS DESCRIBED IN HERALDIC TERMS AS "AN ANTELOPE DUCALLY GORGED AND CHAINED", ITS ORIGIN IS THOUGHT TO BE TAKEN EITHER FROM THE STANDARD OF A MOORISH REGIMENT CAPTURED AT THE BATTLE OF ZARAGOSSA IN 1710, OR FROM THE COAT OF ARMS OF THE FIRST COLONEL OF THE REGIMENT, SIR WALTER VANE, WHICH HAVE AN ANTELOPE AS A SUPPORTER.