The claim
The Cherub stands on narrow Higher Street in Dartmouth, a timber-framed merchant's house that Historic England calls the oldest complete house still standing in the town and dates to probably the second half of the 15th century, a century later than the c.1380 the pub gives. Bars and dining rooms are stacked on three floors, and six handpumps make it a favourite with ale drinkers.
What the records show
The claim of about 1380 comes from the pub and is repeated by CAMRA's branch. Historic England's list entry, read on 17 September 2026 through an archived copy of entry 1209644, does not support it: the register dates the merchant's house to probably the second half of the fifteenth century and records a restoration for Cresswell Mullet by Blamey and Co. about 1958, citing P. Russell's account of the house in the Transactions of the Devonshire Association for 1959. That is seventy to a hundred and twenty years later than the claimed date, which is why the grade is now C rather than B. What the register does support is the superlative the page prints beside it: it calls number 13 Higher Street the oldest complete house still standing in Dartmouth and one of the oldest town houses in the south-west. The listing is grade II* rather than the grade II this page carried. Drinking here is later still — the pub's own history has the building reopening in the 1950s as a private members' club and becoming a free house and restaurant in the 1970s — so it keeps its page and stays out of the ranking. The day was checked again on 29 September 2026: the entry gives 14 September 1949 in its heading and 14/09/49 in the reference line above the description, where this page had 13 September.
What to look for inside
- Historic England calls it the oldest complete house still standing in Dartmouth
- Carpenters' assembly marks in Latin numerals still visible in the frame
- Beams reputedly from old ships' timbers
Visiting
The Cherub Inn is in Dartmouth, England, at 13 Higher Street, Dartmouth TQ6 9RB. We do not list opening times, because they change; the pub’s own site is the place to check before you set out.
Sources
- camra.org.uk/pubs/cherub-inn-dartmouth-148620
- thecherub.co.uk/
- web.archive.org/web/2023/https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1209644
- ratings.food.gov.uk/business/1429207
- web.archive.org/web/20250115035329/https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1209644
Know something we don’t?Suggest a correctionLast checked Sept 2026
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