History of the Derby Arms, Witherslack

The Derby Arms takes its name from the owners of the surrounding Halecat Estate, the Stanleys.

The estate at Witherslack was part of a reward for Thomas Stanley’s part in the suppression of Lambert Simnel’s attempt on the throne. There are stories that Thomas Broughton was not killed at Stoke Field but lived out his days hiding in the woods in Witherslack, cared for by his former tenants – who thought little of the Stanleys.

The pub was built in 1821 on the turnpike road, which was the main road between Kendal and Ulverston at the time both highly prosperous.

A post office is marked as in the building on the 1850 OS map. The extension housing the kitchen and lavatories is marked on the 1890’s OS map. Oliver Stanley the 17th Earl’s second son sold the pub in the 1930’s while Conservative MP for Westmorland and Minister of State for War.

In the 1970’s the whole complex was the regional depot for Watneys, it was then sold to Vaux and unfortunately fell into terminal decline.