New tenants are being sought for a well known pub near Wareham in Dorset which is due to reopen soon after a £250,000 facelift – and a controversial name change.
The Silent Woman pub will be renamed The Angel by the time it reopens in November 2025, which is believed to be its original name when it first opened 400 years ago.
The Silent Woman pub used to feature a pub sign with a headless woman
Thomas Hardy novel
But some locals who have only ever known it as The Silent Woman claim it is an over reaction to a name, although others have found it offensive for many years.
The pub changed its name to The Silent Woman in 1930 in honour of Thomas Hardy, who had written about a Dorset inn named The Quiet Lady in his novel The Return of the Native.
Although there’s a local legend that claims the unusual name originated from an incident in which a talkative landlady revealed smuggling secrets in Wareham market.
The smugglers made sure of her silence by cutting her tongue out, although the pub sign depicted a beheaded woman with the words ‘Since the woman is quiet, let no man breed a riot’, which were also written above the bar.
The sign was the first thing to go as a refurbishment team started work on the pub’s facelift
Upgrade to include new colour scheme
The pub on Bere Road is a convenient stop on the road out of Purbeck to Dorchester and is close to some large campsites which assures it of busy custom throughout the tourist season.
Dorset brewery and pub company Hall and Woodhouse is carrying out a £250,000 refurbishment of the pub after the last landlord left to run a pub in the New Forest in July 2025.
The upgrade will include a new colour scheme and look to the pub frontage, a ‘refreshed’ look to the bar and restaurant and a full transformation of the garden, on the fringes of Wareham Forest.
The pub garden is to receive a ‘full transformation’ in the refurbishment
“The Angel symbolises rebirth”
Hall and Woodhouse business development partner Izzy Hersom said:
“We are excited to announce that The Silent Woman is being renamed to The Angel, a return to its original name dating back over 400 years.
“This change is part of our vision to breathe new life into the pub while staying true to its rich history and heritage – it’s a character property situated in an area popular with locals, diners and holidaymakers, has an attractive patio and great garden areas, but it is dated.
“While we are refreshing the pub with a major investment, we’re also committed to maintaining its traditional charm to ensure the historic character of the building is preserved.
“The name The Angel perfectly captures this balance – we think it symbolises a rebirth, yet still honours the pub’s original essence.”
The pub will get a new colour scheme and lose its old identity as it becomes The Angel
“Our vision is to bring pub back to life”
Izzy added:
“Our vision for The Angel is to bring this pub back to life, by blending a refurb with a new name and a new fully energised business partner.
“We are looking for a new operator who can deliver a top tier food offering and be involved with the local community to bring year round trade to the pub.
“The pub has an expected annual net revenue of £600,000, and we are confident that the reimagined Angel will become a destination that offers both a nod to the past and a vibrant future.
“The key to The Angel will be to embrace potential income streams so that peak summer months are complemented by a strong all year customer base.
“To achieve this, we are looking for an operator who can deliver year round premium evening and weekend dining, with a more family driven business during the summer and holiday months.”
The pub became a popular location for weddings and receptions despite its name
“Disappointed and sad about it”
But Peter Burroughs, a regular customer at The Silent Woman, who lives in Wareham, said:
“I’m not really surprised that Hall and Woodhouse decided to change the pub’s name, but I am disappointed and sad about it and don’t really think there was any need.
“They say that the historic, original name was The Angel, but there’s no one in Wareham who will remember that, it’s always been the Silent Woman as long back as we can remember and I believe no one takes offence at that.
“The pub sign wasn’t gory or disrespectful, they’ve held weddings and receptions here over the years and if brides were happy to have their big day there, that probably says all you need to know.
“It all feels a bit woke to me, a bit of an over reaction. I think everyone local will go on calling it the Silent Woman for a few more years yet.”
The pub will be refreshed inside and out, but will still offer a friendly welcome to all travellers
Sign was symbolic of protection
The building first started serving food and drink to travelling priests as they moved around their parishes and the area itself became known as a coldharbour, a safe place for travellers to seek shelter from the cold.
Its believed the original name 400 years ago, The Angel, was symbolic of divine guidance, protection and a welcome stopping point for travellers.
The sign for most pubs with this name originally depicted the Archangel Gabriel.
The pub was originally a row of cottages, and has been converted and extended over the centuries, but still has some of its old cob walls, uneven floors and original ceilings which vary in height from room to room.
It has two areas of accommodation for the new landlords, one with three double bedrooms and a bathroom and a smaller area offering a double and a single bedroom.
Further information
- Hall and Woodhouse is offering the lease on The Angel on its website
