What's in a name: St Peter's Finger
While the Red Lion and the Royal Oak are the most common pub names in Britain, with many hundreds of each, there is probably only one pub in the country called St Peter's Finger. There are some places called Peters Finger (or Petersfinger) but the drinking establishment is found in the Dorset village of Lytchett Minster, and seems to have been there for well over two hundred years. Surprisingly though the origin of the name isn't entirely certain. Pub sign in 2023. Lytchett Minster is found four miles from Wareham and four miles from Poole. A settlement was recorded here in the Domesday book. A helpful information board reveals that the village church has no dedication, describing this as unusual but not unique. Parish records date back to 1554 and its font also dates to the 16th century. About 100 yards away from the church is St Peter's Finger pub. A phrase on the pub wall suggests that St Peter's Finger is a thief's finger, and that the pub was previously a den...