100 years of the Dog & Donkey
From the Britannia Inn of 1926 to the village pub saved by its community. Here’s how a donkey, a dog and a coal cart gave Knowle its pub’s name.
From beer house to inn
Directory records show Samuel Knowles moving from beer retailer to landlord of the inn at Knowle in the 1870s, in a traditional cob-and-thatch building.
Where the name comes from
During the First World War Florrie Doney delivered coal around the village with a donkey and cart, followed everywhere by her dog. The locals’ nickname, the Dog and Donkey, stuck.
The Doney family arrive
Charles Doney takes on the pub, beginning a family connection that lasted more than 60 years.
The Britannia Inn is rebuilt
The old cob-and-thatch inn is replaced by the building you visit today, with its gables and diamond-paned leaded casement windows.
Florrie, then Olive
After Charles died in 1959, Florrie ran the pub, followed by Olive Doney from 1972 to 1994.
The nickname becomes the name
The pub officially takes the name everyone had used for decades: The Dog and Donkey. It returns to being a free house.
Saved by a local musician
Local music teacher Pete Manfield remortgages his home to buy the pub and keep it at the heart of the village. Mark Loftin becomes landlord in February 2024.
One hundred years
The building celebrates its centenary with a full calendar of music, quiz nights, Sunday roasts and community events.
Have a story or an old photo?
We’re collecting memories of the Britannia Inn and the Dog & Donkey for our centenary. If you have photos, stories or a family connection, we’d love to hear from you.
Share a memoryHistory compiled from Budleigh Salterton’s local history records and press coverage of the pub. Dates before 1926 come from trade directories and are approximate.
Got a date in mind?
Tell us the occasion, the date and roughly how many guests. We’ll come back to you with availability and ideas, usually within a day.