I'd be interested to see what pubs have closed across West Berks and roughly when they closed. I know some villages now have no pubs at all.
One I know has long gone is The Dragon at Frilsham, no idea when it closed, must be many decades.
Wow, I've never heard of that one before.
There is a website called Dead Pubs which lists pubs past and present and details who were the licencees and inhabitants about 100 plus years ago. Have look at http://deadpubs.co.uk/Berkshire/, but it doesn't list Frilsham. There is a Dragon Cottage at Hawkridge Hill, Frilsham, which is probably the former pub.
I have copy of a doggerel rhyme entitled A Nightmare, which purports to list all the pubs in Newbury, probably just after World War I. I recall posting it on this forum once, but I can't find it.
There must be getting on for a hundred pubs that have closed in Newbury alone - over the centuries pubs have always come and gone, I guess they always will.
Lost pubs that I remember drinking in: Rising Sun, Bear Lane, Borough Arms, Rokeby Arms, Anchor, Pig & Paper, Star, and the Clock Tower (all Newbury), Falcon (Aldermaston), Wheatsheaf (Chieveley) - I'm sure some more will come to mind.
A friend of mine courted his wife in the Plough(?) at Little Hungerford (she was the landlord's daughter). He used to live down Wellhouse Lane, at the top of which he remembers the Fox & Hounds (now Fox & Hounds cottage). Both these were gone before my time.
Was The Star aka Cromwell's Wine Bar in the 80s? There was also The Queen, off the Base Road (can't remember the name of the road, but it wasn't far from Clere School).
Yes, the Star became Cromwell's for a short time before the development mania saw it demolished and offices built on the site. Shame, I liked Comwell's.
Does anyone remember The Fox and Cubs at Lilley, on the B4494 Newbury-Wantage road near Brightwalton? It was a little old Morland pub, and my wife and I went to see it after it closed and was offered for conversion to a dwelling. I still have the floor plan given to us by the estate agent. Perhaps I should donate it to the museum (if I can find it.)
Whoever bought the property converted it into a very nice house, and sensibly kept the Morland 'artist' plaque beside the front door.
There was also The Marquis of Granby, further south on the same road.
Another wonderful pub was The New Inn at Hampstead Norreys, which Morland sold after they bought The White Hart in the same village.
I also remember The Cricketers at Stockcross.
I'm getting emotional; I shall have to go out tonight for some beers!
There was a small 'establishment' -more of an ale house really rather than a pub-in Northbrook St, somewhere between Oxfam and Milletts, anyone remember it and what it was called?
There was a small 'establishment' -more of an ale house really rather than a pub-in Northbrook St, somewhere between Oxfam and Milletts, anyone remember it and what it was called?
It was before my time in Newbury - the Northbrook Inn, in part of what is now Jessops, became a tea shop after it closed as a pub/beerhouse. I'm sure it had other names in the past.
A few more lost Northbrook Street establishments - the Burton House, the Bakers Arms, the Ram, the Rose & Thistle, the Sergrant, the George & Dragon, the George, the Crown, and, of course, the Jack.
I remember the Rose and Crown in Northcroft Lane that was reputed to have the longest bar in Berkshire. When it closed, it was earmarked for development but there was some discussion about a listing one day and during the same night, the pub fell down. Shame really but that's progress and sod the rules. Amazing what a wire rope and a bulldozer can do.
Lost pubs that I remember drinking in: Rising Sun, Bear Lane, Borough Arms, Rokeby Arms, Anchor, Pig & Paper, Star, and the Clock Tower (all Newbury)
As a counterbalance a few that have opened in my time - Varsity/George & Pelican, Chicago Rock Cafe/Seymours/Diamond Tap, Hogshead/Hogs Head, Document House, Gordons/Montys, Bar Cuba/Avenue & Slug & Lettuce/Eve/Pig & Paper.
It seems that they find it very difficult to stick to a name, and one appears on the first list as well.
But are they all pubs? Are Avenue and Montys really pubs, or something else?
funny?...no-one has mentioned the Greyhound Inn.....I cant be that old,surely?
I was a child when the last Greyhound went, and living 12 miles from Newbury, so I never drank there and hence it didn't make it on to my list - the other Greyhound (in Bartholomew Street, now Badgers) went long before either of us was born.
My lists cover those that have gone or appeared since I first drank in a Newbury pub. In my lifetime there have been many more lost, like the Two Brewers, the Drummers, the Rose & Crown, the Rising Sun, Oxford Rd, the Adam & Eve, the Sun, the Black Boys, the Pigeons, the Axe & Compass, the Wheastsheaf, the Old Dog and the original Robin Hood. There are probably more - just as I missed the Railway from the list of lost pubs I drank in.
This is the old Newbury poem which I found a handwritten copy in my mothers' effects. I'm sure it's been on here before but it's always good for a re run.
The Eight Bells at the Queen’s they rang And the Catherine Wheel went round. The Steamer heaved on a rolling sea But the Anchor held its ground.
The Nag’s Head looked o’er the Castle gate And saw the Greyhound killed. Jack of Newbury expressed surprise At the length of The Pelican’s bill
In the Cooper’s Arms the Blackboys laid, The Lion with the Lamb lay down The Cross Keys opened the Red House door To the Apprentice of London Town.
The Bricklayer’s Arms on the Sugar loaf laid And started to break it down Then a portion left at the Borough Arms And some at the Rose and Crown.
Adam and Eve as Gardeners work And the Plough was put to grass. King Charles was hid in a Tiger’s den When the Volunteers went past.
The Hare and Hounds ate the Fighting Cocks The Black Bear climbed up a log The Hatchet chopped off Carnarvon Arms And Wellington kicked The Old Dog
The Atlas Tap didn’t care a rap That the Bell on the hill should ring. The Weavers clothed Lord Falkland Arms And I found the Newmarket Inn.
The Globe rolled round, the Dolphin swam And someone fired the Gun. In Hunt’s Bar yard the Two Brewers played And the Pigeons flew in the sun.
The Old Pig and Whistle had eaten the Thistle The Monument stands in the west. At the Queen’s Arms I stayed, The Chequers I played- Good luck to the Old Donkey Rest
At Burton House they had a spree, The Cricketers were the givers. The Rokeby Arms came down the hill And the Swan came up the river.
In the King’s Coffee House near the captured gun I had something to cure the ‘flu’ The Star shone bright on that dark night At the Phoenix the landlord I knew.
Robin Hood broke the White Hart chain And set the poor thing free. The Drummers played at the Bacon Arms And we all had a rare old spree
The Old Horse and Waggon took St George and the Dragon To the Derby over the hill Where the district ends, the Travellers Friend, At the White House I paid the bill.
The manager asked me to have a drink As I went past the Soldiers’ Club T’was very good, t’was brewed from wood And leaves of a Chinese shrub.
I now made tracks to the good old Axe And Compass near the line. In the Railway door I had some more And with Frank had a real good time.
In the Blue Ball I played with a dark maid That had stripes and a Helmet on. Well, she led me away the night to stay I am nearing the end of my song.
In the morning cold I was not so bold I was marched away to court By a man in blue-t’was the ‘maid’ I knew At least that’s what I thought !
The Mayor’s Arms on me he lays He fines me a Crown then he sternly says “Now pay for your fun at the Rising Sun- Ten bob or seven days”!
Newbury District Field Club have a talk by Phil Wood on the history of pubs in Newbury on Tuesday evening (7.30 @ St John's parish room, £3) - http://www.ndfc.org.uk
If you're interested in any particular pub you should collar him after the talk - he has hundreds of old pictures of Newbury pubs on his laptop and will be able to answer most questions.
Does anyone have any photos of the Pigeons on Cheap Street.....apparently I was conceived there!! My Grandmother and Step Grandad were the landlord and landlady there....sometime between 1965 and 1972.
Does anyone have any photos of the Pigeons on Cheap Street.....apparently I was conceived there!! My Grandmother and Step Grandad were the landlord and landlady there....sometime between 1965 and 1972.
Thank you!
Our local expert is attending a meeting of the Newbury District Field Club this evening (Tuesday)
However I don't think that anyone associated with this forum has ever managed to obtain a photograph of the Pigeons, although several requests have appeared in the past.
Jim Irving took a picture of the Pigeons soon after it had closed in 1969, the name had been removed. There is a copy in the Museum - so you won't be able to see it for a while.
Logged
Male
