(This page is ajoint effort by Alan Moore and Richard Symonds )
Below arelisted all the known public houses, past and present, in Reigate with pictures and information
Explanatory notes: Included in the details of some of the pubs below are theresults of research by Richard Symonds relating todocuments from previous centuries. These contain wordsunfamiliar to many of us not used to studying suchdocuments. It is hoped that the explanations here will beof help. Polled - this word means that theidividual mentioned had the vote and evidence that he didso has been noted for the year given. When looking atvery old documents, bearing in mind that they are beforethe days of street directories etc, the only way toidentify the occupier/tenant/owner of a property is tovisit either the voter's lists or Poll Books, or in thecase of licensed premises, the Victuallers'Recognisances. In many cases the source documents werethe Poll Books and "polled" simply means"voted" - the word polled still lives on todayin the words polling-booth and polling-station. PollBooks were introduced in 1696 when Sherriffs were firstrequired to compile records of the poll in countyelections. Usually divided by Parish, they list the nameof each voter and the candidate(s) for whom he voted. Asthe franchise did not become universal for men and womenuntil 1928, the Poll Books include only a relativelysmall portion of the population. Poll Books wereeffectively abolished by the 1872 Ballot Act. It is agood reference to use if you need to find who the tenantor publican was,as voting was restricted tohouseholders or males owning or tenanting property. Thuslodgers, and family members in a household could notvote, but the individual who actually signed/made thetenancy/purchase agreement, provided that individualwas a man, could vote. Terrier- maps were often produced with fields, buildings andland, etc. numbered. Accompanying the map would be adocument known as a terrier that would provide information about thenumbered area. Information supplied often gave details ofthe owner and the occupier as well as a description ofthe land . |
Admiral Corner of Albert RoadNorth and Nutley Lane TheAdmiral in 1975 (Picture Richard Symonds) Information from Richard Symonds During WW1horses stabled alongside the Admiral were comandeeredby the Army. The stables were altered in the 30s/40sto be a garage for two St John ambulances but this isonly one of the changes to this pub that GeorgeClark, licencee for 57 years up to 1945, would haveseen. There was once a tap room, probably with itsown door to the street, where customers could comefor jugs of beer to take home. There was a barparlour that was also the licencee's family diningroom where favoured customers could go. There wouldhave been few female customers would have beforeservicewomen went there during ww2 when beer was 5d apint and cigarettes were 11d for 20. The PettySessional report 1892, lists the Admiral as afully-licensed house, owned and tied by trade toBushell & Co., Westerham, brewers. Run by G RClarke who resides on the premises. The Inn isfrequented by cottagers and labourers. I have a shortlist of proprietors as follows: 1878Jason Woodman. 1882 George Baker 1891- 1940George RichardClarke. 1948 -1954 Thomas Frederick Sparshott 1956 - 1968 F W Rodwell. Apparentlytheaddresswas 95 Nutley Lane, but was changedto190 in 1909, and then to 190a in 1915. Additionalinformation kindly sent in by Brian Cornelius: - The landlord of the Admiral Pub, G R Clarke, lost hisson in WW1. L/Cpl Thomas Percy Clarke 9217 1st BtnLeinster regiment K in A, 12th May 1915, aged 24. Hisname appears on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. G RClarke also appears to have been a widower at thetime as his wife is described as the late LaviniaEmma Clarke (nee Pankhurst). | ||
The Admiral in November 2012 | ||
Albion Inn 13, London Road In the lefthandpicture of London Road below (looking south) threeReigate pubs can be seen. The Bats and Balls publichouse is on the far left with the Albion beinglocated in the building on the right foreground. Inthe left distance, on the corner of the High Streetand London Road, is the Red Cross. The righthandpicture shows the Albion where it stood at thenorthern corner of London Rd and Upper West Street. References: Nealepapers; NCB 19.
Picture RichardSymonds Picture HNHC The site ofthe Albion Pub, on the corner of Upper West Streetwhere it joins London Road, can be seen centre ofthis 1968 view looking north up London Road. Some ofthe pub site has been used to widen the round andround off the corner, the road sign probably standingwhere the bar was. Information from Richard Symonds
1902-4 W H Venn; 1904-30 SidneyWelley; 1936 Jas.A.Bish; 1940-44 Mrs Maud E.Bish. Left:- The man pictured here with a pig at his feet islocal character Alan Ide, who at thebeginning of the 20thc used to take the pig to thepub with him. Here he is seen standing outside theAlbion. The people in the background ars Mr and MrsEdgson. Presumably the dog's owner is still inside. (Picture courtesy RonMarsh.) Right:- An atmospheric picture of the | ||
Anchor High Street Information from Richard Symonds Formerly stoodon the site of 60~62, High Street, Reigate. Firstnoted in 1597 and it closed down circa 1750.
Edward Whiteacres co-heirs sold itto James co*cks. Thomas Saunders Junior of Charlwoodpolled 1698.'
1597- Wm Limden left it to William, his son. 1653- Thomas Fisher tenant; owned by William Limden. 1671- Thomas Buckland tenant, owned by Thomas Linden(presumably Wm Linden's son). TheLimden family were butchers, presumably with a tradeinterest in the victualling side of the inn. References; SC445/1 f72; 371/8/58; Greater London RecordOfficeDW.PA.7.8. f352. | ||
Angel co*ckshotHill Reigate Left: The Angel pub c1880 ( Picture Alan Moore) Right: The Angel pub is behind thetrees on the right in this c1870s picture of thetollgates and tollhouse on the Doversgreen Road (pictureRichard Symonds) | ||
The rear of the Angel pub viewedfrom co*ckshot Hill (picture Richard Symonds) Information fromRichard Symonds The Angel pub in 1977 (picture Richard Symonds) Looking at my scheduleof deeds & documents with respect admissions tothe copyhold, I have the following dates and names:August 1741, admission of John Parsons; July 1742,admission of William Belcher and Thomas Ingram; Jan1762, admission of Thomas Powers; June 1767,admission of Jacob Houblon and John Wogan;March 1783, admission of Jarvis Holmes; July 1784,presentment of the death of Jacob Houblon; 28 Nov1789, Conveyance from William Bryant to Thomas Cooperfor £450, and the following month, admission ofWilliam Bryant; May 1801, Admission of Henry WilliamCaffyn; March 1814, admission Edward Clarke, and ofhis surrender to Thomas Neale, and also admission ofMrs Sophia Annie Barfoot.
(pictures Richard Symonds) Eves Census of 1861lists the property as Number 1342, and describes itas Public house and garden owned by Neale &Mellersh, run bt Jane Pooley. containing 20 perches,formerly in the occupation of William Holliday andthen late of Jane Pooley. The PettySessional report for 1892 described the Angel asbeing owned and tied by trade to Mellersh &Neale, and Run by William Gould who resides on thepremises. Frequented by cyclists, travellers, andgentlemens servants. (it is interesting tonotethat an entry for the Borough bench records that thelicence of the Angel passed to Mr William Gould inNovember 1877). The angel pub viewed fromthe south in 2005 (Picture Alan Moore) . Email received fromChum Richardson Decenber 2008: My gggrandfatherGeorge Allen Aylwin is buried in the LeatherheadChurchyard. Hannah (Smart) ( Aylwin ) his firstwifeis beside him. Some of the Cooper family istherealso. Thomas Cooper (see reference to ThomasCooperabove) married Mary and the only child to liveis mygggrandmother Mary Ann Cooper ( Aylwin ) a 1/2sisterto Hanna. Thomas Cooper owned the Black HorseandReigate Brewery. I have possible for Maryf.Henry Balchin? m. Mary Parriott or Parrot?, =MaryBalchin? married John Charmon? = HannahCharmon? married William? Smart.Marymarried 1.?, 2.?, 3. brewerThomasCooper, 4. Rev. clerk Thomas Wigzell, 5.Rev.Charles de Cotlogon. Some othernamesthat came up Bridger, Standen. HenryBalchin may have had more than 1 wife. Mary hadsisters Elizabeth, Caroline, Charllotte, ? . | ||
1950s painting of the Angelby Sidney Moore |
(Plan below courtesy RichardSymonds) | As wellas the toll gates shown at the top of this section onthe Angel pub there were gates directly outside thepub across the road from Redhill as shown at thebottom of the plan on the left. In the above picturethe white fence on the right also appears on the planand the Angel pub is just beyond. Traffic would turnleft for Horley, Right for Reigate and go straight onto South Park. | The toll gates on theroad from Redhill were about where the red car is inthis picture from 2005 (Picture Alan Moore) . |
Artichoke High StreetInformation from RichardSymonds
1702 - lease for 21 years byMary Life to Jo Byers. 1710. Sold by Life family toSir William Scawen. In Bryants Survey of 1785 it isshown as no. 161 in the terrier (the documentaccompanying the map which gives information aboutnumbered areas) and is described as; 'Messuage,garden, barn, orchard, field with appurtenances,formerly the sign of the ARTICHOKE, abutting west onhigh road in Bell Street, south on Lisbon Lane, easton lands in occupation of ThomasTurner. worth £10per annum. Formerly in occupation of John Byers ,after of Richard Norris, now of William Moore andThomas Dewdney. Richard Barnes purchased thesepremisesfrom Mr Scawens Trustees and hassold same to John Sornmers co*cks with five others for£5,500. He gave £300 for it and has reserved thefield and got a lease of the tenement for 1000years.' | |||||
Barley Mow Allingham Road, South Park The two pictures show theBarley Mow in the early 190%s (below) and ) in 1973(right). (Bothpictures courtesy Richard Symonds) Information fromRichard Symonds | |||||
Bats and Balls LondonRoad Situated on the east sideof London Road almost opposite the Albion pub (Picture AJM) Information fromRichard Symonds
(16) London Road,Reigate.Also known as the Cricketers (c1805),this inn was first noted in 1732 and ceased tradingon 12 June 1910, and later demolished. There was alarge cave under the property wheremen used towork there early in the 19th century digging silversand. The landlord sold the sand to the goodswaggonners who put up there for the night at 6d a bagand they took it to London and sold it for ashilling. The drivers looked on this as their perks.Up to 1910 this was where beanfeasters used to come(for example Bryant & Mays girls) etc., thelandlord used to light up part of the caves withcandles, and they paid tuppence to godown. To gain access, one went through a door at theback of the bar, and then down a passage towards theCastle grounds. A deed existsdated 17 December 1759 when the property was stillcopyhold of the Manor of Reigate, admitting aJohn Bristow to a messuage of late RichardIsemongers, all that customary messuage or tenement,barn, stable, buildings, garden, or orchard and courtabutting on the Kings Highway leading from theborough of Reygate towards Croydon on the north part,and upon land formerly of John Baker on the southpart and now of late in the occupation of Mr Worleyto the use and behoof of John Bristowe of Reigate,apothecary. In another deeddated 1st Jan 1765, John Muggeridge was admitted,from Alan Edwards the elder, late tallowchandler, to a parcel of land formerly in theoccupation of George Mason, then Elizabeth Mason, andnow John Muggeridge, and herebefore surrendered toAllan Edwards by Abraham Smith, distiller. JohnMuggeridge died in June 1768 and Ann, his widow wasadmitted for the remainder of her life. In Feb 1777 SirCharles co*cks, baronet, leased the property to GeorgeSeale and Ann his wife, and the contract described itas a customary messuage and croft being part ofthe Castle Butts. Records jump toJune 1791 when Wm Muggeridge was admitted upon thesurrender of Richard Barnes. His will, dated 19 Sept1804, describes Wm Muggeridge as a victualler, andthe property first referred to as the Bats &Balls, which he left to his son, John, who was dulyadmitted in April 1806, although, confusingly, thewill refers to the Inn as Freehold. (Presumably theland was copyhold and the Inn upon it or adjacent toit was freehold?) John mortagaged the Inn to JamesCheeseman of Dorking, brewer, in 1812. FrancisCheeseman took over this mortgage and leased the Innfrom John Muggeridge in 1826, and the following yearJohn Muggeridge forfeits the property for non-paymentand James Cheeseman is admitted in his stead. ByNovember 1861,Richard Attlee & John Young,brewers had acquired Cheesemans brewinginterests at Dorking and therefore were in a positionto enter into an agreement with the then occupier,Thomas Ratcliffe Hoad, in consideration of 15shillings, to give up rights to use a loft over thepremises formerly used as a malt loft adjoining tothe south of the inn formerly used as abrewhouse. Eves census1861describes the Inn asproperty No.859Bats & Balls PH, 2 cottages & garden,owned by John Young and run by John Sayers &others. In August 1879 thelicence was transferred to Mr Richard Snelling. Petty SessionalReport 1892 gives the Bats & Balls,LondonLane. Fully licensed house, owned and tied bytradeto John Young of Dorking, brewer, run by WChalwinwho resides on the premises. Frequented byTravellerswith vans, carts, etc. It is interestingto note that the inn was always a placewheresuspicious goings on occurred and the policewerealways raiding it. Several examples may beread inback-issues of the Local papers. For examplean entryfor March 1878 declared that SamuelWinn,William Talman, George Carter and AlfredHazell havebeen committed for trial on the charge ofstealing asack of coal, the property of theiremployers, MessrsNeale & Mellersh, the well-knownbrewers; and MrBailey (on bail), landlord of the Bats &ballsInn is charged with receiving the same, wellknowingit to have been stolen. They will be triedat theSurrey Sessions at Newington nextweek. Thefollowing month a follow-up was reported Thethree men charged with stealing coal wereconvictedand sentenced to a months hard laboureach. Thepublican who was charged with feloniouslyreceivingthe coal, and whose defence was in the ablehands ofMr Hubert Wood, was acquitted. By Email - I own aneighteenth century longcase clock, which hasaninscription written by my grandfather(NelsonBathurst of Reigate, son of John Bathurst,cordwainer)some 100 years ago aboutit*origins. He stated that his grandmother, MrsHannahSymmonds, was given it by her aunt, MrsMuggeridge,of the Bats and Balls Inn, Reigate, who Iassumeowned it from new c.1760-1790. Do you haveanyevidence that this Inn existed or where itsexactlocationwas? Regards N.B., Bucks. N.B. referred tothis page and the Bats and Balls above whenJohn andAnn Muggeridge are mentioned. | |||||
Beehive Doversgreen RoadPicture courtesy HNHC This is howthe Beehive public house in Dovers Green Road wasuntil 1929. Stephen Burberry owned it at one time andlater Westerham Ales took it over. It would seem thatthe Burberry family lived in the house, the evidencefor this coming from a fire report of 1895 whichread, ' March 19th - Bee Hive Beer House,Dovers Green - two part boarded and brick builthouses, one used as branch Post Office, the other asa beer house, well alight with roof falling in whenFire Brigade arrived. Fire was caused by Mrs Burberryascending stairs with paraffin lamp after takingletters to Post Office. She caught her foot in staircarpet and fell. Paraffin spilt and ignited house.'. Itwas run by the Blundell family from 1909 - 1949. Theylived in the pub itself, the white-boarded side. Bythen the Burberrys lived in the brick side and ran awheelwrights and smithy. In 1949 it was taken over byAllied Breweries. Comprehensive information about this pub from Richard Symonds is below
Information about the Beehive fromRichard Symonds The first reference to theactual name Beehive was in a leasehold document 31Dec 1881, and the inn and cottages nearby were passedto Messrs B C Bushell & co of the WesterhamBrewery on 7th March 1882. (when Lashmars OxtedBrewery was taken over by Bushells) for the residueof the term of lease of 60 years from 29 Sept 1847.
The records of the copyhold element ofthese leases are interesting. Copyhold means that itwas part of the Manor of Reigate (Lord of the Manorat this time was Lady Isobel Caroline Somers co*cksSomerset, widow). The record of admissions to thepropertygive the following names: Sept 1886 Admission of Mrs MaryAnne Davies & Mrs E Astle. A licence to demisewas granted to both ladies on 16 April 1895 for aterm of 18 years. Mary Anne davies died sometimebefore18 Sept 1898 when a further admission wasgranted to her "devisees" un-named; Afurther admission was granted to William Astle on 25Feb 1902, who had died within 2 years as anotheradmission was granted to his son George Devon Astleon 5 July 1904, andwho the following year on 29June 1905 was also granted an undivided moity of theFreehold premises (the Inn)at Dovers Green. Atthe same time he had to surrender the copyholdpremises to W G D Astle. Astle leased the copyhold toBushells in Nov 1907 for 21 years at a rent of £55per annum. In 1908 Bushells leased the copyholddwelling to Mrs Rebecca Burberry of the Lancaster (?)wheelwrights, described as shop, land & prems atDovers green at a rent of £23 per annum. (Thewriting is unclear and I may have misread the wordLancaster). InNov1919 G D Astle died and the premises passed into thehands of Miss E H Donaldson, and when all copyholdswere dis-enfranchised in 1921 it converted intoFreehold estate. On 18 may 1928 she conveyed thefreehold of the property to Messrs Bushell Watkins& Smith of the Westerham Brewery, then describedas freehold beerhouse, Beehive, cottages, workshops& premises. ....II have anote of some of the proprietors: 1892 - 1905 G T Bassett 1909 - 1944 Benry ThomasBlundell 1951 - 1968 C P Potter. The Beehive received its fulllicence and became a Publuc House in 1955, beforewhich it was only a beerhouse. Emailfrom Iain Pocknell regarding TheBeehive Over the past few yearsI've been tracing my family tree.You may beinterested in knowing that my grandmother was born atThe Beehive in 1903, her father, Sidney Burberrybeing thewheelwright in the adjacent building.Last night I found yourwebsite with the photosand description of the pub as it was then.... I wasalso staggered to read the fire report which involvedmy ancestors - it's really brought the past to life!This was the first time I had seen any photos of myNan's birthplace! It looks like there were twobranches of the Burberry family living in two houses.Stephen, I think, is Sidney's cousin which means thatthe Mrs Burberry in the fire report would be RuthBurberry (although this is not confirmed). Sidneydied in 1907 leaving his wife and children (4 girlsand 1 boy). His son was killed in WWI. I'm wonderingwhether my great grandmother, Rebecca Burberry tookover the lease if it was in her husband's namebefore? However, I do know that they all moved tolive in Eastbourne. From what my grandmother had toldme, this was shortly after Sidney's death(?) I do notknow much about about the wheelwright business otherthan what I can piece together from the censuses i.e.two of Sidney's daughters were born in Catford, Kentin the early 1890s. As far as I can tell, there's noLancashire connection...Rebecca's father being a redpotter in Ewell. As Sidney Burberry is themain focus of my interest at the moment, I will piecetogether some information for your website. I can'tgive any timescales at the moment as with youngchildren I do this research as and when time allows.I have ordered a copy of his death certificate as hedied when he was 42. His grave stone says he diespeacefully which sounds like it might have been anillnes rather than an accident at work etc. I willrun the informationpast my cousins in Canadabefore I send it to you- partly for accuracy,partly out ofcourtesy. I'm unsure if you have seenthe website on the Burberry family history? There isa very distant link toraincoats! The Burberry Family website is beingcompiled by Douglas Burbury who lives in Tasmania http://www.vision.net.au/~dburbury/d0002/g0000248.htm#5503 Manythanks for collating the information on the Beehive. Thank you, Iain, for theinformation - Richard and Alan | |||||
Bell Inn
,
BellStreet
Informationand picture from Richard Symonds
This inn has a considerable history, as can beseen from the information below.
No less than four premises havehad this name at some time or another in Reigatealone. The Bulls Head was called the Bell for ashort time around 1700 and it is often impossible todisentangle the various locations. Also 51 HighStreet was so called up until 1714 when it wasdivided into tenements. The two houses opposite eachother in Bell Street (14 & 21 ) appear tohave been inns of this name alternately until thebeginning of the 19th century when the present publichouse took over sole use of the name of theBell. To make a general history from the informationgiven would, given the several centuries and thenumber of various premises involved, be difficult, sothe documented evidence provided further below isleft to stand alone.
Petty sessional records of 1892 stated that theBell was a fully licensed inn owned and tied by tradeto Messrs Mellersh & Neale,of Reigate,brewers. The licensee, J. L. Knell, resided on thepremises and the inn was frequented by tradesmen andmechanics.
(cont below)
The above picture
(courtesy Richard Symonds)
shows the Bell in 1933.when it had two doors. The lefthand door led to thesaloon bar, the righthand one to the public bar. Thissituation lasted well into the 1960s at least. As canbe see from the picture on the right (taken by me,Alan Moore, in October 2007) there is now just theone door and presumably (I haven't been in the Bellfor years) just one bar (AJM)
Continuing information fromRichard Symond
Proprietors: c1786 Thomas Beale - 1787-1800George Sanders - c1805-1809 Stephen Elsey -1810-1843Abraham Elsey - 1855-1861ThomasHoldsworth - 1862-1878 William Coppen -1878-1882John Howard - 1891-1895JohnLawrence Knell - 190%-1923 John Unstead - 1926-1933James Arthur Bish - 1936-1940 Richard K Comber -1940-1954 R W Johnson - 1956-1960 H M T Owens -1965-1968 D A W Blake
Schedule of deeds and documents referring to the Bell
1731. List of tenants to Mr Saunders at the Bell.
1670 - Ann Cooper. 1676 -Jno Woodman. 1684 - John Dagnall. 24 Mar 1761 Leasefor 1 year, John Lucas to Edmund Pepys. 25 Mar 1761ReleaseJohn Lucas to Edmund Pepys.22 Feb1765Lease for 1 year, Capt Faulknerto Jno Lucas. 27 May 1848 Conveyance, John Pepys toEdmund Pepys, freehold messuage.
21Oct 1851 Lease.Edmund Pepys to Thomas Holdsworth,lic.victualr for 50 years.
16Jun 1860. Earl Somers to Neale & Mellersh forbuilding leases of a Burgage tenement in Bell Street.2 Jul 1860 Assignment Thomas Holdsworth to MessrsNeale & Mellersh. 23 Apr 1878 CounterpartLease Edmund Pepys to Mellersh & Neale for21 years from 25 March 1878.
23Apr 1878 Lease
Edmund Pepys to Mellersh & Neale for21 years from 25 March 1878
,rent £25 p.a.
28 Nov1890ConveyanceEdmund Pepys toMellersh& Neale.
13Aug 1940AgreementBritish LandCo.,andMellersh & Neale Ltd., relating to the rightoflight affecting Nos. 23 to 25 Bell Street,andtheBell PH.
Showing theposition of the Bell not far from the town centre onthe east side of Bell Street.
(Picture Alan Moore October2007)
AdditionalInformation from old records
Bryants Survey 1785, Nos193-195 in terrier, describes the Bell as follows:
193. Messuage,brewhouse, andstable, yard and backside withapturtenances abuttingsouth on yard behind same, north onhighway, west onpremises in occupation of MrsStanning, east onpremises in occupation of MessrsBroughton. Worth £3per annum. Leased from Lord Somerswith 175. Formerlyin occupation of Jane Allen, JohnGlazebrook, lateWilliam Hoare, and now JamesJohnson. Purchased ofJohn Allens daughter by Johnco*cks; refusedpolling as being part of 194 whichwith otherpremises was the Bell Inn.
194. Messuage withappurtenancesabutting north on the High Street,,south on a yardbehind, east to 176, and west onpremises occupiedtherewith.. Worth £4 pa. Formerly inoccupation ofwidow Staples, Anthony Volvin, ,JohnSouthern, sincewidow Humphrey and James Goddard,but now of SussannaStanninq, widow. Was anciently, with193,and 195, aninn called THE BELL, and John Allenpolled for wholein 1698 and 1702; James Dentith in1710, and WilliamThompson in 1713. This and otherswere divided in1714. Purchased with 195 by Jamesco*cks of John Wardwho bought them of John Allen with195.
195. Messuage,withseveral outhousesand appurtenances, abutting north onHigh Street,south on yard behind same, east on194, ,and west onpremises in occupation of WilliamBrowne, taylor.Worth £1.10s. per annum. Formerly inthe occupationof widow Hatcher, since of WilliamStaples, and lateof John Lyfe, but now of SussannahStanding and usedwith 194. Formerly part of BELL INNand WilliamMoreton offered topoll in 1710 and wasrefused. Purchased with 194.
Bryants Survey I785, no.154 in terrier.(Bryant refers also to the Bell Inn on theEast side of Bell Street, and alsoits immediateforerunner trading under the samesign):
154. Abutting northto ThomasJeale, east to garden of ThomasBodle. FormerlyWilliam Lifford, since his widow andnow JosephLongley. Heretofore the sign of theBELL INN. AnthonyDickens sold it 1785 subject to alease to RichardBryant who sold it again for thesame price to PhilipYorke. Matthew Lant polled in 1698.This and 135 and156 were originally one messuageknown as Jordans. In1670 described as all that messuagethen divided intothree tenements, and the barn androod of groundthereunto belonging withappurtenances and. in theannual occupation of Thomas Woodyer,Anne Cooper andEdward Carter. It possessed abrewhouse.
135. Formerly inthe occupation ofHenry Carter, John Lester, RichardJeffs, SimonGlazetrook and late Thomas Bodle andJohn Cole, sinceof ~Thomas Beale and now GeorgeSanders. (P.N.Elsey,- The Bell). Messuage and garden,sign of THEBELL, abutting south on a tenementused therewith.Worth £2.lOs. per annum. Purchasedby the Hon. .JohnYorke in trust for Francis Lane. MrScroop polled in1698. Joshua Fedrey in 1710.Conveyed to John Yorkein 1777 by Elizabeth Hayward andThomas Ryder,executors of the will of CarltonHayward.
136. Abutting southto Thomas Bodle.Formerly in the occupation of HenryCarter, JohnLester, Richard Jaffs, widow Carter,Frances Frenoh,George Ookley, Edward Pickstone,late of John Coleand Thomas Beal, now of GeorgeSanders. (P.N. Mr.Pepys). Messuage and backside,witharpurtenances, islaid to the BELL. Worth £2 pa, Thiswas property ofJohn Lucas and given by his will tohis nephew MrPepys.
Mr Carter polled 1698; Captain Faulkner 1713; John Lucas 1722. References: SC 445/1 f.1935;f.1346.; f.174.371/8/175-186;p49/1/I;Neale papers. Ind Coope B/17.
Bryants Survey 1785, No 174 on terrier.
Messuage, yard, & garden, &appurtenances abutting west onpremises occupied withthe Swan Inn. formerly in theoccupation ofWidow Carter, George Cherrington,now of JosephFloyd. Sold by William Charrington,yeoman,and wifeRachael, daughter of Stephen Carter,collarmaker, inl1750 to John co*cks , LordSommers fatherfor £400; Worth £6 per annum.Formerly known asBELL Inn, or HOSTELRY, in the17th andearly 18th centuries.(Carter made leathercollars for horses and in an awardof 1705 betweenhim and William Huggett, he is saidto possess pits(presumably for tanning) andleather.)
The hostelry or Hostry, formerly stood on the site of Messrs Watkins & Watkins Estate Agents, on the Westside of Bell Street. In the 17th century it was called the HOSTELRY. In 1627 Edward bysshe of Smallfields sold the premises but it is not known to whom. His uncle, Erasmus Bysshe,was a mercer and prominent in local affairs. It is conjectured that the licence was transferred from this house to the one across the road when it closed down.
RS
Email from Sally, June 2013
Enjoying your web siteverymuch and it has beome evenmore interesting since Istarted researching myfamily.I just wondered ifthefollowing information wouldbe helpful to you.Looking at the list ofproprietors for TheBellin Bell Street Isee that in 1810 - 1843there was a Abraham Elsey.Prior to that wasaStephen Elsey-- obviously arelation but I have notbeen able to work that oneout. Abraham was my4x great grandfather. He wasborn in Leigh Surrey inthe winter of 1781 andbaptised in St BartholomewsChurch Leigh on 16thDecember 1781.
In January1807 he married AnnStammer at Greenwich StAlphege.Abraham and Ann had 7children includingFrances b1811. At the time of the1841 census Abraham -thenage 60 years - is livingat 41 Bell StreetReigate.Abraham is described asa Chaise Driver. Nomentionofhim being theproprietor of The BellbutI wonder ifthat is where he wasliving??
By the 1851census Abraham andAnn are still livingat the sameaddress but in thehousehold is theirdaughterFrances and herhusband ThomasHoldsworth. Thomasisdescribed asLicensed Victuallerand Abraham as PostCarriage Driver.The censusform states thatthe Ale House nextdoor is uninhabited.I wonder ifthat means they didnot live on thepremises???
ThomasHoldsworth is onthe list ofproprietors1855-1861.Abraham died 2years later in1853. Francesdied inMay 1860 age 49years and the1861 censusThomas wasstill in BellStreet as aVictualler.
InJune 1862Thomasremarried--just 13months afterhisfirst wifedied-- andby 1871Thomas andhis new wifewere livingin Park LaneReigate andhe wasdescribedas a retiredInn Keeper.Thomas diedin March1874aged 60years.
I realisethatthisinfothrowsup morequestionsthananswersbutperhapsinterestingto fleshout thebones ofsome ofthepeoplethatlived attheBell!!
Many thanks to Sally for thisinformation - AJM
Black Horse Flanchford Road In thedays when life was slower (Picture HNHC) Informationfrom Richard Symonds Built circa 1760 by JohnFist, the Black Horse was a Copyhold property held ofColley Manor. It is situated in West Street at thejunction with Flanchford Road. It was a well-knownhouse in times gone by. Here it was that the publicspent many a jovial evening after watching the freeentertainments provided for them on Reigate Heath inthe form of horse racing and public hangings on thegallows near to the Skimmington Castle Inn. Thispublic house was perhaps one of the original pubs inthe borough. It appears in the original trust deed ofMellersh & Neals debenture Stock dated1897. The first documentary reference I have is dated 19th January 1774 when a Mr J Norris was admitted to All that customary messuage or tenement, barn, buildings. Garden, orchard, yard, and one close of land by the same adjoining. Formerly in the occupation of Madame Holroyd, and late of Madame Avenell. There is a succession of surrender and admission documents revealing the names of the occupants as follows: Feb 1782, J Norris to Mrs M Edwards; May 1791, M. Edwards to R Ladbroke; Jan 1793 Ladbroke to J Mitchell; June 1796 Mitchell to Thos Cooper, of Leatherhead, brewer (Thomas Cooper also had the Reigate Brewery until his death in 1801 when Thomas Neal senior acquired it from his Executors); July 1805, admission of George Cooper. A ruralidyll (PictureRichard Symonds) I have a copy of an Act, dated47 GEO III,(1806/07) Seff 2, cap 122, for Beerarrives on a steam driven wagon (Picture Richard Symonds) The Petty Sessional report 1892describes it as a Fully Licensed house owned byMellersh & Neale and tied to them for trade. Runby W Stevens who resides there. Frequented by Hawkersand labourers. References; 371/2/8/3;Guildford Muniment Room 65/5/51; Ind Coope Archives. Information from Richard Proctor On the1871 census Susannah Hall was shown as the head atthe Black Horse and her occupation was LicensedVictualler. She was a widow. Emailreceived from Chum Richardson Decenber 2008: Mygggrandfather George Allen Aylwin is buried in theLeatherhead Churchyard. Hannah (Smart) ( Aylwin ) hisfirst wife is beside him. Some of the Cooper familyis there also. Thomas Cooper (see reference to ThomasCooper above) is shown as deceased in 1800 andmarried Mary and the only child to live is mygggrandmother Mary Ann Cooper ( Aylwin ) a 1/2 sisterto Hanna. Thomas Cooper owned the Black Horse andReigate Brewery. I have possible for Mary f.Henry Balchin? m. Mary Parriott or Parrot?, = MaryBalchin? married John Charmon? = HannahCharmon? married William? Smart. Marymarried 1.?, 2.?, 3. brewer ThomasCooper, 4. Rev. clerk Thomas Wigzell, 5. Rev.Charles de Cotlogon. Some other namesthat came up Bridger, Standen. HenryBalchin may have had more than 1 wife. Mary hadsisters Elizabeth, Caroline, Charllotte, ? . | ||||||
Four pictures of the Black Horsetaken in 2004 during a period when it was closed forabout a year before extensive alteration | ||||||
BlueAnchor 27, West Street, Reigate. A 17thCentury building, the Blue Anchor is seen here as itwas some decades ago. (Picture Richard Symonds) Information from RichardSymonds Proprietors:c1892-1901 Charles Walder - 1904-1915 George Hawkins- 25 Dec 1923-1936 Mrs Adeline Mary Whitmore (Rent£30 p.a.) - 11 June 1936-1956 Henry Ernest Branfield- 1965-1968 A G Goldsmith - 1968-1973 Bill &Monica Mantle.
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Bottlehouse Formerly situated inFlanchford Road at Santon on the otherside of theParish. Informationfrom Richard Symonds References SC 371/2/3/36passim; - W.Hooper Reigate, Its Story throughthe Ages. | ||||||
Bricklayers Arms Formerlysituated at No.10, Bell Street, Reigate Information from RichardSymonds References: SC 445/1/f 177; - British Library ADD MSS 36232 f5. | ||||||
Britannia Man OWar Formerlysituated on a site adjacent to 51 Bell Street Information from RichardSymonds References:British Library. ADD MSS 34237. | ||||||
Bulls Head 55 High Street Right - The Bulls Head (farright) seen from the west in the early 190%s (Picture AJM) Below - The Bulls head on the south side of the High Street (picture Richard Symonds)
List ofProprietors: describes it as a messuage with orchard, garden andappurtenances abutting north on the High street,south onto the Priory wall, east on premises in theoccupation of Joseph Allingham, west on premises inoccupation of George Apps. Worth £5 pa. George Webbpolled 1698; John Moreton 1716. The historian, Ridgeway, notes the sign of the Bulls Head, kept by Mt Heath.
Lower pictures: -The Bulls Head in 1973 and 1975 (both pictures RichardSymonds) | ||||||
CastleInn 85 Bell Street Left- The Castle Inn froman old postcard (Bothpictures Alan Moore) Informationfrom Richard Symonds
The property for sale includesa brick and stone built & slated housepossessingside entrance and passage leading to the rear. Itcomprises, on the ground floor, shop, parlour, andkitchen; on the first floor there are fourbed-chambers; and there is cellarage in thebasem*nt.In the rear may be found, a timber-built and tiledWash-house, and a Timber-built and tiled building,hitherto occupied as a Slaughter-house, with a Poundor Layer at end. There is also a small yard and agood piece of garden ground. The fixtures in andabout the premises belonging to the vendors will beincluded in the purchase, but the Tenant claims theTrade Fixtures, Copper and other items, the premiseswill therefore be sold subject to the TenantsInterest (if any) in the said fixtures. The propertyis let to Mr. Henry Paine, a fishmonger on a yearlyTenancy expiring at Midsummer next, at a veryinadequate rent of £20 per Annum. The Priory pub closedfor refurbishment in the second half of 2011 andnever reopened. It is pictured here with the groundfloor unit to let in March 2012 | ||||||
Chequers Information from RichardSymonds References:-Guildford Muniment Room 65/5/28(1); 65/5/10(91). | ||||||
Cross Keys Informationfrom Richard Symonds References: -Guildford Muniment Room 49/1/1. | ||||||
Crown Information fromRichard Symonds
Gardner BryantsSurvey of 1785 shows the premises as no.190 &191 on its accompanying terrier. 190 was describedas a shop and tenement formerly the CROWN INN,abutting south on the Priory wall, east on a passageleading to new erected brewhouse built on part of thefield called Crown Field. Worth £15 per annum.Formerly in the occupation of Henry Newman andothers, Charles Browne, Joseph Lyfe, William Hatcher,Robert Evans, Thomas Dodge, James Apted and now(1785) of Jeffrey Strudewicke. Sold by heirs ofEdward Whiteacre to James co*cks for £400 in 1738. In1663 it had belonged to Richard Arnold, a butcher, ofEast Betchworth. occupationof Mrs Mary Martin, John Wix, John Cole, ThornasDibble, now widow Dibble, as under-tenant to WilliamBryant, Jnr. THE CRCWN INN, pn. Late Dibble.Messuage, garden, greenhouse, stable, and otheroutbuildings (and brewhouse in 1749), abutting westonto a passage leading behind sarne. Worth, whenrepaired, £16 per annum. Called the CROWN INN (see190 for former same). Benjamin Nodes in 1749 sold itto Philip, 2nd Earl Hardwicke. Benjamin Nodes was anephew of Richard Kay, draper.James Martin polled1698. SaleParticulars Property no 205.gives Mellersh & Neale as owners and kept byWilliam Bonny Steps leading from near the site of the old Emailreceived from Chum Richardson Decenber 2008: Mygggrandfather George Allen Aylwin is buried in theLeatherhead Churchyard. Hannah (Smart) ( Aylwin )hisfirst wife is beside him. Some of the Cooper familyis there also. Thomas Cooper (see reference toThomasCooper above) married Mary and the only child toliveis my gggrandmother Mary Ann Cooper ( Aylwin ) a 1/2sister to Hanna. Thomas Cooper owned the Black Horseand Reigate Brewery. I have possible for Maryf. Henry Balchin? m. Mary Parriott or Parrot?,= Mary Balchin? married John Charmon? = HannahCharmon? married William? Smart. Marymarried 1.?, 2.?, 3. brewer ThomasCooper, 4. Rev. clerk Thomas Wigzell, 5. Rev.Charles de Cotlogon. Some other namesthat came up Bridger, Standen. HenryBalchin may have had more than 1 wife. Mary hadsisters Elizabeth, Caroline, Charllotte, ? . | |
The Crown 1820 | The Crown from an engraving (both picturesRichard Symonds) |
The above left photo is labelled: - 'Theold Crown Inn, 15-17 High Street, closed 1859.Pictured as shops in 1890. Now the site of Boots andSainsburys.' The picture above right is of thesame shop and building in 1899, with the shop frontextended vertically to cover the first floor left andcentre windows. This was a building on the south sideof the High Street but notes above refer to the oldCrown Inn being rebuilt c1655 when its sign wastranferred to the north side of the High Street. Ifthis is that building as rebuilt then it was not theold Crown Inn but its replacement.The closure date of1859 would refer to the Crown Inn shown in theengravings above on the north side. Reference to an1898 street directory shows that Henry Biddle Reader(the name over the doors in the lefthand picture andabove the new central door in the righthand picture),a family grocer, had the shop. Perhaps that's him inthe right hand doorway above. | |
Desert Rat (formerly Lesbourne Hall, now the Venture Inn) 11, Lesbourne Road, Reigate Informationfrom Richard Symonds The age ofthis pub is not known but a Petty Sessions report of1852 described it as a fully licensed inn, owned andtied by trade to Messrs Mellersh & Neale ofReigate, brewers. The then licensee, C Briggs, livedon the premises. It said that the Inn wass frequentedby local tradesmen and artisans. At this time thispub was called the Lesbourne Hall but on the 6thApril 1952 there was the unveiling of new signDesert Rat, renaming it in honour of theson of the then landlord Leonard Henry Roper, whoperished in the desert during WW2. SCHEDULE OFDEEDS AND DOCUMENTS SEEN Proprietors: Additional information fromPeter Taylor
Email from Jerry Kelley, USA, January 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Eagle Hotel 46 Croydon Road The boardto the left of the pub in the lefthand picture isadvertising Finch's cycles. Therighthand picture shows a beer delivery being made. (Both Picturescoutesy Richard Symonds) Informationfrom Richard Symonds The Eagle, 46 Croydon Road, Reigate. Built circa 1860,the Eagle stood on the eastern side of Croydon Road,Reigate, between the railway bridge and junction withDoods Road.The 1862 edition of Kelly'sDirectory for Surrey lists Arthur John Charles Whiteas a "Common Brewer" at the EagleBrewery, Hotel and Tap. Arthur J C White came toReigate from Weybridge in 1859 where for some timepreviously he carried out the same trade. Curiouslyenough he does not appear in the 1861 Census forReigate. AJC White died on 28th Sept 1893, althoughhe had left the running of the inn (at least by1884)in the capable hands ofhis eldestson Arthur Henry White, who continued on for anothereight years. His 2nd son Horatio had moved to theRoses Brewery in Redhill by 1887 to carry onthe family craft there. The Petty Sessional Report for1892describes the Eagle as a"fully-licensed house owned and tied by trade toThe Friary Brewery Co Ltd of Guildford."Curiously enough, it goes on to say that it was"Run by A J White who resides on the premises;the Inn is frequented by gentlemen's servants andlabourers." Arthur Henry White eventually soldthe freehold of the Inn to Friary Holroyd &Healy's Breweries Ltd of Guildford on 17th June 1896.The brewhouse of the Eagle had fallen into disuse butthe Hotel continued on, the bar of which beingsupplied by Friary. The Eagle closed in 1956, and thelicence crossed the road to the Panther PH. The oldEagle premises finished life as a local office forFriary Meux Ltd. In the 1898 Kelly's Directorytheproprietor is shown as John George May. Between 190%and 1910, the proprietor's name was Jonathan GeorgeMay, but in 1910 there is no record of a landlord.However, next door, there was a beer-retailer namedWilliam Argent, who became the proprietor of theEagle in 1915. his address was 24 Croydon Road, onthe other side of Doods road. Argent remained until1923. Between 1926 and 1956, William Coomber was thelandlord and the address was 48 Croydon Road. Between1965 and 1968 the building became the area office ofFriary Meux Ltd, and by then had ceased to be a pub,the licence as stated above, having been transferredover the road to the Panther. References:Neale Papers; Ind Coope Archives.
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Ex-Servicemen's Club , Chart Lane, Reigate | |
The abovearticle is from the Surrey Mirror of 16th June 2011 | |
At the end of WW1 land was donated tothe ex-servicemen of Reigate. In 1920 the firstclubhouse was built. A wooden structure it was laterrebuilt in brick. There are now (2011) 350 memberswho pay £15 a year if they have not served in theforces. The committee is headed by president KenNorris, secretary Derek Chinnery and treasurer AndyHudson. Once opening hours were longer but now theclub opens at 5pm daily. | |
Ex-servicemen line up c1920facing the plot at a ceremony connected with theproposed clubhouse | |
Five Bells ChartLane,Reigate Informationfrom Richard Symonds This was aninn situated opposite the parish church and and was aplace where the parish vestry met. The parish church,after a common English fashion, had its attendant innwhich stood on the opposite side of Chart Lane andbore the appropriate name of the Five Bells. It waspossibly closed before 1770 and demolished c1775 whenCherchefelle was built for Robert Scawen.(Cherchefelle is that large house in Chart Lane thatnot so many years ago was used as a police stationbut is now flats). Its yard was possibly the Innyard. Dr.Hooper, author of Reigate Through theAges was of the opinion that the oldFive Bells, which had existed since about 1700 orpossibly earlier was evidently pulled down about175060. He said that part of the lower cellarwalls of the dwelling house erected on the site wereundoubtedly much older than the superstructure andthat one in the cellar at the end of the tunnel wasof old Reigate stone. Part of the existing house,consisting of the south and east (or roadway)elevations and rooms, was constructed about 1800, asan addition to the former building (175080).Some time after that, say, about l880, the name ofthe house was changed from the Retreat toCherchefelle, during the occupancy of Mr FrancisFrisk (18761881). The old inn was evidentlyadjoining the road, where the kitchen and dining roomlater were. It is of interest that in those days anduntil it was closed in 1825 there was a road, knownas Pudding Lane, running eastwards from Chart Laneabout opposite the yard entrance and forming a shortcut to Reigate Road. References: SC371/2/3-6 passim. - Acc933; - SC 175/14/1. - Minutesof the Vestry 1771-1824. | |
Flower de Luce West Street, Reigate (Exact locationunknown) Information from Richard Symonds An alehouseduring the 15th and 17th centuries its name was acorruption of Fleur-de-lys. Martin Tubman wasits tenant in 1614 and in 1623 and 1641 Jo Life wasthe owner. References: P49/1/1 SC371/2/5/1. | |
Gamekeeper (85) Bell Street, ReigateInformation from RichardSymonds An alehousewhich ceased trading in the 18th century.The site is now occupied by the Castle public house(q.v.) | |
George High St, ReigateInformationfrom Richard Symonds Purported tohave stood on the site of the old Inmans shop (aboutNos 31 to 39) on the south side of theHighStreet, the George was another of Reigate's mostwell-known inns. It is mentioned in 1532 as one ofthe possessions of the Priory, but pre-dates thiswell back into the early 15th century. It closed downin the middle of the 18th century (circa1747)as a result of the declining fortunes ofthe town. It was demolished a few years later. Earliestreferences I have are: 1409.( 25 June 10 Henry IV)RogerChaunce in occupation. (Location givenasabutting to east of Bryant 203 described below).Note: I believe that this Roger Chaunce was the lastof a family of Burgesses in Reigate going back forthe previous 100 years. 1532. Owned by Jo Skinner, tenantWmBrakepole. 1575.Owned by Jo Skinner, sold (12 Jan 17 Elizabeth) to Jo& Rd Thompson. brewers inoccupation.Formerly John Hall, once of RogerChaunce, called the George (location abutting east ofBryant's 203) 1623. Pe Woodstock owner/occupier. 1695. Ben Heaversold it to Isaac Hartwell, in occupation of Rd Lucas. 1704. Inoccupation of Rd Kay. Bryants Survey of1785 lists it as partof a range of 3 properties numbered 200 to 203 onhismap. PropertyNo 200 (approx 31 High Street) given as"Northto John Curtis. Formerly Thomas Bannister, JohnHerring, Matthew Dicey, Edward Mantle, GraceMoore,now James Apted and William Apted." with afootnote: "PN. Mrs Beale, late Apted, nowLangridge." and described as a"Messuageabutting south on garden, late in occupation ofThomas Sutton, worth 10 shillings per annum.Purchased, it is said, by Sir Joseph Yorke of(from)Adamson; Nicholas Couch polled 1698; CharlesAdamson1716. Formerly part of the George Inn, andconveyedin 1747 by Lawrence Cotton of London, to the HonJoseph Yorke after it had been purchased of(from)Joanna and Anne Adamson." Property 201 ( part of 35 andall of 33, High Street) was described as a"Messuage formerly part of the GeorgeInn, worth£3 per annum, formerly in the occupation ofEdwardWells, glover, Richard Neeves, and now ofJohn Dove.Purchased by John co*cks of (from)NicholsonGrouch for £165, and there is a doubtwhether (property)198was not anciently part thereof. RobertWatson polled1698; John Wing 1716; John French1722." Property 202. (Part of 35, and No 37) Messuage worth 20shillingsper annum. 1695 Benjamin Heaver sold it toJohnDebnam who later sold it to John Wood whosold it toSir Robert Furness whose heir Marquis ofRockinghamsold it to Sir Joseph Yorke. John Debnampolled 1698;Sir John Furness polled in 1716. Conveyed byLewis,Earl of Rockingham to Hon Joseph Yorke in1744. Eastto John Dove, west late of Thomas Sutton,formerlyMathew Ulcey, John Curtis, now Sutton. Property 203 (39 HighStreet)Described as a "Messuage,maltinghouse, stable,yard, garden, and field, the messuagebeing made outof a brewhouse abutting south on thePriory wall,worth £8 per annum. Formerly in theoccupation ofJohn Wheeler, John Constable, JamesSutton, and lateof Thomas Sutton. John co*cks purchasedit in 1749 ofJames Sutton for £420. This is supposedto be thebrewhouse of the Old George Inn (seeproperty 200).Jeremiah Jones polled 1710; JohnConstable 1722. References; PROSC6. Henry VIII 3462; SC 445/1f200-203.; SRO371/8/225; SRO 371/8/229. RS Notes from W. M. Bushby in 1968place the George at 33-39 High Street and the lastpart remaining, at 39, was rebuilt in 1960. Under thefloor of the back premises was discovered a very oldstone-lined well. | |
Grapes, BellStreet Information from Richard Symonds The Grapes wassituated at 8-10 Bell Street and is now houses thewell respected local business of Messrs Knight's theDrapers. It was originally called the Bunch of Grapesandwas built about 1780 by Richard Cheeseman torival the also newly built White Hart opposite, ofwhich he had also been the tenant. It never attainedthe same reputation as the latter however. Itincorporates an alehouse formerly known as theBricklayers Arms, and lost its licence in 1910. According toBryant's Survey of 1785, it was listed as tenement177 and described as "Messuage, yard, gardens,and appurtenances, called by the sign of the Bunch ofGrapes, sold with above and is on lease to RichardCheeseman from 1781 for 31 years at £4 per annum.William Matthew polled 1698; Thomas Saunder 1710.North to the Swan Inn yard. Formerly Thomas Saunderswho sold it in 1759; John saunders, Thomas Moorer,since of Richard Cheeseman, now Henry Crunden."There is a footnote stating that "In 1814, HenryCrunden was given a lease for £14 years." In the 1827survey, the rates of the Inn were computed to havebeen £17 per annum. Borough Bench dated MondayAugust 18th 1873, stated "The licence of theGrapes Hotel was transferred from Mr E Downing to EKemp, 106, Sloane Street, Chelsea. AnAdvertisment also appeared in january 1878 for theHotel, stating "The Grapes Commercial Hotel,Bell Street, Reigate. Every Accomodation forbicyclists and other travellers. proprietor, Mr WPitcher." The Petty Sessional records 1892describes the Inn as "The Bunch of Grapes, BellStreet. Fully Licensed inn, owned By lady HenrySomerset. Lesee, the Friary Holroyd's & Healy'sBrewery Co to whom the inn is tied for trade.Licensee Emily Fitcher who resides on the premises.The house is a Commercial and family Hotel." Above - A sketchof the Grapes in 1886 from the 'Bicyling News'. (Picture courtesy Michael Knight) Proprietors; c 1698 WilliamMatthews; References:SC 445/1 f 177; 371/10/30/1-35; MonthlyMagazine,Surrey Record & Illustrated Journal forReigateetc 13th July 1877.
Notes fromW.M.Bushby state that Lady Somerset tried to get theBell public house, which stood opposite the Grapes,closed down in 1895 when its lease ran out, butfailed. As she was the head of the temperancemovement in England one might think that her motiveswere connected with that cause she owned the Grapesleasehold and let it to a brewer, not something inthe spirit of temperance. Mr Bushby's notes alsostate that Knights took it over as a shop in 1912. | |
Green Man 65 High Street, ReigateInformationfrom Richard Symonds Stoodapproximately on the site of No 65 High Street whereThe Pantry, the bakers, formerly traded. Built circa1721, but closed down circa 1774. According to Bryant's Survey1785 f227, it was listed as " A messuage,garden, orchard and appurtenances abutting north onthe High Street, south on the Priory wall, east onpremises in the occupation of John Jackson, worth£10 per annum. Formerly in the occupation of JohnJordan, Nicholas Smith, John Saker, Widow Hills, JohnBulco*cke, and since of James Brooker and now ofWilliam Robinson. In 1678 it was described as 3tenements; In 1695, property 228 was sold byRichardson ro Richard Willis and this messuage toJohn Skynner who in 1687 sold it to John Tomkyns, nowliving. Purchased by John Yorke of (from) GeorgeArnold in 1774 for £300 (then described as an Inncalled the Green man). John Tompkins polled 1698,1710, 1713; Bartholomew Hart polled 1716; Sir EvelynAlston polled 1722."There is amanuscriptpostscript stating that "with228 was anciently 3 tenements and would together benow 3 votes if belonging to one proprietor being solong before the 1698 Splitting Act, being with 228described as 3 feudal tenements." References: Hooper papersReigate Library; British Library Add Mss 34237; SC445/1 f227. | |
Greyhound 32 High St, Reigate Informationfrom Richard Symonds Situatedapprox 32 High Street, Reigate (on the east side ofCastle steps). First Mentioned in 1596 but probablydates from as earlier time. It was converted intothree shops at the end of the 17th century. last used1750. The earliest reference to a landlord is 1593when Edw. Carpenter was given. Apparently,George IV in his journeys to Brighton (The Pavillionbeing his residence there) always came through in hisheavy travelling carriage with four spanking horses,blinds drawn, and an escort of lancers following him.The fact that he always stopped to change horses atthe Greyhound caused a jealousy at the other inns,especially the Crown. On the last occasion of hispassing (veing at that time unpopular through histreatment of his wife, Queen Caroline, and her trialgoing on at the House of Lords), a small mobassembled at the Crown Corner and hissed and hooted.This gave him great offence; he exclaimed in thewords of Shakespeare "A Pox on both yourhouses", and he never came again this way butused the Sutton Road. References: P49/1/1 SC445/1 f92. Notes fromW.M.Bushby place the Greyhound at 28-32 High Street.He said that in 1968 it was Roberts and a milk shopand elizabethan brickwork could be seen at the back. | |
Hautboy & Fiddle High St, ReigateInformationfrom Richard Symonds Situated at about24 High Street, Reigate. Ceased Trading circa 1750and demolished in 1786. Bryant'sSurvey of 1785, gives this inn as property No 96, anddescribes it as "Messuage, garden, withappurtenances, was a public house the sign of theHautboy & Fiddle. Formerly in the occupation ofMoses Chandler, victualler, but has been many yearsempty and is now in a very ruinous state; Worth, ifrepaired, £5 per annum.In 1681 conveyed byMary Kipping, widow of Staines, Middlesex, to FrancisHatcher, oatmealman, and Elizabeth his wife for£60.10s, and sold by George Hatcher, baker, in1704;John Castleman polled 1710 and 1713; JohnHicooks 1716 and 1722 (Hicooks purchased it ofCastleman in 1718. James Apted succeeded as occupierby Thomas Reynolds, then James Meek, Cheesemonger,then Daniel Garraway, grocer, and Abel Garraway,grocer, was tenant in 1812, and subsequently JamesBrewer. It isinteresting to note that Music-shops always adheredto the primitive custom of using as their signsrepresentations of the instruments they sold. TheHautboy was one of the most constant music-shopsigns. It occurs also as an Inn-sign elsewhere in theCounty, at Oakham. It was a reed instrument - a kindof prototype of the flute. References: SC445/1 f96; Land Tax, Reigate Borough 1780-86. | |
Holmesdale Inn Corner Priory Road and Parklane, South Park (address 1 Priory Road).I nformationfrom Richard Symonds When the early1840s South Park estate around Priory Road wasbeing built, a plot of land was earmarked for apublic house to serve the new community and theoriginal name intended was The Tavern. It waseventually erected and the conveyance, dated 15thDecember 1853 from the builders Vine & Pembertonto Frederick Mellersh, indeed referred to it aspiece or parcel of land called the Tavernplot. However, Messrs Meale & Mellersh hadother ideas and promptly called it the HolmesdaleInn. Eves 1861 map shows it as property No 1506 anddescribes it as Public House & garden,owned by Neale & Mellersh, run by GeorgeWalter. The pub is seen abovebeyond the hedge in its Mellersh and Neale days .(Picture Alan Moore) The Holmesdale wasdemolished in the 190%s. It is pictured (left) in1993 and the site is shown (right) in 1998 (Both picturesAlan Moore)
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Labour in Vain Park Lane, ReigateInformation from RichardSymonds Listedin Bryant's Survey 1785 as property No 243, anddescribed as "Messuage and appurtenances calledthe Labour in Vain, formerly licensed victuallerspremises, worth £2.10s per annum. Formerly in theoccupation of Christopher Stacey, William Keeble, andRalph Holdsworth, late of Richard Cooke, and JamesVine, now of Mrs Howick. This and the next (adjacentproperty) were left on lease about 1775 for 61years to James Vine. As one site, this lease is nowthe property of Mrs Anne Jones. Have together neverbeen considered more than one vote. Was part of theancient estate granted to the First Lord Somers.Persons that have polled for both as one: AbrahamStanning 1698; Patrick Cuthbertson 1710. Pulled down1756. In 1817, was in the occupation of Samuet Webb,thatcher." References: SC 445/1 f243; BritishLibrary Add Mss 36232; Cambridge Record Office588/A7. | |
Lesbourne Hall (see Desert Rat) | |||||||||
Market Hotel 2, High Street, ReigateThese pictures show the Market inthe 1920s/30s (Both pictures Richard Symonds) Information from RichardSymonds
(picture Richard Symonds) The Tythe Map 1843 gives it asproperty 766 owned by Earl Somers, House &garden occupied by John Lucas. However, Isuggest the property to be confused with No 764owned by Earl Somers, House, outbuildings &garden of 14 poles, occupied by Richard Yerworth. Freehouse for trade andfrequented by tradesmen and shop assistants. It is interesting to note thatGeorge Adams also owned the bonded stores &warehouse immediately opposite the Inn just acrossTunnel road. George Adams ran both businesses for ashort while during the 1st decade of the 20thcentury, although the main family interest had beenfor several decades previously in the Tunnel Vaultsand Stores.
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Nutley Hall 8 Nutley Lane The Nutley Hall (PictureRichard Symonds) Informationfrom Richard Symonds Alfred George Ryder, residing in a house knownby the sign of the Nutley Hall in Reigate tocarry on the trade of retailer of beer, cideror perry, sprits, foreign wine, and tobacco in thesaid premises being all adjoining or contiguous toeach other and situate in one place, and heldtogether for the same trade, such house and premisesbeing rented at £20 per annum. The cost of thelicence, for one year, being 12 pounds, 7 shillingsand nine pence farthing. TheNashes 1975(Picture Richard Symonds)
From the Surrey Mirror of 24th September 1899 A LICENSING CASE DISMISSED Hazel Steadman,of the Nutley Hall public house, Reigate, wassummoned for permitting drunkenness on November 13th. - Mr. Dennis of Croydon, appeared to defend. -Evidence was given by Inspector Jeffrey, who, incompany with P.C.Howlett, visited the Nutley Hall at9.30 p.m. on November 13th. They found eight men inthe bar drinking from pots of beer. The Landlady andher son were behind the bar. Three of the men wereslightly under the influence of drink, but notsufficiently so to justify a complaint. At 10.15p.m., in consequence of a disturbance at the house,Inspectory Jeffrey paid another visit in company withP.C. Hannett. The three men were then quite drunk.The Landlady and her son and daughter were thenbehind the bar. The condition of the three men waspointed out , and they were turned off the premises.The police could not arrest them for simpledrunkenness, or they would have been arrested; theywere strangers or they would have been summoned. TheInspector called the attention of the landlord to thematter, but he abruptly turned away and made noreply. - P.S.Hannett gave evidence as to the secondvisit. - Mr.Dennis, in addressing the Bench, saidthat at 9.30 on the evening in question and old mantutored the house, and was served with smallquantities of rum. Immediately afterwards and man anda women entered and assaulted the old man, while thewoman used bad language. The police were acquainted,and, after and interval, arrived. Before that threemen came into the house. They had no money betweenthem, but made an attempt at collecting, with theresult that they were given 1d. A navvy who was inthe house offered them a drink from a pot and theydrank. They left and returned again, and had not beenin the house 10 minutes when the Inspector came. Onewent to sleep, and no doubt the constable wasmistaken. - The landlord gave evidence, and sworethat the men in question were sober, and had beenrefused drink by his daughter. - Wm. Peters, Glover'sFields, said that the three men in question weresober, but were not served with drink, and wereordered out after their first visit. They were soberwhen they came in the second time. The men walkedsteadily enough. - Bertha Steadman said that thethree men were sober. They had not been served withdrink. - Re-called, Inspector Jeffrey said he saw thethree men in question drinking, and one the asked himto have a drink. - Owing to the conflicting nature ofevidence the case was dismissed. (Article kindly suppliedby www.thenutleylaneproject.co.uk) Email from Pete York July2008 - I have beendoing some research on my family History. My grandma,Lily Pitt, was born in Reigate in 1893. Hergrandfather was David Pitt- born c1827.According to the 1871 survey aged 44 he is recordedas the Licenced vitualler of Nutley Hall. Isearched Nutley Hall on the Internet and yourresource came up. I read with interest the list ofpublicans of Nutley Hall and notice my ancestors namedoes not appear. Hope this info is of use to you. Thankyou very much for the information; the name of DavidPitt has been added to the list above. AJM and RS
(Article from the SurreyMorror of May 20th 2010) | ||||||||||
The Panther Croydon Road
I have seen a conveyancedated 1st July 1869 transferring the Panther from MrC H Masters to Friary & Holroyds Brewery CoLtd. Therefore, it must have received its licencesometime before 1869. It was a beers hop only, tied for trade toFriary, Holroyd & Healys Brewery ofGuildford (later to become Friary Meux Ltd). ThePetty Sessional Report for 1892 gave the publican as Mr EDuncan who resided on the premises and the clienteletended to be tradesmen and artisans. It remained abeerhouse until 1959 when it received its fulllicence from the closure of the Eagle opposite. Thetenant at that time was Philip Arthur Scutt. Above - The Panther in1973 Photo courtesy RichardSymonds Photocourtesy Richard Symonds
Ian Robertson. barmanager of the Pather, kindly supplied the followinginformation: - Iris, the Landlady of theRailway, Daphne, the Landlady of the Yew Tree andBonny Jones, the Landlady of the Panther went onholiday together several times and were known intheir pubs as the 'merry widows'. At thetime of writing, Iris still lives in Reigate inNorbury Road. The 1973 photo was taken the year Bonnyand her retired policeman husband took over thePanther. You can see in the 1973 photo that the houseimmediately to the left of the pub has beendemolished to make way for an extension tothepub and the new pub garden. You can just make out theporch to the entrance in the new extension and asecond porch, which has been cut into the wall inbetween the second window and the two doors, and wasin fact a small entrance to enable the landlord tosell off sales from behind the bar. The two doors andsecond window have been filled in since 1965, as thebar now occupies the space along that wall. Informationreceived 27.9.07, thanks very much Ian ThePanther in the 1920s when still a beerhouse (See also The Railwayfor more about Iris)
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Pear Tree Nutley Lane, Reigate Informationfrom Richard Symonds - The Pear Tree wasa beerhouse in Nutley Lane that was closed down in1910, the last landlord being Thomas Edward Milton. Ihave very little on record about this establishmentother than a reference in the 1892 Petty SessionalReport wherein it is described as a Beerhousewith on and off licences granted prior to 1869, ownedand tied by trade to George Moore & Co,Leatherhead, brewers. The licensee, G. Parsonsresides on the premises. This is a common lodginghouse for tramps. From the Surrey Mirror dated 7th February 1899. A Man Suffocated - A Woman Seriously Burnt A shockingoccurrence took place on Saturday at Reigate,resulting in the death of a man named William Howell,a bricklayer, fifty-four years of age, and seriousburns to a woman named Margaret Howell. It appearsthat the man and woman had been staying at the Pear Tree lodging house, Nutley-lane, and retiredto bed about ten oclock. A labourer namedUnderhill, going to bed about eleven, noticed astrong smell of burning and saw smoke coming fromHowell's room. Assistance was at once fetched and thedoor, which was latched outside, was burst open. Theman was brought out alive, but died soon after andthe woman .. was removed to the Infirmary. In reply tofurther questions from the Deputy Coroner, witnesssaid that they all had to be in bed at 11 o'clock onSaturday night, and no smoking was allowed in thehouse. Deceased was not smoking when he went to bed. (Articlekindly supplied by www.thenutleylaneproject.co.uk) | |||||||||||||||||
Plough (or KingsCorner)(2) Church Street, Reigate This pub was firstmentioned in 1602 and was another inn that closeddown circa 1750. References:P49/1/1; SC 445/1 f127-8; Hertfordshire RecordsOffice D/Ecd E142, | |||||||||||||||||
Prince of Wales Holmesdale RoadInformationfrom Richard Symonds - Owned by Westerham Brewery and then theInd Coope chain
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Prince of Wales Nutley LaneInformation from Richard Symonds The 1892 pettysessional report listed the Prince of Wales as abeerhouse, licensed prior to 1869, owned by WilliamCarruthers of Reigate and run as a freehouse by JMuddle who resided on the premises. The pub wasfrequented by artisans and labourers. Carruthers soldthe property to Mellersh & Neale 24th march 1894(converance), who promptly mortgaged it to theirusual bankers F A Nash et al. However, the mortgagewas redeemed within 18 months. Known tenants were WmMuddle 190%-1930 (who presumably got the tenancy fromJ Muddle, probably father to son) and 1930-46 WmCox. The quarterly tenancy rent as beerhouse in1938 was £35 per annum. Wickens, the man who ran buses betweenReigate and Redhill,had the property next door;his board is just visible in the left hand picture. F Above left - Frontal viewof the pub .( (Picture Richard Symonds) F Above right - View downNutley Lane, pub on right (Picture AJM) From the Surrey Mirror of Friday, September the 22nd 1899: Before theMayor (Councillor F.E. Barnes), Alderman F. Budgen,Messrs. W. H. Nash, and S. Barrow. (Article kindly suppliedby www.thenutleylaneproject.co.uk) | |||||||||||||||||
Priory -see Castle Inn | |||||||||||||||||
Public Hall Inn High Street Information from Richard Symonds The nextbuilding to Morrison's Solicitors offices (now ASH)in Reigate High Street. In 1888 F,co*ker is listed asthe landlord. He was also a confectioner. | |||||||||||||||||
Public Hall Shades No information availabel | |||||||||||||||||
Queens Arms 4a High Street, ReigateInformation from Richard Symonds Firstmentioned in 1598 when occupied by Richard Best, andalso formerly known as the White Horse. Last used asan inn c.1647, and finally converted into a house by1780. It stood on the site that used to be EamesOutfitters, then La Trobes and latterly by theCarphone Warehouse. | |||||||||||||||||
Railway Hotel
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Red Cross Hotel Corner of High Streetand London Road | The Red Cross c1904 (PictureRichard Symonds) |
The Red Cross three quarterview (pictureAlan Moore 7th October 2007) | Front view. Note theHeritage plaque (pictured right) on the left corner . Its wording is givenbelow. (picture Alan Moore ) | The inviting open door ontothe High Street (picture Alan Moore 7th October 2007) | ||
Theheritage plaque outside of the Red Cross (pictureAlan Moore 7.10.2007) 'For centuries this hostelry was used by traders and farmers on market days, travellers and by many generations of townspeople. Today the Inn remains a well-known Reigate landmark for both locals and passing visitors.' | ||||
More about the Farthing Tokens mentioned above On Sunday March 21st 2010 one of the RedCross tokens was unearthed in a field near Dorking bya metel detector enthusiast. During and just afterthe Civil War it was quite common for businesses toissue their own farthing tokens because of an acuteshortage of the farthing in normal currency. Issue ofthe state farthing had been banned by Parliament in1944 because of a perceved surfeit. The farthing hadbeen issued under contract by King Charles 1st. Hewas executed in 1649 after the second Civil War andsome traders took matters into their own hands tocreate an alternative coin to alleviate the shortageof small change. The tokens were never official,however, and after the restoration of the monarchywith Charles ll the supply of farthings recommencedacross the country in 1872. The coin issued by William Castleman in the 1650s and found at Dorking. At least four Reigate traders issued tokens and they were made to match one another to make them seem authentic. Each would have had a symbol of some kind, probably to represent the trade in question, and the issuer's intials on the reverse. Informationand picture comes from from the Surrey Mirror articleof April 1st 2010 which contained additionalinformation from Mr Tim Everson, an expert onfarthings and 17c traders' tokens. | ||||
Red Rose An inn mentioned in 1446 | |
Red Lion West Street | Informationfrom Richard Symonds An inn by thisname dated from medieval times but there was anotherinn that also used this name as well as just theLion. The former inn was converted to tenements in1671 while the latter traded into the 18th cemtury. |
Red Lyon | |
When WestStreet was widened in the early part of the 20thcentury most of the old Red Lyon was demolished butfor the south wall adjoining the presentbutchers shop. Then in 1923 further alterationsexposed some old oak posts with Tudor arches (seepicture left), these having been part of the southwall of the old Inn. This photo was taken at thetime. Later in 1956 the beams were uncovered again(picture below) and subsequently preserved in situand left exposed. This Old Inn was where WalsinghamHeathfield, brewer and innkeeper, lay under suspicionduring the Commonwealth when inns were closed orcontrolled by Cromwell's Major-Generals as Royalistcentres of disaffection, A field which lay at therear called Red Lyon Close included part of thepresent cricket ground. Heathfield purchased theproperty in l671 just before his death, by which datethe house had been divided into three tenements. By1729 it had ceased to be an inn. This property wasnumbered 243-250 on Bryant's Survey. (Picturesand caption Richard Symonds) | |
Thebeams of the Red Lyon can be seen in the shop on thecorner of Park Lane and West Street. The picture onthe left was taken from the shop's Park Lane window,with West Street visible through the opposite window.The picture on the right was taken at the same timethrough the West Street window. The shop wasundergoing renovation at the time. (Both picturesAlan Moore 2007) | |
Reigate Hill Hotel | |
The ReigateHill Hotel in October 1970. In the left picture thepub sign is that of the Yew Tree. (Threepictures Richard Symonds, one picture Alan Moore) | The signfor the Reigate Hill Hotel is on the side of ReigateHill before the entrance to the Hotel. As one drivesup the hill, however, it is the Tew Tree pub that isin view on the bend. |
Closer views of the hotel | |
Rifle Volunteer 88 Reigate HillClosed c1907 | ||
Three views of the RifleVolunteer in the early 190%s (pictures Richard Symonds) | ||
The Rifle Volunteer building stillstanding in 2008 (Alan Moore) |
Robin Hood 46 Holmesdale Road Informationfrom Richard Symonds
(PictureRichard Symonds) | |
Roe Deer - See The Panther | |
Rose & Crown , 42-44 High StreetInformationfrom Richard Symonds In Bryant'sSurvey of 1785 the Rose and Crown was described ashaving a garden and a brewhouse. It was conveyed toRobert Tooth, a butcher, in 1697 and sold in 1750 byRobert Tooth to Philip, the 2nd Earl of Hardwicke for£140. Other proprietors inclded 1816-1826 RichardBartholemew; 1839 James Wells; 1855-1861 EdwardWells; 1878 Henry Joyes; 1882 John Barratt, In 1892it was owned by Lady Henry Somerset and was leasedand tied by trade to Mellersh and Neale. The licenceefrom 1891-1895 was H.Pulling. The picture on the left dates fromthe late 1800s. The two building on the right standon the north side of the High Street either side ofthe path into the Castle Grounds; the larger buildingand the one next to it now being the site of BootsChemists. On the far left, with the street lampoutside and a board on its roof, is believed to bethe Rose and Crown. (picture AJM) | |
Seven Dials Bell Street Informationfrom Richard Symonds - Closed by 1727 Notes fromW.M.Bushby state that the Seven Dials was a large innat 39-41 Bell Street. William Keasley had it in 1704and his son sold it in January 1719 for £140. By1729 it had been divided into three tenements. | |
Ship Bell Street Informationfrom Richard Symonds - First noted in 1652 it had beenconverted to a house by 1785 Notes fromW.M.Bushby state that the Ship stood where BancroftRoad now joins Bell Street. Keasley's the bakers hadthe building from about 1790. | |
Skimmington Castle Reigate Heath(Early picture of the pubcourtesy Richard Symonds) Informationfrom Richard Symonds The origin ofthe name of the Skimmington Castle pub is perplexing.Apparently the area where it stands was, in the1800s, known as Skimmington Down, a name said toderive from a custom of Riding theSkimmington, another term of which the meaningand origin has been lost. Early reference to thepremises was in 1861/2 when the general store on thesite sold beer and became an inn, or beershop, run byWilliam Perkins. Sometime before 1892 it was acquiredby William Dagnall. William Bonny acquired it after1892 and ran it until 1905 when it became theproperty of Cutforth Bros., who were local brewers,and who had supplied beer to the premises. An 1999 advert forBonny's mineral water. It would be nice to know wherethe spring was. | |
Mr Andy Fisher and his wife Anneretired in as landlords of the Skim in 1994. Theytook over forty years earlier in 1954. They weresucceeded by Mr Guy Davies and his wife Rena who saidthat there would be little change with perhaps a bitof tidying up and the introduction of food in theevenings. Andyand Anne Fisher just before their retirement | |
The sudden and unexpected closure of the Skimmington Castle was announced in the Surrey Mirror of 25th September 2008 'Thirstyramblers were stunned to discover one of theirfavourite pubs had shut down without warning at theweekend,' the article read. It reported owners PunchTaverns as saying that the inn had been repossessedbut were tight lipped aboutwhat led to thatcirc*mstance. A spokesman for the company said thatit* priority was to get the Smimmington Castle openfor trade again as soon as possible. The Mirror wasunable to get any information directly from the pub.In the meantime we'll just have to wait and see whathappens. Sincethis was published the pub has re-opened and businesscontinues. The manager told me that he now runs theSkim for a lady who owns it plus another pubelsewhere. AJM summer 2009 | |
Swan Hotel High Street Informationfrom Richard Symonds The mostimportant inn in reigate before the rebuilding of theWhite Hart. It is said that the election of the Priorof Reigate Priory took place here in 1452. During the17c it was owned by the Castleman family, one of whomwas stabbed to death by a coronet in the dragoons in1695. | The Swan Hotel from a painting bySamuel Howitt 1756-1822. (Picture Richard Symonds) | TheSwan Hotel is shown here closed and for sale in the1930s (PictureRichard Symonds) |
A painting of the centre of Reigate,this time with a horseless carriage parked outsidethe Swan (Picture Richard Symonds) | A view of ReigateMarket Place c1915 when the Swan Hotel was still open (Picture Richard Symonds) | |
Picture AJM) | This photo,presumably of a painting, is not of Reigate as itshows the Swan Hotel on the north side of the MarketPlace. It looks as if it could be Reigate, with theold chapel and what could be Church Street stretchinginto the distance behind, but is probably of aHerefordshire Market town. | Another painting ofthe Swan at quite an early period (picture AJM) |
Aclose-up of the Swan 1930s (Courtesy Ken Turrell) | ||
Tap and Spile (See Red Cross) | |
Three Horseshoes (1) Ironsbottom It is shown here in 1899
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Three Horseshoes (2) High Street See also The Crown Information from Richard Symonds The ThreeHorseshoes stood on the site of the old Lloyds bankwhich would place it at about No 4 High Street. First recorded 1595 , and last used circa 1647when the premises bearing that sign were conveyed toThomas Blatt of Fengates, tanner. Whenever apub takes the name of the Three Horseshoes, it is anindicator that a blacksmith or farrier was not faraway. Why three shoes and not four? Because the horsewould stand on three when he was being shod. Sydney Smith said "the Smiths never had any armsand have invariably sealed their letters with theirthumbs". This sign, however, represents the armsof the Smiths, that is, of the London Company ofFarriers. It also resembled the coat of arms of theFerrers family, Earls of Derby in the 14th century.The Inn was later called the Crown (see my notes onthe Crown). References: SC 445/1 f107.371/6/127/1-12. RS | |
Three Pigeons LondonRoadInformationfrom Richard Symonds - The Three Pigeons stood in London Roadand was a beershop of uncertain history. My copy ofthe Petty Sessional Report 1892 gives it as abeershop, licensed prior to 1869, owned & tied bytrade to Mr Reffell of Gomshall, brewer, and run by aMr Alfred Owers who resided on the premises. The innwas frequented by Gentlemen's servants and artisans.According to William Bushby, a well known localhistorian in past times, there were extensive cavesunder the beerhouse, which linked up wirth the | |
Warren Arms 16Warren Road Informationfrom Richard Symonds - Closed c1910 and later became aslaughter house then a shop. | |
White Hart Church Street The White Hart is seen here in the1960s tucked between two larger buildings on thesouth (left) side of Church Street. (picture AlanMoore) Information from Richard Symonds- Between 1582 and1611 it was kept by John Wood, and later by WilliamPistor In2007 the White Hart closed and became the StradaItalian restaurant (Picture Alan Moore) | |
White Hart Commercial Hotel Bell Street Informationfrom Richard Symonds The White HartHotel was built in 1774 on site of two shops and acorn store and demolished in 1933, its contentshaving been sold by at auction by Watkin and Watkinon May 19th of that year. The Reigate Amateur FilmSociety, then in its first stage of formation, andalso in 1933, made a film called Come toReigate, in which the White Hart Hotel featuredas one of the older parts of the town. George III, itis said, was known to keep a bedroom reserved there,and Queen Victoria stopped there briefly on her wayto Brighton soon after her accession. On anotheroccasion she stopped there for lunch with the PrinceConsort and the baby Prince of Wales, later KingEdward V11. The historical novelist William HarrisonAinsworth lived there before he moved to GloversField, where he died in 1882. He wrote ' Old Court'at the Hotel. The White Hart's history includes anincident in which an army officer ran through one ofthe hotel's landlords with a sword after an argumentabout a bad coin. The officer was tried, condemnedand hanged. On Sept 18th 1838 a meeting ofthe inhabitants was held at the Hotel to discuss theprovision of gas for the town, following which a gascompany was later formed. It was the centre of the coach trade inReigate from 1756 until the advent of the railway inthe mid-1800s. The Prince of Wales, who was laterGeorge IV often styed there on his way to Brighton.Around 1823 it was owned by James Relf. | |
(picture Richard Symonds) |
(picture AJM) |
(picture AJM) |
(picture AJM from samebusiness guide as above) |
(picture Richard Symonds) | In 1907 Mr A.G.Vanderbilt cameto England with 27 horses and won the InternationalHorse Show at his very first attempt. In 1908 hebrought more horses to this country from the USA andstarted running coaches to recreate the gloryand the glamour of this mode of transportthrough the Surrey and Sussex countryside.On thefirst trial run of a stagecoach from London toBrighton a stop was made at the White Hart at Reigatefor lunch and a great many people turned out to seethis revival of the old coaching days. Fresh horseswere attached to Meteor, the name of thecoach used and Mr Vanderbilt himself was the driver.Meteor was being used only on thisinitial run, the coach to be used on subsequentregular runs being Venture.He gave upcoaching in 1914 when war was declared and returnedto the USA but decided to come back to England totake up Red Cross work. He booked a ticket on the Lusitania ,a British liner known to be a target for Germansubmarines, and in spite of warnings refused tocancel. The ship was torpedoed and sunk andVanderbilt, along with many others, including asignificant number of fellow Americans, lost hislife. AJM |
(picture Richard Symonds) |
(pictureAJM) |
White Horse (1) See the Angel | |
White Horse (2)AlbertRoad South However I grew up in a house thatused to be The White Horse in South Albert Road. Astrange anomalie being the two roads running parallelto each other were South Albert Road and Albert RoadNorth, where the Admiral sits on the corner of Nutleyname. No one could ever explain the difference in theway the roads were named. The pub was originally acoaching house believed to have been built in the18th century. At some stage in the 20th century itceased being an innand was split into twohouses. These became numbers 35 and 37 South AlbertRoad. It was built of what my father called Reigatestone. It was knocked down about 10-12 years ago andtwo modern houses built on the site. My own family were livingat no 37 during the 1902 census. That side of thefamily being called Booker. Some time in the 1950s myfather swapped with a familycalled the Lewers who lived at no 35, which is whereI grew up from 1957, and became houses. The old stableand harness block was still intact unttil the houseswere demolished. The attic was one long one shared byboth houses. In number 37 the bells for calling staffwere still in place and my brother an I used to getin trouble for going in the attic and ringing them. Iremember just inside the front door of no 37 therewas a small hatch to what used to be the bar, whereyou could buy bottles when it still was an inn.Unfortunately I do not have any pictures of theplace, but my mother may have some taken in the1950-60s if you are interested. Naturally we expressed a keen interest in seeing a picture and Ken came up with this. When the picture was taken the pub had already closed and the building been converted into two houses. Probably the markings on the house front were left over from its pub days. Email from Derek Bull This is purely so as not toconfuse the postman and the street indexers. Both roads wereinitially called Albert Road and all the 12 matchingcottages (identical to ours in both roads built in1862) were all called Albert Cottages. Naming the roadsput the streetsin different parts of theindexes to avoid confusion. With a rather forwardlooking approach, the Borough Council at the turn ofthe century, approved a numbering scheme leavingsufficient gaps for new properties to be insertedwithout the need for renumbering.This hasworked out almost exactly. I think there was only aneed to suffix an 'A' on No21 (if my memory serves meright). What is more confusing is that SouthAlbert Road ends where your Pub was and becomesEvesham Road North! Then a bit further EveshamClose! This still confuses my postman. Still he isLithuanian! Regards ,Derek. | |
Yew Tree (1)Reigate Hill The old Yew Treepub on Reigate Hill had another pub, the RifleVolunteer, directly opposite. (Picture Richard Symonds) | Built (or possibly rebuilt) in 1840,the original pub stood very close to the toll gateand toll house on Reigate Hill. This picture datesfrom c1880 (pictureRichard Symonds) | Theold yew Tree Inn c190% (picture Nicholas McFarlane-Watts ) |
Another picture ofthe Yew Tree with the Rifle Volunteer visible on theright (PictureKen Turrell) | Yew Tree (2) Reigate HillThepresent Yew Tree being built behind the (picture AJM) | |
TheYew Tree when completed with the old buildingscleared away ( pictureRichard Symonds) | Anotherpicture of the Yew Tree as newly rebuilt ( picture Richard Symonds) | TheYew Tree in October 2007. Note that the timberwork onthe front was not present when new. (Picture Alan Moore) |
Email from RuthAl-Sadie Hi I have some familyconnections with the Yew Tree Inn and the Angel Inn. My great, great aunt, Sarah LouisaElliott,was a barmaid/general domestic servantat the Yew Tree Inn between 1891 and 1911. Theproprietors of the Innbetween thosedateswere a James and Ellen Green. Sarah's father Thomas Elliott (my great, great, greatgrandfather) was a collector of tolls at the gates bythe Yew Tree(called London Lane gates)inthe second half of the1840s. Thomas was also acollector of tolls at the gates beside the Angel Inn(called Woodhatch tollgates) in the first half of1840s. Hope this info is of use to your site. Ruthsupplied a copy of the 1891 census confirming thedetails (enlargement of the entry for the Yew Treebelow). |
Before we leave the subject entirely, the above pub and its location is unidentified. The only clue is what would appear to be 'Neale & Co' either side of the door.
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