Blunham Pubs : The Wheatsheaf

By Bill Exley

The Wheatsheaf - Beerhouse - in Park Lane

This small Beerhouse was a room adjacent to the main cottage, today now 10, Park Lane. - The lane itself was known as the 'Back Lane' by locals as shown in 1903 records, it leads down to a Wier and the quiet River Ivel, just 200 yds away. Here you will find a footbridge and a pleasant one and a half miles walk to Sandy market town. - The first Alehouse Lic. was granted in - 1832

• See my ref 12, - The Beerhouse / Alehouse origin, via link to 'Misc & Mash .

The exact room itself is only an assumption on my part whilst compiling this article. I would think the main property would be taken over as the dwelling, the small annexe, as the drinking room / Beerhouse.

• A Blunham Report in1909 : by a Mr Swaffield : (new Information via Pip) - Re.The Wheatsheaf and the village. / The owners were Messrs Morris & Co of Ampthill . . and we now have a Blunham population of 603 people - (1909) with 8 pubs, so a pub for every 76 inhabitants . . The following drinking figures / habits are also recorded here. For The Wheatsheaf in 1909 it was, 61 Barrels plus 11 doz Pints, ( bottled ? ), 1910 - 36 Barrels and 20 dozen pints, 1911 - 35 barrels and 34 dozen pints. ( it states Pints , Bottled or where served 'from' ? ) . From these figures, plus the other 7 closeby local Pubs, The Crown only 100yds away up The Hill , every single person must have been getting about, by horse and cart or wallking, quite 'Tipsy' - / 29/09/2020. Mr Blex & Pip / - (copy to hand) - these figures look a tad high to me ? .
• Blunham Memories : by Jim Ellis, - and his visits to our village during the 1920's & 30's when he was just 10 to12yrs old. - visit  Blunham Memories . / . this info via Colin Hinson input, and very interesting too. - Jim describes life in Blunham, now 100yrs ago, through the eyes of a child on his visits. It has rare refs. to the ill fated R101 Airship and The Crown Beerhouse on The Hill in Blunham, recorded by Jim at 89 yrs of age.
• Addendum : It has just occurred to me, that there is No mention of the 'elusive 9th pub' a White Hart Inn around Blunham in 1737 . I am sure Mr Swaffield - (above) - would have covered this site 110 yrs ago, - So why was it mentioned to me by either a Mr Rex Clarke and Len Sirkett of Grange Road or Mr Albert Sims , Barford Rd. (father of Alan Sims) during my researches in the mid 1980's ? From the 1920's to the 1980's and no mention / referal / location ? - See the Addendum on my Index page. - Spotted today. (12/6/2021) . - A record of the mystery pub does exist, - [PM. 2846] see link below.
• The White Hart : Ref / link - https://bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk/CommunityHistories/Blunham - it is recorded, but where in Blunham ? - c1737 - Select ' Blunham Index of Pages ' and Blunham Pubs on L.H.S. : Or see my research on The White Hart in Blunham so far.
• First ref : during my researches in the mid 1980's, via one of the following 'past' village characters , - Mr Rex Clarke and Len Sirkett of Grange Road, or Mr Albert Sims (Father of Alan Sims) of Barford Road : At this momrnt in tiime, they are away at a Big Party with the Stars - and Enjoying a Pint at the Free Bar - I will ask them where this Pub was, when we 'meet again' . * . (13/10/2022 / Mr Blex)

• For Local Interest : During the 1950s & 60's, with Maureen Belcham's parents, Reg and Daisy Peet residing here at 10 Park Lane, - Ted Ashton also lived with the family and starts a small (wet) - Fish-Shop business here. in the empty annexe ? - Later Ted takes his 'Fish-Shop' down to a site on The High Street, opposite the school, formerly a gentleman's hairdressers. Later it now becomes the quality 'Fish & Chip Shop' of the area, his 'Large' tasty Cod always drew a long queue of customers, ( Two large Cod please Ted ). - Ted and Daisy Peet later move into a new bungalow opposite The Wheatsheaf / 10, Park Lane, together with Maureen Belcham and her daughter Clare.

Last Revision made by Bill Exley on - 13th Jan - 2023

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