Home Page | Village Hall | Local Links | Photo Tour | Coming Events | Local Businesses | Playgroup |
Blunham Past & Present |
Blunham Cricket: Old photographs |
Bill Exley's Coins & Pubs |
Blunham Playing Field Association |
Miscellaneous pages & links |
Ground Radar | Aircraft Etc. | Teletext |
By Bill Exley
The Idea : of tracing the Blunham pubs and Beerhouse histories, came about by interesting conversations with an old Blunham gent called Ernest Jeffries. We used to walk slowly up The Hill, due to his advanced years, and he would point out the old sites to me with his walking stick and nostalgic comments. I then wanted to compile a comprehensive listing of these sites using Bedford Archive and Records held at County Hall, (Now re named Bedfordshire Archive Service - 30/8/2022 ) - with visits to Charles Wells, brewers of Bedford and Greene King, brewers at Biggleswade, later to be demolished in 1997.
o * O * O * o
Newland & Nash - Susan Nash now 79yrs old and a recent Widow, she seeks help and joins up with the Newland Brewer * on 5/8/1890 // Greene King of Suffolk, later to be Biggleswade-Brewery, then it is later demolished in 1997) // Wells & Winch : Biggleswade, merging with G.K. in 1961 // Charles Wells of Bedford .. Records show, Bedford was well known for its many Brewers, e.g. on Duck Mill Lane, Lurke Street, - St Marys and other sites around the town.
A Mystery 9th Pub : - of Blunham, as recorded by Central Beds / Archives and Also Recalled to me by locals - during my researches in the 1980's, Now with hindsight, the question, "where was it ? " - Their White Hart may have been in nearby Gt. Barford, as a Bolt -Hole, - "The Gaffer won't walk in here" ? - Visit The White Hart of 1737 - to see a Record / Ref in - PM2846 - also Not mentioned in the Swaffield Report of 1909 within The Wheatsheaf - Beerhouse (why ?)
Today : there is only one pub left in Blunham village / on 23 Feb 2022 , that is - The Horseshoes - See its Ref. to an evening wifh a Mr Bobby George / during the mid 1980's / a popular world - class Dart Player, and his kind contribution to a Charity and Blunham Villagers.
o * O * O * o
The 7 other pubs of Yesterdays' Blunham - shown in closing order, from most recent & links to my other work.
|
|
Acknowledgements
Records at Greene King & Charles Wells, Brewers - / - Bedfordshire Archive Service & County Hall
Colin Hinson, for his expertise & inputs / Philippa Exley / John Lihou / Billy Hill
and the Guernsey Press Office / re. Geoff Baker and his article
Last Revision made by Bill Exley on - * - 20th Dec / 2022