July 2004 - Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society

Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society - Journal Page 7
(Continued from page 6)
saying it originally belonged to Hall &
Phillips others that it was something to
do with the pub. Boxers used to train
there in the 1920’s and 30’s. E.Hutt
was the landlord in 1938/39.
The Weavers Arms. No mention of
Abbey Street pubs would be complete
without reference to the Weavers Arms.
It took its name from the principal trade
of the town – silk weaving. Tenants
were Thomas Griffin (1828); William
Green (1841); James Wheway (1850).
C.Mann was the landlord in 1938/9.
The Pheasant Inn. 5 Abbey Street.
Sarah Varden was the licensee in 1841
and 1850. Later occupiers were Roland
Till, Horace Warmington brother of
Louis Warmington the fruiterer in
Queens Road. The last licensee was H.
J.Fallows when the pub closed on 6 th
September 1934. The license was
transferred to the Weddington Grove
former private house.
Abbey Gate Refreshment Rooms,
Abbey Gate, (licensed to sell beer)
where the American Meat Shop is. Mr.
Argyle. Mr. John Argyle was one of
Nuneaton’s pioneering photographers.
Newdigate Square
(formerly Bye Corner)
The Black Bull, later became the
Newdigate Arms Inn in 1816. A
commercial and Posting House. Later
the Midland Railway’s commercial
premises. Pulled down in 1914 to build
the new Newdigate Arms Hotel which
was demolished in 1963. The
redevelopment of the old Newdigate
Arms site for road widening cost
£8250. Former tenants were Thomas
Winfield (1828, 1845) Thomas Bills
(1863). Joseph Bostock was the
landlord in 1901. In the middle of the
19 th century a magistrates meeting was
held every Saturday at the Newdigate
Arms Inn. The magistrates who
originally sat were The Rev. Samuel
Bracebridge Heming, chairman. Sir
John Newdigate Ludford Chetwode,
Bart., and the Rev. James Corrall
Roberts. Mr. Henry Power was the
clerk of the court and the Chief
Constables of the parish were Joseph
Haddon and Abel Brown. Not a very
satisfactory arrangement as you could
often find the magistrates, the
constables and the defendant, as well as
the local labouring classes all drinking
at the same bar! After 1914 it became
the town’s smartest hotel owned by
Trust House’s.
The Fox, Newdigate Square. John Bell
Newdigate Street
(New Bridge Street)
In Newdigate Street there was a beer
house at one time:
Dog and Partridge, Newdigate Street,
now Mr.Swann’s clothiers. Elizabeth
Wray was the proprietor.
Bond Gate, Bond Street
(formerly Bond End)
The Crown Inn, Bond Gate. In 1955
the former editor of the Midlands
Counties Tribune wrote: “I was born in
The old Newdegate Arms, demolished 1914
the Crown Yard, Bond Street, now
happily demolished and I still marvel,
when crossing the river bridge at this
point, however, 10 houses, a workshop
and a bowling alley could have been on
the site but it was so. I have referred to
the bowling alley, the last open air alley
in Nuneaton, I believe. Here there used
to be trundled great bowls at great
skittles, the only break being copious
swigs of ale from the gallon jugs in use
in those days. The ale was 3d. per pint,
and it was ale!! I remember the
custodian of the Crown. Mr.
Rowbottom and his two goliath sons –
Titus and Fred. Good kindly chaps. I
often wonder what has become of
them?” Former landlords include
Joseph Kirby (1806) John Baraclough
(1828) John Lowe (1841).Now the
Crown is called Lloyds in the new
premises built in the early part of the
19 th century. At one time mine host was
20stone giant – Ted Hutt. (probably the
same Ted Hutt who kept the Kings
Arms 1938/9 – the boxers pub). S.W.
Badger was the landlord in 1938/9. The
Crown (now Lloyds) is reputed to be
haunted but the ghost detected in recent
years has not yet been identified.
The Mount Pleasant. Bond End. An
1830 beer house.
The Horse & Groom. Bond End. An
1830 beer house
Prince’s Feathers, Bond Street,
premises occupied by Mr. J.Clay in
1899.
The Lamp Tavern, Bond Street. On
the site of Mr. W.Grubb’s shop in
1899. William King
L & N W R Refreshment Rooms.
Last house on left before entering the
gates to the Station yard. Kept by
Arthur and Eliza Chinn at 23 Bond
Street.
The Bell and Fleur de Lys, Bond
Street. In 1806 owned by Daniel
Wagstaff, and by 1863 Thomas
Wagstaff.
The Hollybush, in Bond Gate next to
the Leicester Road Bridge. This old
established pub was rebuilt in the early
1930’s. The new pub was built at the
back of the old one which was closed in
October 1934. It ceased to be a pub in
April 1986. It has now become an
office building known as Hollybush
House. John Archer kept it in 1808.
Thomas Large (1850), Joseph Mills
(1874) Thomas Fortescue (1876). Then
Mr. T.J. “Tuddy” Lilley before he went
to the Newdigate Arms. The pub was
always associated with the Angling
fraternity in the town. For many years it
had a function room which became a
source of tittle tattle for all sorts of
lurid goings on which cannot be
repeated in these pages, but in later
years this was later a venue for
discotheques and dances.
Bricklayers Arms. Blind Lane. Blind
Lane was an alley way which ran from
Back Street to Bond Street. It was
demolished by the 1920’s. Dick
Sidwell
The Railway Tavern. Certainly
opened at the time the Trent Valley
Railway was completed in 1847. The
premises had been formerly occupied
by a wheelwright Dennis Marklew who
had been there since 1837. His daughter
Sarah (1841- ) was the landlady in
1871. The tenancy later passed to
Joseph Henry Pipe. The Ancient Order
of Buffaloes friendly society used to
meet there. Mr. Pipe’s oldest
daughter – Annie Pipe married John
Bostock from the old established
Nuneaton butchery family.
(Continued on page 8)