CHANGES TO THE NATIONAL INVENTORY

Three changes agreed by Pubs Heritage Group at its meeting on 12 May

1. BOROUGHBRIDGE (N. YORKS), THREE HORSHOES. This is a reinstatement to 
Part One. Over the past two or three years there has been a rocky road 
here and it nearly became a Chinese restaurant. Anyway the news owners 
have revived it as a pub. The past few years have seen the removal of 
some panelling and the insertion of openings between the rooms. But on 
balance PHG felt that the survival of the rooms, the completeness of the 
counter screens and the stained glass justified reinstatement.

2. SETTLE (N. YORKS), ROYAL OAK HOTEL, Market Place, Settle BD24 9ED. 
Added to Part Two for its really rather extraordinary furnishings. 
Unfortunately there’s been a good deal of opening up but what does 
survive is a fine ‘olde worlde’ effect due to the use of abundant 
‘woodwork’ everywhere. I use ‘…’ because most of what you see is 
imitation woodwork, something that was not at all uncommon between the 
wars to do the job on the cheap. Exactly what it is I am not entirely 
sure. I have seen similar false panelling at the Beehive, Stoneleigh 
Road, London N17, where broken work seems to suggest some kind of 
resinous material. At the Royal Oak there seems to be members made of 
reinforced plaster. Any suggestions welcome.

3. SOUTH SHIELDS, STAGS HEAD, 45-47 FOWLER STREET NE33 1NS. Added to 
Part Two, largely for the highly unusual survival of bars on two 
storeys, each with its own counter and bar-back. Fuller description in 
the North East Regional Inventory (which I trust you all have!).

GOOD(ISH) NEWS:

1. TWEEDSMUIR, BORDERS, CROOK INN. Good news! After an abortive attempt 
by the owners to turn it into residential accommodation, and the 
complete lack of enthusiasm by the local council for such a scheme, the 
Crook Inn has been placed on the market. The Save the Crook website 
comments ‘The community of Tweedsmuir considers this to be a very 
positive sign. We sincerely hope that a buyer can be found for the Crook 
Inn that will be able to run it as the successful business it once was, 
while still retaining its central role as a hub of the community.’ If a 
suitable buyer cannot be found the community may attempt to buy the 
Crook Inn themselves. A Community buyout would only occur if there were 
no other suitable offers.

2. LONDON W!, BARLEY MOW, DORSET STREET. Shut for some time but now 
subject to a planning application which will retain the pub and convert 
the upper floors to six one-bedroom and one two-bedroom flats. So if you 
fancy living above the unique drinking boxes, adding to London’s 
overcrowding, and parting with (no doubt) £300+ for a shoe-box, this 
could be your big chance.

PUBLICATION: ‘HOPS TO HOSTELRY’. This was the title of a study day I 
organised for the Victorian Society and the Brewery History Society last 
year. The papers are now published as the current journal of the BHS. 
The papers from a galaxy of experts cover:

The hop trade (Stephen Humphrey)

Maltings (Amber Patrick)

Breweries (Lynn Pearson)

History of beer 1837-1914 (Martyn Cornell)

The science and practice in the brewing industry 1837-1914 (Ray Anderson)

Writing the history of the London local (David Gutzke)

The architecture of temperance (Andrew Davison)

The vanishing faces of the traditional pub (God forbid – myself)

If you’d like a copy send a cheque for just £5.00 to 2 Rothesay Avenue, 
Richmond-on-Thames TW10 5EA made out to me (I’ll then sort out the 
postage and reimburse the BHS).

Geoff