Pubs of Old Baldock: The Boot - The Beehive/ Swan - The Arrow - The Crown and Anchor.

The Beehive/ The Swan

? High Street

The Beehive was a pub that formerly stood on the corner of Pinnocks Lane on the High Street, close to the building of todays Boot. Open for buisness since some point, it can be assumed, in the 18th or 19th Century, and dating back to when this old pub was instead known as the Swan.

 

 It closed as licensed premises sometime at the beginning of the 20th Century, and from here on, It's derelict remains were still to be seen, and even as recently as the 1980's, before it was completly demolished, and rebuilt as the cottage that stands today.

Mentioned by the author John Rider in his book 'Baldock - More Knights in it's Days', in which the Beehives former landlady is suggested to have been the orginator of naming one of Baldocks Lanes. The lane was the old Caldwells Lane and although different information may suggest otherwise, it was apparently named Pinnocks Lane by a one Deborah Robins Pinnock.  Part of a large Baldock family (the Pinnocks) who in the 18th & 19th Century owned several Baldock properties.

 

The Arrow

? High Street

The Arrow was a former beer house and shop that once stood in one of the cottages between the pre–1920’s Boot pub and the junction between the High Street and Pinnocks Lane. Possibly named after the legendary giant Jack O’ legs, who was said to have fired an arrow from Baldock’s St. Marys Church to the site where he was allegedly buried in the neighbouring village of Weston.

 

　

The Boot

73 High St.

 

Mentioned in the will of Joyce Fox from Hatfield dated 1748:

"Known by the name or sign of ‘the Boot’ next the almshouse".

The Boot is documented as being bought on bankruptcy of its previous owner by J. and T.G. Simpson the Baldock Brewers in 1865. 

The building of the current Public House was built along with other re-developments to the area in the 1920’s. Although the former building was a lot smaller, and stood in line with a row of small cottages, also now demolished. 

Beside the newly built Boot was the site of a new to the area Roman Catholic Church.  Which oddly enough was never opened to the public, and finally in the 1970’s demolished completely. 

It was however rebuilt around the corner and still sits in this place, around the site of the once standing Crown and Anchor.

Improvements to the current building include the west wing being rebuilt after being hit by a runaway lorry in 1984 and from previously being separated into two bars and a games room, the unification into the one room that now stands.

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Picture taken from early 20^{th Century.}

　

The Crown & Anchor

At High Street in 1839, Weston Road in 1882

In the 1800's, perhaps even before, a pub stood in Baldock around the site of the current Catholic Church on the London Road/ High Street roundabout. It closed at some point before 1920, and its name was the Crown and Anchor, or rather just The Anchor.

Visited in 1917 by a family interested in buying the premises, an incident mentioned in the 1978 Baldock Mail. The then little girl visiting the old anchor recalls her father journeying down into the pubs quite large cellar and finding an old tunnel. In the tunnel the family travelled through till the lamp they was holding mysteriously blew out and after scarcely leaving declined on the offer to buy the old pub.

Pubs of Old Baldock: The Black Eagle.

? Norton End

The Old Black Eagle was a pub that formerly stood on the Icknield Way just up the road from the Orange Tree.

Well known during the 1970s and 1980s to the locals in the proximity for its loud music and lively atmosphere. It was unfortunately closed down in 1984, and was in 1992 demolished completely.

It has since been redeveloped as The Eagle Court housing complex, but was once upon a time a part of Norton End. The former extension of Norton Road that crossed over Ickneild Way.   Which pretty much was like The Eagle demolished, but a lot earlier in the 1920's.

As for the Eagle though, Its reason for its closure was assumed to be a business decision by its owners Greene King, to boost the trade of its other Baldock pubs.  Described as a back street boozer, a suggestion was put through by the North Herts CAMRA commitie that Greene King should try and swap the Eagle for another pub, with a different brewery, but with this being an idea quickly dismissed another Baldock pub was gone. Much to the disappoint of CAMRA who had hoped it could fill a gap in the Baldock pub market, of being one of the only few in the town (at the time) serving real Ale.

 

History

The oldest historical account of the Black Eagle is from the first half of the 19th century, when it was owned by the Baldock Maltster - Joshua Richmond Page. However at which point it was actually opened as a Public house is unclear.  It was sold in 1850 to the Steed/ Pale Ale Brewery, and at the start of the 20th century to (Wells and Winchs of Biggleswade), and finally in the 1960's after the purchase of Wells and Winchs put into the hands of its final owners Greene King.

The Ghost Of The Black Eagle

The Black Eagle was maybe known for many stories in its day, but one that might possibly stand out, is the apparent haunting of the pub from a former pot boy.  An elderly man who was employed to keep the bar tidy, and collect the glasses.  

The story comes from around the 1960s-1970s.  At the beginning of the Greene King era, and when it was said that the pub was run by a rather snobbish, and house proud landlady.  A woman who apparently was very peculiar about this pot boy, and where he went in the pub.  In fact as some incarnations of this story suggest there was only one time he was ever permitted into the pubs living quarters, and this was the day he died.
 
Which maybe never had anything to do with this pubs haunting, as many old pubs, and places are said to have ghosts, but the main thing what was noticed about this particular ghost is that its activity didn't begin till after the former Pot Boys untimely death. When spookily the sound of loud banging was said to be heard coming from the underneath cellar.

It was dismissed by some, but to others who knew the Pot Boy and the Black Eagle Pub. There was only one explanation, the angry soul of the Pot Boy was back, out to exact revenge on a snobbish Landlady who had only ever allowed his Presence in her beloved sitting room to die.

Pubs of Old Baldock: The White Horse & the Falcon

35 White Horse Street

& 1 Station Road.

The White Horse and The Falcon were two Baldock pubs that once upon a time stood adjacent to each other around the top end of White Horse Street; with the main one being The White Horse, and just around the corner, on what is now Station Road (formerly a part of the Great North Road), was the Falcon. 

The latter mentioned being, quite interestingly, the one which is still open.  Confusing, but with that being said - this is because that the history of both these pubs (which is spoke about more a little later on in this article) pretty much ends up running together.

Although to put it more plainly what can be said for now is that the current pub was before it became the Old White Horse, the Falcon.  The same reason why that if you go to the current pub you will see a black sign in the car park, which features a Golden Falcon's head on it.  Not something that stands out if you don't know this old pubs history, but it certainly has to be a tribute to this old pubs former title.

So you could argue that it isn’t The Falcon which is the dead pub of the two, but the former White Horse.  A place long disappeared from its standing along the busy White Horse Street, and only reminant now in the rebuilt foundations of 35 White Horse Street.

History

Whilst open under the name of the Falcon there isn't a great deal of mentions of the current Old White Horse.   Although one quite notable entry is perhaps the fire that started at this pub in 1730.   A blaze that caused considerable damage to its adjacent neighbour the original White Horse, which then had its own Brew House and Bowling Green.

About The Falcon though. What else is known is that it was also an Inn, and for part of the time it was open, maybe most the time it had operated as an establishment - under this name, it's owner was the Baldock (later Simpsons) Brewery.

Also as a pub/ Inn it was open mainly during the 1700's, and It became the White Horse brewhouse after a merger with the original White Horse in 17?.  Before eventually becoming the current pub of today at some point between 1860 and 1870.

So under the name of the Falcon there's not much else to write really about todays pub, but as for the original White Horse, (Pictured Below) a lot more is known.

Certainly one of Baldocks oldest pubs alongside; the George and Dragon, White Lion, and Rose & Crown.  Its origins date all the way back to almost certainly the 1600's, with a deed dated from 1635, as proof of this, but in fact, if the publication of 'Leigh's New Pocket Road-Book..., on the plan of Reichards Itineraries', is anything to go by the White Horse was almost certainly open in the year of 1550.  So quite possibly a good hundred years older.

Which makes it quite sad really that this old pub didn't survive the days of Queen Victoria.  Indeed Its decline began in the 1850's after the opening of the railway made it to hard to compete with other similar establishments.  Although not that the pub didn't try - perhaps in the belief that people would stop off on their train journeys to spend the night, but unfortunately it had become the end of an era, and this once very busy pub/ Inn finally closed for good in about 1864. 
 

From here it became a school, something which one can assume was done to put the old building again in to good use, but shortly after this the building was destroyed by a fire.  Taking with it the remains of one of Baldock's most famous drinking spots. 

　

About the Original White Horse.

 

A place used mostly by the better class of travellers, and Royal Mail coaches, and many of the long-distance coaches stopped here, every day or every other day, to and from Glasgow, Leeds, York, Lincoln, and Stamford.

It was somewhere during its tenure at these former premises that was a stop off point for some of the days quite notable characters.  People including many of the days well known hunting and sporting personalities came here, as well as Art & Literary figures. Some of which included the artist Milias, and the cartoonist Leech. The latter a man responsible, in part for painting one of the old pubs signs, an item that was eventually acquired for a private art collection.

The size of the old pub, estate included, was also of quite a notable stature, and as the plan which I shall include with this writing suggests - That the White Horse tied estate covered much of the Pubs side of the road. An area which it has been said stretchered almost all the way to Football Close on the other side.

　

　

The White Horse & The White Horse Brewery

According to the book 'Brewers in Hertfordshire - A Historical Gazetter', The White Horse Brewery was a building that once stood behind The Victoria, or as it was then known The Sun.  It was a small, but tall building opened at some point before 1736 by the Noy family. It stood quite interestingly well into the 20th Century (1998 to be exact), but it actually closed in 1881.  So a bit of mystery really why any place could be left to lay derelict for so long, but anyway.

Whilst the Brewery was open its ownership was well documented, from its first sale to William Penn in 1793, to its takeover by William Oliver in 1843, and finally its last 10 years, from 1861 to 1871, after it was sold to Josiah Parker.


Its roots it can be assumed are that the brewery was opened due to the growing business of the White Horse Inn, and as well this other Baldock pubs supplied by the brewery were the Victoria, The Eight Bells, and (I think) The Coopers Arms.

In fact something quite fascinating actually links these said places, and that is that connected to the Brewery - were a series of tunnels running underground to each pub.  Something actually which is widely believed to be true about a lot of Baldock pubs, but about this place in particular.  It was said actually to have had problems with its water supply caused by its on site pig sty, and also it had connected a hen house, and a barn.  Its possible reminants are probably still to be seen in the back garden of todays Victoria - a place I shall go on about in another article.

　

 

The Old White Horse in Modern Times.

In its most modern era The Old White Horse is a usual quiet place with a relaxed atmosphere. A place you can come to have a drink from a cool variety of different brews, a game of pool, or to chillout in its nice peaceful beer garden on a Summers day.

Otherwise more excuses to pop by are for the fortnightly open mic nights, and live music at the weekend. The massive annual Baldock Beer festival, and the chilling Psychic nights.

A place that has come quite along way since the 1970's pram race, and from my personal favourite memory, of one of the pubs old Landlords in the 1990's 'Winston' who use to have quite amazingly a pet Sheep. The White Horse is one of many great pubs still open in Baldock, and for keen visitors is only a couple of minutes away from the train station.

Kingsleys Snooker Club & The Broken Drum

Kingsleys Snooker Club.

The Old Musgrove Maltings

Hitchin Street

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As a town with a rich history of brewing Baldock was unsurprisingly the home of several Breweries, and Maltings.  Places all over the town, and which included in many of these establishments a connection to at least one of the towns many pubs.  Places like The Star, and The White Horse for example, but an interesting one is a place that became a pub.  Two pubs in fact, and one that is still open during this time of writing.  

This place is the Old Musgrove Maltings.   

A place that now in it's bulk exists as a housing complex, but was originally built in 1680.  An inscription that is still present on the side of another part of the building.  On the remaining pub the Broken Drum (The Khoi Khoi). As history goes the rest of the building (Kingsleys snooker club) it remained a Maltings to some point in to the 19th Century, until a decline in trade led to it falling into disrepair.  It was reopened in the early 20th Century as a furniture emporium.  A business that still remains in part to this day, under the name of Gearys.  Although the main part was sold in the early 1980's, and reopened in 1986 as the Billiards, and Sports Bar that would in its most recent times become Kingsleys Snooker Club.    

A place that closed in early 2007, and which has only just this year been redeveloped following its sale to Barwood Homes.  Although the main business, of a sports bar, wasn't the last thing that was to occur on these premises.  In fact after Kingsleys closed - its connected business 'the Candles Health Spa' upstairs became the Pendulum Naturist Spa.  It was closed after the revelation of it's involvement with website Suburbanswingers.co.uk, and a convienient Health and Safety check closed its doors for good later that year.  

The Broken Drum

31 Hitchin Street

'The Broken Drum', also known as 'The Baldock Wine Bar', is a common drinking spot, situated around the center of Hitchin Street.  Named after the tavern in Terry Pratchets 'Discworld' series of books, the original site was a former Green Grocers, but was prior to this formerly linked to the old 'Musgrove Maltings'.  Opened in 1981, despite a petition, mainly from other licensees, opposed to the effect another bar would have on their businesses. Its original intention as a new business was to cater for middle management and professional office workers, and was a request approved sometime in 1980.

The Eight Bells

The Eight Bells.
16-18 Church St.
(Formerly Norton Street).

'The Eight Bells', apparently formerly known as 'The Six Bells' was a pub that once stood in the houses of 16 & 18 on the Church Street.  First recorded in 1727, the history of the Eight Bells states that prior to 1969 the Hostelry was older than the 239 years recorded. One of its earliest records is from 1727, which details the sale of the premises by the Hitchin Brewer William Conquest, to the Baldock Victualler Isaac Anderson. Conditions of the sale were that one room would be kept and used as a bake house.

Recorded again in 1746 as the premises of the Baldock Brewer Robert Thurgood, it from here changed hands again to the Simpson’s Brewery and finally till its closure again to Greene King.

Closed down on Monday the 5th of September 1969 on the decision of the Landlord, Jack Derbyshire, to retire from his duties in the licensed trade.  It was according to a rumor of the time to be re-opened, back as a bar or as an off License, but after lying derelict for a number of years it was eventually sold by owners Greene King in 1977 as a private house.

Pubs of Old Baldock: The Star

25 Church Street
(Formerly 3 Norton Street)

The Star started out originally as a beer house and tap, with a piped connection to the close by 'Pale Ale Brewery'.  One of three different pubs in the same area at the top of Church St. the former drinking spot stood only doors away from both the Stag, and the Bulls Head.  It finally closed its doors on Sunday the 24th 1980 by decision of its owners 'Greene King', who had said that due to its poor facilities it was no longer a viable option to keep the pub open.  The reason apparently because as a director from Greene King had put it, that the toilets were archaic, and there wasn't sufficient enough space for car parking.  So rather than pay these expensive renovation costs The Star would close, and only two years after another Greene King pub, in Baldock, The Eight Bells.

A decision by the Brewery that brought with it the retirement of the well liked landlord Fred Whitman.  A man locals described in a newspaper report about the pubs closure as "the most popular landlord in Baldock".  A man who had been working at the pub for around 15 years, after moving down from London, and his last days in charge of the pub were described in the same newspaper report as both emotional for regulars saying farewell, but for returning customers who had also grown fond of the place.  

History:

Recorded also as a separate pub 'The Brewery Tap' in the 1861 Census, The Star as a pub dates back to pre 1830, when it was owned as part of the 'Pale Ale' Brewery by William Oliver.   Its actual date/ year when it was opened isn't apparently known although its current structure, which remains as a commercial premises, is believed to have been built during a major redevelopment programme which began in 1840.  The result of the Brewery being leased to John Steed in 1823, and ultimately being bought by Steed in 1831 after Oliver had moved on to take over the Whitehorse Brewery.   

John Steed remained the active Brewer/ Owner till at least 1867, when he was succeeded by his only son Oliver Steed.  Unfortunate though for the late Brewer & owner of 'The Pale Ale Brewery', his successor, & next in line Oliver was not in great standing for the position due to a poor health condition, and the brewery including 'The Star' was again passed on after his death in 1988.  This time to John Steed's wife, and Oliver’s mother Margaret Steed.   Owner for not even a year it would seem, as the Brewery, was sold on either in late 1888, or early 1889 when it was taken over by William Pickering.  A man it would seem that either didn't like his purchase very much, or was just trying to make a quick buck, because only a year later had Pickering sold the Pale Ale Brewery to W.H Morley. 

The Brewery was to close by the turn of the 20th Century and its associated public houses were sold off elsewhere.  In 1901 'The Star' was run by the landlord Thomas Bass and was 3 years later, along with the Brewery Site sold, to the Wells and Winch Brewery of Biggleswade, who used most of the former site for storage before selling a lot of the land off to property developers.

The Star in the 20th Century

Willoughby Henwood was the landlord in 1934, and was for a good number of years before, right through till sometime after World War II. The picture to the left is taken from around this time. A period around halfway through the Wells & Winch era, after the Brewery took the pub over at the start of the 20th century.  A reign which lasted until 1961 when Wells & Winch was taken over by Greene King.