Pubs - 2

Like the churches and chapels, we seem to have many pubs too. When we explored pubs back in February, I concluded there were at least 20 pubs, with 9 still open in Whitchurch alone

There’s all sorts of history about our beer houses and pubs, and I thought it might be fun to look back at a few more of them:

Hollybush
There’s a lovely photograph of a Hancock’s horse dray outside the Hollybush, but my friend George (sadly no longer with us) told me of the steam-driven drays that used to pass the pub in the 1930s, as horses couldn’t manage the gradients north of Whitchurch
Earlier, the census of 1861 lists Evan Price Williams, vicar of Whitchurch, as a lodger at the pub. I wonder what he was doing there?
And we’ve recently discovered that Benjamin Disraeli occasionally ‘stayed’ at the Hollybush when Mary-Annes husband, Wyndham Lewis came home to Greenmeadow unexpectantly!

Royal Oak
In 1891, Philemon Collins was the landlord was refused a licence, for permitting drunkenness on the premises
I’m told that the ‘nobs’ and the ‘crachach’ used to meet in the back room until recent times
The sketch shows the Royal Oak in ‘summer mode’

The Maltsters
I’ve been trying to find some of the history of the Maltsters, but with little effect. Terry has sent me an old photograph (probably from the late 1880s), but it looks quite new. There’s no sign of a building on the old OS map, so where was the original pub? The Tithe Map tells us that there was a pub then, called the Malthouse, run by David Evans and Hannah Johnson (she’s listed as publican of the Maltsters Arms by 1851). I’m guessing that the original pub was the thatched cottage which is now Pizzeria Villaggio. Later to be converted into a shop once the new pub was built. Does anyone have any thoughts?

The Three Elms
We’ve written already about the Three Elms, but Brian Lee tells us that this pub is haunted. Does anyone have any knowledge of this?

The Three Horseshoes
Apparently, the current pub replaced an old coaching inn (it was demolished to make way for a new road). There was an old smithy adjacent, with a farm track leading to 2 farms, Mynachdy and Mynachdy Fach. This would have been well before the Taff Vale Railway!

The Lewis Arms
I had no idea that this Tongwynlais pub was named after the owners of Greenmeadow, which was just half a mile to the south. I always told my kids that it was our ‘family’ pub!

In Llandaff Yard (North), the pubs clearly need more exploring:

The Pineapple
Built on the site of the thatched cottages of the same name. Why the strange name?

Cow and Snuffers
Originally the Red Cow, but was renamed after it had been ‘gentrified’

The Three Cups
I’ve recently written about this pub and what it looked like. It was a canal-side pub near to the lock and opposite the College Ironworks. It would be a wonderful location now if the pub and canal had remained!

In Rhiwbina, we’ve been reminded of the Nine Giants, but I know very little about its history. Does anyone know?

The Butcher’s Arms
Originally part of a farm and Isaac Edwards was the local butcher (hence the name). in the 19th century, it was a haven for local sporty people, and hosted all sorts of indoor sports, with special events outside, including quoits, pitching, rounders and foot races

Then there is the story from Brian Lee about horse races in the village. The landlords of the Old Three Horse Shoes and Birchgrove inns held regular trotting matches on the local roads. Brian tells ‘on one famous occasion, two local farmers backed their horses for a £100-a-side trotting match which was to start at 9am in the morning on Whitchurch Road. but long before that hour, vehicles of every description came from far and near and the crowd that assembled along the route was so great that four mounted officials had great difficulty in clearing the course. Finally, the horse of Mr Artemus Ward was the winner. A band was soon found and the singing and dancing went on long into the night. From that day on, the great occasion was known as Trotting Match Day’

The Birchgrove Inn
This pub dates from the 1770s. It was a simple pub tight on the corner, and when the council wanted to improve the junction in the early 1920s, the pub had to be demolished. The replacement pub was designed in the strange quarter octagon we see today so that it could be built whilst keeping the old pub on the corner going!

There are so many pubs and stories that there’s simply not enough space, barely a handful. If you know of any that I’ve missed please let us know, to add to the ongoing history of the village and parish

AWEN will be hosting another of their successful walks, as part of the Whitchurch Festival, in late June. This time we’ll be walking the four village pubs, starting at the Fox and Hounds and finishing at the Maltsters. Places will be strictly limited, so watch out for booking arrangements!

 

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