Meeting Reflections

The History Of The Crown Public House – Rob Bollington & Vince Hislop

I was so sorry to have missed the last meeting of the Group on Tuesday 19th November 2024 on the History of the Crown Public House - or should it have been a history of boozing in Willington? Thanks, however, to Daniel’s recording I couldn’t escape doing this write up as I said I would. It was clearly an excellent evening in two parts with two contributors: Rob Bollington on pre-Crown and Vince Hislop on Crown Inn days. Rob went back to the Middle Ages when it was very much home brewing of porridgy small beer and later the emergence of two pubs, the White Hart in the village and the Three Horsehoes on the brow of Sheerhatch Wood. They both lasted until the 1830s and thereafter, until the opening of the Crown at the beginning of the 20th century, the village was without a pub. In the meantime, old soaks had to journey to pubs in neighbouring villages or await deliveries of beer by cart from Bedford. A dramatic interlude, written by Rob and humorously played out by Alan Powell and John Caves, told of the conflicting views which raged in the village when the return of a pub was mooted and the fears of its location near to the chapel. All this was brought about by the opening of the railway to passenger traffic, and a station. The magistrates approved the transfer of a license from a Bromham pub which was closing and Willington gained the Crown with stabling for four horses in 1904, and as a haunt for fishermen. (Even today when the Group wants a meeting including the consumption of alcohol we have to hold it elsewhere, which helps us understand the strength of feeling on both sides at that time.) Vince then took over to tell of the days of the operation of the Crown. Initially, in the hands of Newlands & Nash of Bedford, it was taken over by Wells & Winch Ltd. in 1922 before merging with Greene King of Biggleswade in 1961. Vince gave a complete list of licensees, usually short tenancies, except for Charles Clarke from 1905 until 1940. He spoke also of incidents which brought colour to village life. The evening over all gave an insight into an important part the Crown has played in the village’s historical past and was clearly much enjoyed by those present – and absent – thanks Daniel. Gordon Vowles