'Lost' pubs - 2

The afterlife of pubs and ale houses in West Common and Bowling Alley

By Rosemary Ross

Photo:Plan showing past and present pubs south of Station Road. The 'lost' pubs are indicated with brackets.

Plan showing past and present pubs south of Station Road. The 'lost' pubs are indicated with brackets.

Les Casey

Photo:The Bull, Leyton Road, an inn from 1586. Known as The Angell in 1613, and The Black Bull by 1639. For a while it was a school house, but became an inn again by 1719, with a sign "The Bull" on the Common - which remained long after the building became a private house in the 1860s. It was part of the Rothamsted estate.

The Bull, Leyton Road, an inn from 1586. Known as The Angell in 1613, and The Black Bull by 1639. For a while it was a school house, but became an inn again by 1719, with a sign "The Bull" on the Common - which remained long after the building became a private house in the 1860s. It was part of the Rothamsted estate.

John Marlow, 2011

Photo:The Cricketers, West Common, next to the Independent Chapel (now a private house). It was 'for sale' in 1917, and appears to have closed shortly afterwards.

The Cricketers, West Common, next to the Independent Chapel (now a private house). It was 'for sale' in 1917, and appears to have closed shortly afterwards.

LHS collection

Photo:Site of The Cricketers - parking space for the private house in the former Independent Chapel in West Common

Site of The Cricketers - parking space for the private house in the former Independent Chapel in West Common

LHS collection

Photo:The Woodman's Arms, Pimlico Place, West Common. Closed as a pub in 1928 and now a private house

The Woodman's Arms, Pimlico Place, West Common. Closed as a pub in 1928 and now a private house

LHS collection

Photo:The Fishmongers Arms, Wheathamstead (now Southdown) Road, was listed in the 1871 census. William Read was landlord in 1898. It was demolished in 1959.

The Fishmongers Arms, Wheathamstead (now Southdown) Road, was listed in the 1871 census. William Read was landlord in 1898. It was demolished in 1959.

LHS collection

Photo:George IV pub, Lower Cravells Road. Now a private house

George IV pub, Lower Cravells Road. Now a private house

Les Casey, 2003

Photo:The Horse & Jockey Pub, St Albans Road - at the end of Harpenden Race Course. Later, the White House, then Foxwood Lodge.

The Horse & Jockey Pub, St Albans Road - at the end of Harpenden Race Course. Later, the White House, then Foxwood Lodge.

Les Casey, 2003

This page was added by Rosemary Ross on 15/03/2011.
Comments about this page

The Cricketers, which adjoined Rivers Lodge, was bought by Theodora Wilson in 1917. (Theodora's Journal, p.154) She refers to it as the "Old Cricketers" and took possession on "her jubilee" - 8 January 1918 - her 50th birthday. She did not renew the licence and installed new tenants with a view to improving the area, which she calls "Cricketer''s Corner". The "horrid little yard" she refers to is presumably the small cul-de-sac behind the Congregational Chapel. See also pages 186 and 192 for her ongoing endeavours.

By John Wassell
On 07/02/2012

My grandmother ADA PEARCE (later Johnson) was born in the thatched cottage in Pimlico.

Later in her life she lived in what was the old Cricketers public house. I can clearly remember the long kitchen with its uneven quarry tiles and the excitement when Rothamsted (who owned the house) put in electricity. It also had lovely window seats which I would sit on and look out across the common and pretend I was in a hotel. My grandmother lived there with my uncle Harry Johnson and his wife Louise (nee Curl). Uncle Harry was a talented artist and drew many caricatures of local worthies for the magazine that was sent to the service men and women during the war. The house stands back from the others in the row and as seen now has an ugly conservatory in front of it.

I can also remember Mr Halsey who lived in the old Woodman Pub.

By Rita Chapman
On 10/04/2012
Add a comment about this page

If you're already a registered user of this site, please login using the form on the left-hand side of this page.