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The Porto Bello Gardens & the Dog and Duck

The Porto Bello Gardens & the Dog and Duck

On the high ground overlooking the Severn in Henwick Road, just north of the Dog and Duck Ferry, were the Porto Bello Gardens, pleasure gardens open to the public. There was a fine view from the 18th- century house to the cathedral and it was a very popular place with the young bloods of the city. In Regency days the gardens were famous and an enthusiastic writer of the time described them as superior to the London tea gardens. Sadly, they were closed in the 1850s because of maliciously spread 'rumours of evil reports'............  


The Britannia Brewery

The Britannia Brewery

The Britannia Brewery stood almost opposite Paradise Row. It later became Spreckley's Brewery. It was started by a Mr. Joseph in early Victorian times, but at first, Worcester did not take to large scale brewing, being content with home-brewed ale.But times were changing . Breweries began buying up public houses, which became.....


The Pack Horse, St. Nicholas Street.

The Pack Horse, St. Nicholas Street.

The Pack Horse was one of the staging houses on the Shrewsbury to London run, but dates earlier than the coaching ere, for it is said to have held a license since 1485. It had great accommodation, and on one September Hop Fair, the landlord..


The old Talbot

The old Talbot

Before 1835 the parish of St.Michael's was out of the city boundaries and jurisdiction. Both the Talbot and the Hare and Hounds in College Street were widely used for country business, all the amenities of the town but officially beyond its limits.....


The Shades Inn, Mealcheapen Street, Worcester

The Shades Inn, Mealcheapen Street, Worcester

This imposing house, almost opposite the Reindeer Inn, was the Shades Inn, but originally, it was the home of the Russell family, one of the principal families of the City. 


Fight to Save the Golden Lion  Finds 400 year Inventory Berrows 12.2.1984

Fight to Save the Golden Lion Finds 400 year Inventory Berrows 12.2.1984

Those battling to save Worcester's Golden Lion as a pub have made a remarkable discovery which adds weight to their campaign.

Article credits; Pam Hinks would like to thank Worcester News, formely Berrow's, for permission to reproduce copyright material  


The Plough Inn, Silver Street, Worcester

The Plough Inn, Silver Street, Worcester

The Plough Inn, off Cornmarket, which was demolished to make way for the new Walls Road in c1970, was well over 600 years old. It was originally a religious inn called the Archangel, and stood just outside St Martin's Gate, to accommodate traveler's that arrived too late to enter the City. 


Servant's Mop at Hadley Bowling Green

Servant's Mop at Hadley Bowling Green

A leaflet found in a chimney stack at Ombersley shows that the inn at Hadley was used for other than bowling, and that in the 18th century a 'Mop' was held there. The leaflet reads as follows:

 


At the Sign of the Dog, Sidbury, Worcester 1754

At the Sign of the Dog, Sidbury, Worcester 1754

In Berrow's Worcester Journal of May 1754, there was an appeal for a lost person, which mentions a tavern under the 'Sign of the Dog' outside the Turnpike gates, which then stood at the bottom of Wheatsheaf Hill, at the junction of the London and Tewkesbury roads. It reads:

 


Riot at the Crown Inn, Worcester

Riot at the Crown Inn, Worcester

The Crown Inn, Broad Street, Worcester, is a fine example of an old coaching inn of the 18th century, but in fact it is much older than that. There are references to the Crown in the City Chamberlains Account's of 1566, and again of 1578, under the heading 'Rentall of the Cities landes in St Nicholas parish' - 


Charles I and Cromwell at the Lygon Arms

Charles I and Cromwell at the Lygon Arms

This inn was originally the White Hart, and the first reference to this inn, now renowned throughout the country and to tourists abroad, is in 1532


The Crown and Sandy's Ombersley

The Crown and Sandy's Ombersley

Almost next door to the King's Arms is the Crown and Sandy's. This fine inn mentioned in the parish register in 1740, has a late Georgian front, but parts are older, and it was said previously to have been thatched. 


Charles II and the King's Arm's Ombersley

Charles II and the King's Arm's Ombersley

The Kings Arms is a very old, half-timbered inn, dating from the early 17th century, with parts going further back to the 15th.  


The Cross Keys Inn, Friar Street, Worcester

The Cross Keys Inn, Friar Street, Worcester

The Cross Key's Inn was one of a group of ecclesiastical inns near the Cathedral; the other being the Cardinal's Hat (almost opposite), the Angel de la Trompe, The Mitre and the Seven Stars, all of which have now gone . The Cross Keys did a large trade on market days till the end of the 19th century, but there were 30 licensed houses close around, and the Cross Keys, having had four tenants in 40 years, was the worst of the lot, and was closed about 1905.  


The Cardinal's Hat

The Cardinal's Hat

Worcester Cathedral in the period of 1100 to 1540 was one of the principal places of pilgrimage. Many ecclesiastical inns sheltered near the Cathedral catering for the traveler and pilgrim....

 


From Workhouse to Tavern

From Workhouse to Tavern

To contrast to the Magpie above, the Farmers Arms on Kempsey Common was converted to a tavern when originally it was the parish Workhouse.


Pub Into School at Tardebigge

Pub Into School at Tardebigge

The Magpie Inn at Tardebigge was also in the churchyard in days past, but in 1830, it was converted to a school. Before that, when the parson went out to the vestry to exchange surplice for a black gown for preaching, he would step across to the pub for a quick glass of ale while the psalm was sung.


The Mug House, Claines

The Mug House, Claines

The Mug House is a rare example of a public house in a churchyard, some say, the only one today. Tombstones, flaking and grey, are within a few feet of the front door, and the church, is only 30 paces away. Calling for their evening pint, the villager's until recent times's had to approach by the churchyard path. 


Pubs in the Churchyard

Pubs in the Churchyard

For centuries church ales were regular features of medieval life, and taverns were not only near at hand, but often in the church yard itself. The Old Talbot, in College Street, Worcester was originally the Church House for St. Michael's Church, which stood in the Cathedral churchyard. It dates from the 13th century at least, and played an important part in baking bread and brewing ales for church occasions.


Misc Notes on Inns

Misc Notes on Inns

The following are various information notes which doesn't warrant a particular section, but a point of interest during my research etc. 


The Crown Inn, Evesam

The Crown Inn, Evesam

The Crown Inn was one of the inns sheltering beneath the walls of Evesham Abbey. It existed before the destruction of that great building, and probably found it convenient to change its name in those troubled times.

 


The Angel de la Trompe

The Angel de la Trompe

One of the earliest inns mentioned is the 'Hospice de la Trump' at Worcester in 1473.


Ecclesiastical Inns in Worcestershire

Ecclesiastical Inns in Worcestershire

The first reference to inns in Worcestershire come from documents referring to inns maintained by Ecclesiastic authorities. They all had religious signs, sheltering near the walls of great abbeys, offering refreshments and lodgings to pilgrims..


The Eagle Vaults

The Eagle Vaults

On the corner of Pump Street stands the Eagle Vaults, a good example of 1890 city tavern


High Street Inns

High Street Inns

The last inn in High Street, the Golden Lion, has sadly closed its doors. Much has been written about this historic 'poltical' inn, but there were others in High Street also of historic interest. One door away, on the south side, stood the King's Head.

Mitre

Mitre

St Peter's parish. There in 1664, and kept by Mrs.Dorothy Price in 1732. Soon after was converted into several tenements and three stables. At the same time, there was a Mitre Inn in High Street

Old Rectifying House

Old Rectifying House

North Parade, Generations of visitors have been intrigued as to the origin of its name. It comes simply from the fact that the rear of the building was part of the distillery, and refers to the rectifying of spirits.

Cheshire Cheese Inn

Cheshire Cheese Inn

On the site of what is now part of the Odeon Cinema. It was destroyed about 1829, and the Atheneum built on part of it, and the Natural History Society and Hasting's Museum built on the Foregate Street part.

The Corporation

The Corporation

The Corporation in the old days consisted of two bodies, the '24', which corresponded to our alderman; and the '48', which approximated to present day councillors.

Four Green Dragons Inns in Worcester - all of ancient foundations

Four Green Dragons Inns in Worcester - all of ancient foundations

Green Dragon, Cooken Street. This inn was built on the remains of an ancient house of great importance at the top of Cooken Street, known as the Earl's Post.

King's Head, Sidbury.

King's Head, Sidbury.

In 1690, described as a 'tenement in the parish of St.Peter's, nere adjoynynge the gate of the said cittie called Sudbury gate, and hath been knowen

Cross Inn, Cornmarket

Cross Inn, Cornmarket

That this inn existed, we can thank an entry in the Civil War diary of Henry Townshend, dated June 13, 1646, describing the great seige of Worcester:'the enemy shot off 13 cannons plating chiefly against St.Martin's Church

Three Cranes, Lich Street

Three Cranes, Lich Street

Described in 1601 as containing only three small rooms below and three over, with a cellar belonging to John Honnyett, butcher. In 1690 Anthony Hopkins held it. About the same time there was a house called the Three Cranes in High Street, and one called Three Pyes in Lich Street.

The Cock Inn, Sidbury

The Cock Inn, Sidbury

'Ye Cocke, at ye Knolle-end, Sidbury', was in c.1570 belonging to Hugh Adams, and was

Cross Keys

Cross Keys

St.Mary's Gate (Edgar Tower). In 1776, 'the Cross Keys near the Deanery Garden' changed its name to the Horse & Groom.

Cross Keys, Sidbury.

Cross Keys, Sidbury.

On, or next to, the site of the present White Hart, College Street. In 1690, Harry Green, a maltster held it, with Samuel Bryan, the printer of Worcester's first newspaper as his neighbour. It was pulled down previous to 1744,

Cross Keys, Friar Street.

Cross Keys, Friar Street.

This beautiful half-timbered building is of great age. It appears to have been an ecclesiastical inn, but at various periods, to have been used for other purposes.

Worcester's Ancient Inns

Worcester's Ancient Inns

Only the Old Talbot in College Street, and the Cardinal's Hat in Friar Street, remain of

The Increase in Public Houses from 1830 to 1869

The Increase in Public Houses from 1830 to 1869

From 1830 to 1869 there was agreat increase in the number of public houses, for any person of good character could obtain a beer-house licence for a tenement of certain rateable value.

Worcester Inns Listed in the Worcester Directory of 1829

Worcester Inns Listed in the Worcester Directory of 1829

Angel, Sidbury                            King's Arms, Lich St

The Inventory and Valuation of The Prince of Wales Public House, in The Moors, 1878

The Inventory and Valuation of The Prince of Wales Public House, in The Moors, 1878

The Prince of Wales Public House was situated in The Moors, Worcester, a mixed area of good residential houses of quality that kept servants (Britannia Square); of good substantial tradesmen's houses (Severn Terrace); and a lot of very poor terraced houses

Historical Lists

Historical Lists

Some of Worcester's Inns have been in existence for centuries. In the Middle Ages they gave hospitality to a multitude of travellers; pilgrims to the Cathedral, military personel,

Pack Horse, St. Nicholas Street

Pack Horse, St. Nicholas Street

The Pack Horse was one of the staging houses on the Shrewsbury to London run, but dates earlier than the coaching era, for it is said to have held a licence since 1485.

Robert Allen & Co Ltd (Brewery)

Robert Allen & Co Ltd (Brewery)

The Barbourne Brewery, New Bank Street. The company was formed in October 1900, and originally called Robert Allen, Mumford & Co,

Lewis Clarkes Ltd (Angel Place - Brewery)

Lewis Clarkes Ltd (Angel Place - Brewery)

Founded in 1869, the brewery buildings still remain alongside Crowngate shopping centre. Taken over by Marston, Thompson & Evershed Ltd (the full name of 'Marstons' brewery) of Burton on Trent in 1937.

Speckley Brothers Ltd (Worcester Brewery - Barbourne Road)

Speckley Brothers Ltd (Worcester Brewery - Barbourne Road)

In 1884, Speckley Brothers bought Stallard's Britannia Brewery along with 7 public houses and changed the name to the Worcester Brewery.

The Old Talbot, Sidbury

The Old Talbot, Sidbury

The Talbot Inn, now called the Old Talbot, was originally the Church House for St.Michael's, which stood in the Cathedral churchyard,

The Cardinal's Hat, Friar Street, Worcester

The Cardinal's Hat, Friar Street, Worcester

Worcester Cathedral in the period 1100 to 1540 was one of the principal places of pilgrimage. Many ecclesiastical inns sheltered near the Cathedral, catering for the traveller and pilgrim. The first reference to the Cardinal's Hat is in 1497, when the inn

Inns and Taverns of the City of Worcester

Inns and Taverns of the City of Worcester

Adam & Eve,  High St. Mentioned in 1778; closed by 1850

A test of young manhood

A test of young manhood

Most of the Lowesmoor pubs have now closed, but all remained until 1914, and many into 1930s. Before the First World War, even into the 1930s, the 'Cross to Shrub Hill Run' was regarded as a test of a young man's manhood - certainly of his drinking capacity.

The Cornmarket Inns

The Cornmarket Inns

Until 1848, the Cornmarket and the streets leading to the Cornmarket, was the commercial centre of the City. The Shades in Mealcheapen Street was one of the early city banks. All around were inns with large storage capacity, for corn was sold by sample in