History of Warwick Pubs

Written by John Crossling (JohnCrossling@aol.com).

RACEHORSE
This modern pub on the outskirts of Warwick along the Stratford Road was first listed in 1953. 
It is the only Everards owned pub in the area. 
The licensees listed are: 
1953-1955 William Norbury 			1956-1958 Neil Gilks 
1959-1961 H. R. Sturgiess 
No other names are listed in the directories although the pub still operates today. 
It is a large open plan pub around an island bar. It serves Everards Beacon Bitter and Tiger 
at various times but often only one at a time. There is a conservatory at the front of the pub 
overlooking the car park and another larger one at the rear which also doubles up as a family room. 
As is the norm these days, food is quite heavily promoted. 

RAILWAY INN
This typical Victorian Street corner local stands on the junction of Coventry Road and Guy Street 
near the Railway Station. It was listed as being 35 Guy Street. 
It is first listed in 1874 and 13 licensees are recorded. 
1874 John Gards 					1862 John Cox 
1880-1888 John Gardener 				1889-1894 L. W. Gardener 
1895-1905 John Golby 				1906-1907 Charles H. Caves 
1908-1916 Ernest F. Robbins 			1917-1927 E. Alexander 
1927-1931 William Daulman 			1932-1949 Mrs. Lizzie E. Daulman 
1950-1956 Bernard James Bradley 
No further names are listed but the pub still exists today. It is a small M&B pub selling only one 
traditional ale, Brew XI. It is a plain open plan drinking pub the sort that are becoming increasingly 
hard to find these days. 

RED HORSE (1)
This pub was situated at 57, Crompton Street and was first recorded in 1849. 
1849-1862 John Mottram 				1880-1882 David Bickley 
1883-1885 Samuel Cashmore 			1886-1887 Charles Peabody 
1888-1892 David Bickley 				1893 F. Spencer 
1894-1900 David N. Fretwell 			1901 A. M. Hobbs 
1902-1910 Albert Cooper 				1911-1916 J. Gulliver 
1917-1918 R. Pope 				1919-1921 G.M. Bradley 
1922-1923 Joseph Cross 				1924-1927 J. Such 
1928 William Corke 				1929 Harry Hobbs 
1930-1932 John Lewis 				1933 Peter Cordwell 
1934-1935 Frank Arthur de-Saulles 		1936-1937 Joseph Frederick Wade 
1938 Andrew Toms 				1939-1941 Charles Edward Kitto 
1942-1947 Thomas William Armstrong 
The pub was no longer listed after this date. 
In 1927 Kelly's Directory disagreed with Spennall's Directory as they stated that Arthur Such 
was running the pub. David Bickley who ran the pub in its early days was multi-talented as he 
was also recorded as being a rope and twine manufacturer. I wonder if that is unique as a second 
trade for a licensee. 
Crompton Street is a little way out of the town centre and as such it perhaps an unlikely place to 
run a carrier service from. Despite this handicap they did try for a while with running on Saturdays 
between 1895 and 1899; perhaps the proximity to the racecourse was an influence. 

RED HORSE (2)
Confusingly we have another pub of the same name in Warwick although this second one was somewhat 
earlier than the other. This pub was recorded as being in Sheep Street, which has subsequently been 
renamed Northgate Street. It was marked on the 1806 map of the town and the owner was given as 
John Tomes and the landlord was Thomas Armstrong. Since there is almost 150 years between them there 
is no question of it being the same person but it would be nice to think that the last landlord of the 
other Red Horse may have been a relative of this one. 

RED LION (1)
This was a long-standing pub situated at 4 Swan Street. 
It was fist recorded on the 1788 map of the Town when Mr. Bentley owned it. 
1828-1829 Martha Voss 				1833 William Ivens
1849 George Brown 				1881-1882 Samuel and James Mallory 
I have also found another reference for 1880, which listed the Mallory brothers as wine merchants. 
By 1883 all the directories were listing them as wine merchants and there was no longer any reference 
to the Red Lion.  This pub was noteworthy enough to be mentioned in Kemp's History of Warwick. 
Being centrally located in the town it was regularly frequented by Carriers but I have only got 
records for two years.  In 1849 carriers ran on Saturdays to Balsall, Kineton, Lapworth, Lighthorne, 
Napton, Priors Marston, Shipston, Stratford, Tysoe, Weston. They ran on Tuesdays and Saturdays to 
Daventry and Harbury and on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays to Kenilworth. 
In 1850 there was a dramatic drop in frequency with the only carriers listed running on Saturdays 
to Claverdon and to Rugby. 

RED LION (2)
Yes this is another confusing double entry of pub name although this one was not recorded until as 
late as 1951 which in itself is surprising as the building is at least of Victorian origin if not Georgian. 
The only licensee listed was William John Newman and he was there from 1953 until 1956. 
The pub continued well past that date but the directories stopped giving licensees name at that time. 
The pub closed in the late 1980s. I can remember having a few excellent pints of Davenport's Bitter 
in the pub shortly after I first arrived in the area. I seem to remember it having quite a large 
no nonsense bar with a separate back room that had quite an active jazz club based in it. 
After it closed down it stood empty for some time after the ground floor was converted for two shop units. 
Eventually it was acquired by the TSB and converted into a bank. The bank has recently changed its name 
again and is now known as Lloyds TSB. Although there was quite a time gap between the two Red Lions 
it is surprising to note that they were both in the same street as this latter one was listed at 
12 Swan Street. 

RISING SUN
I have only found two references to this pub that was near the West Gate to the town. 
Kemp in his 1905 book "History of Warwick and its People" makes the following observation; 
"About half way down on the left stands the Roman Catholic church of St. Mary's and schools adjoining. 
On the right was the Rising Sun."  The Directory of 1849 listed the Rising Sun as being on West Street 
and the licensee was William Winbush. I believe the pub is now one of the shops that stand along that 
part of the Street. 

ROCK TAVERN
This pub was a humble beer house, which was situated at 32 Saltisford. It is first listed in 1880. 
1880 William Bollin 				1881-1882 John Grubb 
1883-1886 Mrs. M. A. Grubb 			1887-1889 William Slack 
1890-1898 J. J. Hinkins 				1899-1929 Henry Such 
1930-1941 Arthur Such 				1942-1948 Mrs. Elsie Such 
1950-1966 Frederick Ernest Steel 
It was no longer recorded in 1967. It is quite rare to get any pub to be passed between members 
of the family but this one had that happen three times involving two different families! Is this a record? 
It is much more likely for a basic no-frills beer-house to be passed through a family as a close 
attachment is developed in this type of establishment and it takes a particular type of dedication 
to keep the business going. 

ROEBUCK
This well-known pub is situated at 57, Smith Street and is a popular pub to this day. 
The earliest record of it as a pub is the 1806 map of Warwick where it is shown as being 
owned and run by Mrs. Cookes. The building is however much older than that and even gets 
a brief mention in the Victoria County History where it is described as "a restored and 
altered house probably of the late 16th Century". 
I have tracked down 21 former licensees: 
1806 Mrs Cookes, 				1822-1829 Ann Hardy, 
1849 Henry Woodfield, 				1862 Sarah Woodfield, 
1874 Thomas Brown, 				1880-1881 Henry Dobbs, 
1882-1886 John Needle, 				1887-1889 Ellen Langford, 
1890-1897 William Cole, 				1898-1901 A Hammond, 
1902-1910 William John Simmons, 			1911 P C Whitehead, 
1912-1916 F Gould, 				1917-1918 L B Gould, 
1919-1931 William Randall,			1932-1934 Mrs Harriett Randall, 
1935-1941 Harold Charles Jones, 			1942-1945 Mrs Henrietta Ann, Jones, 
1948-1950 Harry Knight, 				1953 William Ernest Cotton, 
1956 George H Taylor. 
From then on the names are no longer listed but it was in the hands of a long standing 
licensee who retired a few years ago. The pub today is L-shaped with a bar area to the 
front and along eating area going away from the front. The pub has a nice olde worlde feel. 
The beers are currently from Theakstons and the full range is available, Bitter; XB and 
Old Peculier. These are supplemented by a guest beer which often Moorland Old Speckled Hen. 

ROSE & CROWN
Another fine town centre hostelry that has a long documented history. 
It is first recorded on the 1788 map. The pubs address is 30 Market Place but the 
1806 map indicates that part of the Market Place that joined the top of the former 
Holloway (a former main road into the town centre from the Saltisford) as being Hogs Hill. 
22 licensees have been recorded to my knowledge. 1788 Rt. Hon. Charles Greville, 
1806 Richard Perks, 				1828-1829, Thomas Chetland, (1833 Susanna Chetland)
1849-1851 Samuel Canning,			1862 Thomas Gibbs, 
1874 James Barratt, 				1880 Joseph Webster, 
1881-1887 Mary Jane, Murnane,			1888 A Mortlock, 
1889-1892 Mrs Chilcott,				1893-1898 W F, Morris, 
1899 Mrs Morris, 				1900 Charles Barlow, 
1901-1903 F Pinder, 				1904 H S Bentley (or Bewley in Kelly's Directory), 
1905 H S Bewley, 				1906 Mrs Mathews, 
1907 H S Bewley, 				1908-1921 James Stokes, 
1922-1941 L Fitzmaurice (1927 Kelly's Directory listed him as Leonard V Fitzmaurice), 
1942-1943 William James Waring,			1945-1950, William McRae, 
1953 Albert Graham Robinson, 			1956 Bernard F Dufficy. 
From then on the names are not given but the pub remains active to this very day when 
the most recent landlord is Brian Parker who also runs the Two Boats at Long Itchington. 
Bass have long owned the pub but recently it has been turned over to the Punch Taverns Pub Chain. 
The pub has a large through bar right across the front of the pub and a fine separate 
lounge area accessed down the left of the bar. Behind the bar itself is a fine snug that 
is completely enclosed and is served via a hatch at the back of the bar. Snugs such as 
this were fairly common during Victorian times but are quite rare these days and efforts 
should be made to preserve it.  The beers are predominately from Bass and feature Brew XI 
and Draught Bass. It also regularly stocks Highgate Mild from Walsall. This was a Bass owned 
brewery until a few years ago. In fact it was both the smallest Brewery owned by Bass and the 
only exclusive Mild brewery in their empire, possibly in the Country. The Brewery is now 
independent following a management buy out and the range has expanded to include some bitters 
and the excellent Old Ale at Christmas time. The pub also stocks a changing guest beer from 
Punch's prescribed list. It is also an extremely rare outlet for real scrumpy cider in these parts. 
One other striking feature of this pub not known to too many people is its wonderful cellars. 
I have been fortunate enough to see them and they are huge! You could open an underground pub 
in them at least as big as the ground floor one. The high arched ceilings of some of them are 
carved out of solid rock. There are rumours that these deep cellars have secret passages linking 
to the Castle but if there is they are very well hidden! Not surprisingly for a pub in the Market 
Square it has long been involved with carriers travelling to all parts of the West Midlands, 
at times it must have seemed like Piccadilly Circus there. The first reference to carriers I have 
found goes way back to 1828-1829 when there was a service to Harford on Saturdays operated by 
Thomas Lomas; another on the same day ran to Lapworth and that belonged to John Kimberley and 
third Saturday service ran to Tyson and that was owned by Thomas Randan. Carriers are first 
regularly listed in 1849 when they ran on Saturdays to Bedlams Inn, Cubbington, Cumbroke , 
Halford, Henley-in-Arden, Lapworth, Northampton, Penley Green and Radway. In 1850 they ran 
on Saturdays to Berkswell, Cubbington, Coventry, Henley-in-Arden, Lapworth, Pillerton, Stratford, 
Preston Bagot, Shrewley, Tachbrook, and Banbury. There were also three running to Birmingham, and 
one that ran to Kineton on both Tuesday and Saturday. By 1862 the Saturday services were to Aisley, 
Leamington, Penley Green and Southam. There was also a regular Tuesday and Saturday service to 
Pillerton and Stratford and a Wednesday and Saturday route to Wellesbourne. In 1880 the Saturday 
only services were to Daventry, Halford, Harbury, Long Itchington, Snitterfield, Southam, and Ufton, 
however the Tuesday and Saturday routes were increasing running to Barford, Beausale, Birmingham, 
Hatton, Kineton and Leamington. In 1881 Saturday services were to Banbury, Halford, Harbury (twice), 
Lillington, Long Itchington, Offchurch, Princethorpe, Radford (four times), Rowington, Snitterfield, 
Solihull, Ufton (three times), Wappenbury, Wellesbourne and Weston. On Tuesdays and Saturdays 
carriers ran to Acocks Green, Balsall Heath, Barford (twice), Beausale, Bedlams Inn, Birmingham, 
Hatton (twice), Kineton, Knowle, Shrewley, Temple Balsall and Wellesbourne. There was also one 
to Lighthorne on Wednesday and Saturdays. By 1882 the Saturday carriers ran to Bedlams Inn, 
Daventry, Ettington, Halford Bridge, Offchurch, Radford (three times), Rowington, Snitterfield, 
and Ufton (twice). On Tuesday and Saturdays they went to Banbury, Beausale, Hatton (twice), 
Kineton, Sherbourne, Shrewley and Wellesbourne (twice). The one service to Lighthorne continued 
on Wednesdays and Saturdays. In 1883 the Saturday routes went to Daventry, Ettington, Halford 
Bridge, Harbury, Long Itchington, Offchurch, Radford (three times), Rowington, Southam, and 
Ufton (twice). The Tuesday and Saturday services ran to Beausale, Hatton (twice), Lighthorne, 
Sherbourne, Shrewley (twice), and Snitterfield. 1884 saw routes on Saturdays to Daventry, 
Ettington, Halford Bridge, Harbury, Hatton, Hockley Heath, Long Itchington, Offchurch, 
Radford (three times), Rowington, Shirley, Shrewley, Snitterfield, Southam and Ufton (twice). 
Tuesdays and Saturdays to Beausale, Bedlams Inn, Hatton (twice), Sherbourne, Shrewley, and 
Tachbrooke. In addition the Wednesday and Saturday service to Lighthorne was back. 1885 saw 
Saturday routes to Bedlams Inn, Daventry, Ettington, Halford Bridge, Harbury, Hatton, Hockley Heath, 
Knowle, Long Itchington, Offchurch, Radford (three times), Rowington, Shirley, Shrewley, Snitterfield, 
Southam and Ufton (twice). The Tuesday and Saturday routes were to Beausale, Sherbourne and Tachbrooke. 
The Wednesday and Saturday Lighthorne service continued. In 1886 the Saturday services went to Daventry, 
Ettington, Halford Bridge, Harbury, Long Itchington, Offchurch, Radford (three times), Rowington, 
Shrewley, Snitterfield, Southam and Ufton (twice). The Tuesday and Saturday timetables ran to 
Beausale, Bedlam, Chadwick End, Chesterton, Knowle, Sherbourne and Tachbrooke. The Wednesday and 
Saturday service to Lighthorne still ran. In 1887 the style of the directories changed so that 
destinations were no longer given but the frequency of departures on the various days of the week 
was still indicated. There would appear to be a pronounced drop in traffic but it may be a 
reflection of the number of vehicles going to all the destinations listed above along their routes. 
There was a Thursday and Saturday service; three Saturday only routes and three Tuesday and Saturdays 
all going to various destinations. 1888 saw a Thursday and Saturday service, a Tuesday and Saturday, 
and a Saturday only. 1889 saw three on Saturdays and two on Tuesdays and Saturdays. 1890 and 1891 
had two on Saturdays and three on Tuesday and Saturdays. 1892 - 1897 had two on Saturdays and two 
on Tuesdays and Saturdays. 1898 - 1901 had three on Saturdays and one on Tuesdays and Saturdays. 
1902 - 1906 had one on Saturdays and another on Tuesdays and Saturdays. 1907-1911 were down to just 
one on Saturdays. 1912-1913 saw a return to one on Saturdays and another on Tuesdays and Saturdays. 
1914-1916 saw one on Tuesdays and Saturdays only. 1917-1920 was back to just the one on Saturdays. 
The very last reference to carriers came in 1928 when surprisingly there were three Saturday 
services listed. Over this 50 year period you can see the gradual growth of the local coaches to 
their heyday in the early 1880s and then their gradual decline as first busses stole their traffic 
and eventually even cars started to make journeys more accessible if only to the relatively well off. 
This drop in service must have also had a major impact on the business of the pubs from which the 
carriers ran. 

ROYAL OAK (1)
There is a very early reference to a pub of this name in the County Record Office that apparently 
was standing in Castle Street at least between 1661 and 1684 but I do not know anything more about it. 

ROYAL OAK (2)
There was also another pub marked on the 1788 map of Warwick with the same name. 
This one was in the Market Place and more precisely was situated at the Woolpack Back Gate. 
Mr James ran it. 
It is strange to have a pub of one name standing by the back gate of a large hotel of a different name 
and presumably quite different businesses. 




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