Names of old pubs in Newtown

[Blyndwynder]

Here we go again....Pubs!
Don't know if this has been covered before but....

Talking to dad the other night (He's 86 don't you know), we started listing the pubs present and gone in Newtown.
Bounded by the Kennet, Kings Road and London Road.
So far we have:
Leopold Arms
The Sun
The True Patriot
Fishermans Cottage
Thames Tavern
The Jolly Angler
Borough Arms
Jack Of Both Sides
The Granby

Don't seem to have any east of Cumberland Road. Were there any, if not was there a reason?

[lizwing]

There was mention in another topic of the fact that Newtown was a Quaker area and they discouraged pubs on their land. We live in Tilehurst and there is the same situation, you have The Royal Oak in Westwood Glen but nothing between there and Pangbourne. Don't forget The Eastgate in Cholmeley Road though.

[monkeesee]

You beat me to it lizwing, was also going to mention the Eastgate. I left Reading some time ago but gather from posts on the forum and occasional call to old friends that some pubs listed are still trading but under different names.

[lizwing]

I think the Eastgate has gone

[monkeesee]

Thanks lizwing, i'd had the sad news already, apparently flats now. Pretty poor exchange methinks.

[Bledlow]

The Eastgate was demolished & replaced by housing several years ago. Ditto the Plasterers Arms, & more recently the Dove in Orts Road. Ah well, at least I got to drink in those three.

I've never thought of the Granby & Jack as being in Newtown proper. They're both south of Kings Road/London Road. Only the Jolly Anglers & the Fishermans Cottage survive between those roads & the Kennet.

[Edit]Brain failure! Forgot the name of the Plasterers Arms.

[monkeesee]

I'd go along with that Bledlow, the Granby and Jack wurnt Newtown as I recall it (never lived there but had a mate who did) and I don't think he ever considered them "proper" Newtown pubs. Maybe Oldman can shed some light.

[lizwing]

As I've said in another thread my nan lived in Radstock Road and she didn't consider the Jack or the Granby as being in Newtown.

[shrinkingman]

It may just be my dodgy memory, but wasn't the Engineers Arms around that area?

[Les]

Mine is probably dodgy as well but I thought that it wsa in Norrthumberland Avenue at the southern end.

[monkeesee]

Engineers Arms was without a doubt pure Whitley.

[Laura_Eva]

The Rupert Arms (Whitbread) in the bit of Rupert Street near the river which is now the "Rupert Walk" development ... long gone (1970's), together with most of the terraced houses between Ort's Road and the Kennet.

And the Angler's Arms, similar area (Rupert Street / Leopold Road / Albert Road apex ?) and I think not to be confused with the Jolly Angler.

[shrinkingman]

Engineers Arms was without a doubt pure Whitley.

You're right, it's the Plasterers Arms I'm thinking of.

[Blyndwynder]

Understand about Newtown being a Quaker area...but this confuses me because I always thought of Orts Road, Leopold Road, Rupert Street etc as Newtown, and no shortage of pubs around there.
Also take point about the Granby etc not being "Pure" Newtown.

So who can tell me if Back lane was officially in Newtown?

[Greyfriarmonk]

Understand about Newtown being a Quaker area...but this confuses me because I always thought of Orts Road, Leopold Road, Rupert Street etc as Newtown, and no shortage of pubs around there.
Also take point about the Granby etc not being "Pure" Newtown.

So who can tell me if Back lane was officially in Newtown?

Are you refering to the the road that ran behind Kings Road down to the river from Oats Road?

[OLDMAN]

Understand about Newtown being a Quaker area...but this confuses me because I always thought of Orts Road, Leopold Road, Rupert Street etc as Newtown, and no shortage of pubs around there.
Also take point about the Granby etc not being "Pure" Newtown.

So who can tell me if Back lane was officially in Newtown?

We had a Newtown thread recently (viewtopic.php?f=34&t=6458) explaining how it developed over the years but basically in 2 parts – it could be that part was Quaker and the rest not – there again…….

Where I live was all developed by H&P for their workers so would have also been Quaker land etc

There is only one pub (the Roebuck) and one of the previous landlords did some checking and found it was built at the same time as the housing but not as a ‘true pub’

It was developed as an ale house for the workers who lived in the area –

The story went that H&P realising that the workers, not being quite so ‘religious’ would go to the pub anyway, and rather than have the drunk / hung-over they would control it

They supposedly gave out rationed tokens as part of the salary that could be exchanged for a limited amount of drink

Enough to wet the whistle but not get drunk!

An early form of ‘Big Brother’

[OLDMAN]

This is a test – sorry all will be explained!!