Redbourn
May Walker
1960
I don't know if all copies of this privately printed book are like the one I have - but it is of presentation quality, boxed, with soft leather cover and with gilt edged pages.
Main Headings: Redbourn; The Name; Watling Street and the Manors; The Manors; Domesday Book; Loss of Rights and Customs; Bettespol Mill; Dissolution of the Monastries; The Church; Redbourn Charities; Today and Yesterday (contains details of many of the buildings, and other features of the village).
The Inns described are the Punch Bowl, Running Horses, Chequers, Green Tree, Saracens Head, Railway, Lark, Woolpack, Cock, Greyhound, Antelope, Bull, White Horde; White Hart; Tom-in-Bedlam, Victoria, Crown, Red Lion, Old Mother Redcap, Princes Head, Black Cat, Bell, Black Horse, Greyhound, Cricketers, Sheep Wash, Jolly Gardeners, Holly Bush, Waggon and Horses.
Sample extract
THE CRICKETERS. One James Smith who died about 1864 had lived in a cottage on the corner of Redbourn Common near the cross roads and at the beginning of East Common. He was official rat catcher to the Gorhambury Estate. He brought beer and began to retail it but the police took action and brought him before the magistrates for opening an inn without a licence. However, the Earl intervened, told Smith how to apply for licence which was granted and 'The Three Horseshoes' sign went up. Later, as the inn catered for the needs of the cricketers on the common, the name was changed to 'The Cricketers'. Two adjoining cottages that at one time were occupied by William Robbins and Thomas Austin are now part of the inn. |
There is a web page for Redbourn
| Locating
Books This book may only have had a small print run, has no ISBN, and I could not find a copy for sale online. The book is not listed in the British Library, COPAC or Worldcat online catalogues. Reference only copies are held in HALS and the local Redbourn public library. |
Page updated October 2005