PUBS
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A TOUR OF THE TOWN'S PUBS
T
here are now twelve pubs in Marlborough, including one in Manton. All of these are of ancient origin, with maybe a change of name. Some have been modernised and rebuilt over the years, though many retain original features.
Pubs of the past
In the late 18th century almost forty were listed, but the coaching trade collapsed after the opening of the Great Western Railway through Swindon in 1841. Many of these former pubs live on through their names on local streets. For example The Angel at 8 High Street (1605 to 1865) gave its name to Angel Yard and The Plume of Feathers (1777 to 1806) gave its name to the lane off London Road. The Temperance Hotel (1890 to 1930) at 1 London Road has not left its name, but it is still possible to see the sign painted high up on the end of that building. Other sites of former pubs of interest include The Borough Arms at 15 The Parade (1848 to 1913), where the Arms of The Borough of Marlborough are high on the wall of what is now D&R’s shop. There were several White Hart Inns around the town over the centuries and Samuel Pepys stayed in one of them in comfort when he passed
through the town in 1668. It was at one of the White Harts at 114 to 116 High Street (1456 to 1653) that The Chamberlain’s Men, the company of William Shakespeare, are said to have performed. Alma House, now a private house in Alma Place, was the White Hart from 1679 to 1777 and the cellar still has the ramps for rolling down the barrels of beer. Seven pubs have closed since the Second World War: The Bell and Shoulder of Mutton at 44 Kingsbury Street (1780 to 1952) now a shop; The Duke of York at 50 St Martin’s (1826 to 1958) now flats for the elderly; Cross Keys at 26/27 The Parade (1904 to 1974) now offices; The Jolly Butcher at 15 High Street (1757 to 1985) now Maythers Card shop; The Ailesbury Arms at 6 High Street (1843 to 1986) now offices; Up the Garden Path, formerly the New Inn, in Manton High Street (1878 to 1998) is now a private house; The Five Alls at 13 London Road (1780 to 1999) is also private housing. The Five Alls had an interesting sign which explained the origin of its name: the Soldier who fights for all, the Priest who prays for all, the Lawyer who pleads for all, the King who rules all and finally John Bull who pays for them all!
Pubs of the present
Today’s pubs offer a wide range of food and drink to serve all tastes and pockets and are listed in order of antiquity. Some of them also have accommodation (see Where to Stay page 31) The Green Dragon (since 1650) is a Wadworths of Devizes pub and serves that brewery’s famous 6X beer. It has a fine interior with original features and a garden. The Roebuck (since 1739) is a Fuller’s pub and serves that brewery’s excellent draft ales. It has plentiful parking and a garden. This is the pub from where the Fullers Dray leaves every year, that heralds the opening of the Marlborough International Jazz Festival. The Royal Oak (since 1743) has been extensively refurbished. Its name was changed, fortunately for only a brief time, to The Rat and Carrot in the 1990’s. The Sun Inn (since 1751) has one of the finest original interiors for a Marlborough pub, has a Bistro, open fires and pretty multi-level garden. The Castle and Ball (since 1764 and known as The Antelope from 1745 to 1763) is now the town’s only hotel and was extensively refurbished early in 2012. The Bear (since 1950 and known as The Bear and Castle