(Thames St off Archdeacon Lane, Vaughn Way.)
Little known is of Uncle Toms Cabin. We know that Thomas Newton applied to change his beerhouse licence to a full one but was refused in September 1854. Prior to that, 1846 saw two beerhouses in Thames Street but no name given – just the landlords’ names: William Orton or Horton and Henry Tyres. Orton held a beerhouse licence in the early 1840s which would become Uncle Toms Cabin.
In 1863, it was run by James Spring: by 1864 J. Marston was landlord, and in 1865 he was succeeded by John Perry. He was charged with permitting drunkenness when police was called to a fight and found eight men drunk in the pub. John Perry’s wife claimed the fight was because two men threatened her and she was protected by customers. Case dismissed.
During the next few years the name changed to Gladstone Arms, with Edward Cluley, landlord. In 1870 he was fined one guinea or one month for after hours drinking. Edward, his wife and five children would be at the Gladstone Arms well into the 1890s. During this time Edward doubled up as a tripe dresser.
Livi Pentrill, a painter was at the Gladstone in 1898 and also held a beerhouse licence. The Gladstone closed circa 1905.
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