Photo above: circa 1900.
The first known record is of Edward Simpson, circa 1845, running the West Bridge Tavern. Edward would die there in 1866. His son, Charles Simpson, carried on and in 1874 the licence passed to Henry Cave – although the Simpsons were still recorded as owners. On Henry’s death wife, Eliza, held the licence for a short time before. In 1890, Emma Partridge took the reigns, followed by George Needham (1898), and Emma Needham (1911). Charles Grey was landlord in 1931.
There is little reference as a pub after the 1930s, but it possibly continued as a shop and beer offie until the 1950s
Boarded up circa 1960, looking from Dunns Lane.
NOT RICHARD III
In September 1920, there was great excitement when Everards excavating – footings for a garage behind the West Bridge Tavern – unearthed half a dozen skeletons. Rumour that it was Richard III was soon dispelled: archaeologists studied the remains, which were several centuries old and concluded that they were monks from the old nearby monasteries. Tare pottery depicting a nun at an altar was also found.
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