Brentford's Fifty Pubs

Do you know where they all are or were?

Brentford was so well known for its pubs that a piece of doggerel was written about them. The author starts at the Star and Garter, Kew Bridge Road and proceeds westwards along Brentford High Street, across Brentford Bridge to London Road. Fifty pubs are mentioned. The author is thought to have been one Alfred Pearce, who wrote it in 1948 when he was seventy-four years old (his family ran the Alexandra pub in the High Street). If it is written purely from memory, Mr Pearce did well, but the Brentford trade directories suggest that it is not totally accurate since some of the pubs listed by Mr Pearce had closed before others opened.

“When I was knighted with a STAR AND GARTER
 I was pushed into an EXPRESS
On my way to OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE
I smashed into a PLOUGH
And stood aside by the WAGGON AND HORSES
Little beyond a JOLLY TAR
With a LAMB by his side
Receiving a SALUTATION
Presently FOX AND HOUNDS dashed by
A beautiful HAND AND FLOWER
When I met the MARQUIS OF GRANBY
He fell into the QUEEN'S ARMS
Tugging with a BARGE AGROUND
A BULL stared me in the face
As I crossed by the BREWERY TAP and the ROYAL HOTEL
The PRINCE OF WALES stood on the other side
Up above HALF MOON and SEVEN STARS
With a GLITTERING STAR by its side
Cross yonder stood a DRUM
Attacked by a LION
When I reached the ALEXANDRA
I shook hands with GEORGE THE FOURTH
He advised to salute THE WATERMAN'S ARMS
Then I was back into the KING'S ARMS
Up went the roaring CANNON
At the RISING SUN I tried to lift ONE TON
While BRITANNIA stood to one side
And I met the DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE
He told me he had lost his FEATHERS
A little beyond a BEEHIVE
And a BLACK BOY AND STILL
Playing with a CATHERINE WHEEL
As I crossed the BARLEY MOW
There was a magnificent CASTLE
Near by stood a LION
THREE PIGEONS overhead
With MAGPIE AND STUMP
Beside it MAGPIE AND CROWN
TWO BLACK BOYS rang SIX BELLS
Stood staunch with THE MAGNET with LORD NELSON
I got in the JUNCTION ARMS
They pushed me into the DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND
Beyond stood GEORGE AND DRAGON
The STANDARD floating high
With the ANGEL of peace
When the COACH AND HORSES passed by".

This has been reprinted with kind permission from Gillian Clegg's book "Brentford and Chiswick Pubs". Her new book "Brentford Through Time" is now out.

It is hoped that this verse may give you some suggestions to help you plan your Brentford Pub Challenge on April 2nd

Please note that Brentford's Local History and Family History Day is on 4th June 10am-4pm and will be themed on Pubs and Inns in and around Brentford.

Drop in to the Brentford Library (upstairs) to see the exhibition and photographs and talk to local historians.

March 29, 2011