LOST PUBS, BREWERIES AND OFF LICENCES

THE LOST PUBS, BREWERIES AND OFF LICENCES OF MIDSOMER NORTON

The current pandemic has seen huge pressures on the licensed trade with restrictions on opening hours, contact tracing, hygiene, moving from standing to sitting, social distancing etc. sadly, due to the current restrictions it is likely that many more licensed premises will cease to trade over the coming months and years. However, a reduction in the number of local breweries, pubs and off licenses has been ongoing for many years. whilst most people think of this area as being predominantly coal mining and printing, Welton and Midsomer Norton were also heavily involved in all aspects of the licensed trade. At one time over 120 pubs and off licences were recorded in the local area and many were little more than a front room in a house. A walk from Welton through to Midsomer Norton reflects the number of lost pubs, breweries and off licences in our area.

Despite its modest size Welton / Belle Vue was a mecca for drinkers with records showing 4 pubs, one off licence, 2 breweries and to balance that out – a Temperance Hall as well! The pubs being The Dolphin (only one surviving), Rose and Crown (belle Vue), The Crown and The Red Cow. The off licence was The Plough and situated in Sheppard’s Rank, Belle Vue. The breweries were Welton old brewery, specialising in a low gravity malty beer known as mild, and Welton north brewery producing bitter. A walk along station road towards Midsomer Norton takes you past the now closed welton bag factory that for many years was the home of the 3 Firms Club and then on to Stones Cross which in its day was a thriving coaching inn. A quick left turn to south View Place took you to Priors’ Mineral water factory which closed in the 1970s.

A little further on down Midsomer Norton High Street would have taken you past The 3 Horseshoes (where Argos is now) and directly opposite through a stone archway was an off licence.

A small property in North Way was for some years the base for the Midsomer Norton Rugby Club followed by the Midsomer Norton Conservative Club. During the Second World War the property was used to make batteries for chloride.

Rackvernal Road also had a small pub called by various names it seems – The Bluebird, The Blackbird and The Miners' Arms.

“Bob's Palais” was originally Smith's brewery with the Palladium being the brewery’s barrel store. At the top of Silver Street, you would find the Green Ball Inn on your left. Back to Midsomer Norton and next to Natwest was the Wunderbar a great venue for local bands. On the corner of Church Square, backing on the church wall, stood The Silver Hart which was demolished and replaced by The White Hart in The Island. The White Hart was built adjoining an existing brewery and opposite the brewery mill. According to the census of 1891 and 1901, a lot of those living in The Island were in some way involved in the brewing industry. Also in Church Square was The Hole in the Wall – a small brewery.

Just when you thought that enough was enough, Redfield Road was also a mecca for drinkers with 2 pubs (Crossways and Fir Tree) and 2 off licences (Crossway Stores and Marlborough Arms) and just round the corner, in Chilcompton Road was the King's Arms.

Once we have turned a corner with the pandemic, let’s all support our remaining ‘locals’, so they are here for many more years to come. i

Information by Graeme King

Images and information by Tom Randell

An early photo of The Crown by Wellow Brook, Welton. People have sometimes mistakenly called this The Horse & Trap, mistaking the advertising sign on the far left for the name of the pub In 1944 American troops were billeted here and the garage at the back served as an Army post office from 5 January to 14 April. US troops were also billed across the road in the Welton Bag factory, formerly Welton Brewery up to 1916.

The Stones Cross Hotel approx. 1908. At that time the landlord’s name was Woolf. In its day, it was a very important place. Many local organisations had their meetings there, especially businessmen. The Midsomer Norton Friendly Society used it as their headquarters for the latter half on the C19th. A far cry from what it is today!

Welton Brewery closed down after a huge fire in 1916 and the whole business, including over 100 pubs which they owned was sold to George’s of Bristol. By 1918, Walter Merrick brought his printing business here from Bath. In this image dating from the early twentieth century, on the left is the sign for Ashton Gates off-licence and centre-right is the signpost for the Three Horseshoes pub, since demolished and replaced by a large store. Even with the renovations and new signage, the rooflines are still recognisable