So many fondly-remembered Northampton pubs have shut their doors over the years but are still in the memories of their customers.
These photos - researched by Dave Knibb, the Northampton author of 'Last Orders: A History and Directory of Northampton Pubs' - show some of the Northampton's old stomping grounds.
Do you remember stopping for a drink in any of them?
Dave's self-published book has sold more than 2,000 copies. Call 07939990790 or email [email protected], to buy a copy.
5. The Flower in Hand near Wellingborough Road
Dave said: "Set immediately behind the Princess Royal just off the Wellingborough Road, the wonderfully named Flower In Hand led a fairly prosperous existence in the 19th Century with many clubs and societies using it as a base. Even the Morning Star CC held its annual meeting there in 1889, which is not as unusual as it sounds, I have come across many examples of a club moving pub, either temporarily or permanently with a name change to follow. The Flower In Hand dated back until at least 1865 and finally shut its doors in 1937. It was decided to revoke its licence during the year but sadly, the landlord, Arthur Warren passed away so his wife Janet presided over its last few months, when it was absorbed into the Princess Royal."
6. Pomfret Arms in Cotton End
Dave said: "Whether the pub existed under a previous name is unclear, but the first recorded mention I could find was for an auction to be held at the Sign of the Earl Of Pomfret’s Arms in 1776. Ideally positioned on the road from London to Northampton, it jostled with many other pubs and Inns outside the South Gate of the town for trade, many of which are lost in the mists of time and beyond our reach, but it is a testament to it that it is still trading. The Pomfret Arms has had many floods over the years (the photo is from 1875) and several temporary closures but is still with us. Whereas the huge amount of slum housing just over the river in and off Bridge Street gave it a large catchment area in Victorian times, its market had shrunk significantly in the 20th Century, but with the amount of flats built around it in recent years, hopefully it will keep going for many more years."
7. Cricketers Arms in Hervey Street
Dave said: "Granted a licence for the surrender of the Cottage Tavern in Bridge Street, this pub was meant to serve an area rather than a street. Although the Kettering Road pubs weren’t too far away, instead of multiple pubs in every street, as happened in the Boroughs, this one would serve Hervey, Hunter, Gray, Burns, Carey, Hood and Cowper Streets as well as Colwyn and Shakespeare Roads. Licence granted in 1879, the Cricketers ticked over nicely for well over a century, being an essential social hub of the community, finally closing in 2010. I’ve heard that it’s been turned into flats now, but for the life of me, I can’t face going to check out whether it’s true or not, I’d rather remember it as it was, a good local boozer."
8. The Flowing Tankard
Dave said: "Another wonderful name. The Flowing Tankard was in the little known St John’s Terrace which is still there. It’s now smaller than it was but still leads off Swan Street (where the Premier Inn is) and used to run parallel along the back of Albion Place. The Flowing Tankard was for sale in 1860, amongst the details there was mention that the place had been trading for twenty five years, which dates it to around 1835, although whether it had a ‘sign’ back then or was just an unnamed beer house, is unclear. 1860 is the earliest I have found for it though. It seemed to live a quiet little existence right through to 1906 when it was referred for compensation, of the 12 pubs closed at this time, it had the second smallest pay out of £215, probably accurately reflecting its status."