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Brentford Pubs Poem

Whether the pubs all existed at the same time is doubtful, but one has to admire the effort in creating the poem.
See links for other pub-related material.

Thanks to the person who sent a typescript copy of the poem in 2004; this is below. See also another version of the poem, provided by Peter Ranshaw. A fourth and fifth version of the poem were located by Vic Rosewarne in 2020 and 2017 and are at the end, with his notes. He has worked out a likely date for when the poem was compiled. Vic has also researched the histories of several of the pubs mentioned - see links.

In 2019 Douglas Chinnery sent a copy of the poem written out by his father in a 1980s' calligraphy class, see below.
He adds:
Reading through it I see that it does not mention the Beehive which was my grandad's local ...(read more memories). This attributes the poem to Alfred Pearce.

Version 2

Address: KBR = Kew Bridge Road; LR = London Road; the rest are High Street.

Notes

1. The Jolly Tar in the poem was before The Lamb; I thought the poem might be referring to the Royal Tar at no. 3, but this lay beyond The Lamb: so perhaps the Jolly Tar was a different pub. (But then why not mention the Royal Tar?)
2. The Glittering Star is a mystery. Next to the Half Moon and Seven Stars was the Royal Hotel, which was never known as The Star. There was a Star Brewery in the mid C19 but it was in Boston Manor Road (B22).
3. The Red Lion at no. 318 (Old Brentford)
4. There was a beerhouse at around no. 72 in 1841 - 1861 (before the High Street was numbered) and it appears to be in about the right place to be the Britannia
5. A beerhouse was established at no. 98 by 1841; in the 1881 census it was named as The BarleyCORN
6. The Red Lion at no. 197 (New Brentford)
7. You would come across the Grand Junction Arms before the Magnet and Lord Nelson
8. I have not found The Standard on London Road Isleworth

Version 3

"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 by the side of the Wagon and Horses
With a Lamb by the side
Receiving a Salutation.
Presently Fox and Hounds dashed by
A beautiful Hand in Flower.
When I met the Marquess of Granby
I fell in to the Queen's Arms
Tugging with a Barge Aground.
A Bull stared me in the face
As I crossed by the Brewery Tap.
The Prince of Wales stood the other side.
Up above was a Half Moon and Seven Stars,
With a Glittering Star by its side.
Cross yonder was a Drum
Attacked by a Red Lion.
When I reached Alexandra
I shook hands with George IV.
He advised me to salute the Waterman's Arms.
Then I was back into the King's Arms.
Up went a roaring Cannon
At the Rising Sun.
I tried to lift One Ton
While Britannia stood one side.
I met the Duke of Cambridge.
He old me he had lost his Feathers.
A little beyond a Beehive
There was a Black Boy and Still
Playing with a Catherine Wheel.
As I crossed to the Barley Mow
There was a magnificent Castle.
Near by stood a Red Lion
With Three Pigeons flying overhead
With Magpie and Stump
And Magpie and Crown.
Two Black Boys were ringing Six Bells.
Standing staunch was the Magnet with Lord Nelson.
I arrived at the Junction Arms,
Calling on the Duke of Northumberland,
With the George and Dragon nearby.
The Standard was flying high.
There was an Angel of peace
When a Coach and Horses passed by.

Version 4

The Brentford and Ealing Independent, Wednesday 7 November 1883, published the following poem listing almost all the Brentford public houses open at that date. This poem was reprinted with some parts deleted, in the Middlesex Independent & West London Star, 13 January 1940. The central part of the poem listing all the pubs is identical in both reports.

SIGNS OF OUR TIMES

I took a walk through Brentford Town,
On "copy" finding bent;
I scanned the hoardings up and down
With harrowed feelings pent;
But nowhere could I find a line
To write of, good or evil,
And anxious thoughts bore me direct
To office and the devil,
The printer's devil, him I mean,
Not he of sulphury stink,
The one quite close is mostly seen,
I of other merely think.
But thoughts as these no pleasures bring,
And as I looked around,
I saw a modest sign-board swing
With legend, Barge Aground.
Oh ! Happy thought, to Burnand quote,
I felt my cares grow light,
Of public-houses I'll take note,
But nothing else till night.

---------------

Come by Express to Brentford down
For honours do not barter,
For at the entrance to the town
You'll find the Star and Garter.

Geographers would never think
At Kew Bridge they would find
Oxford and Cambridge, on the brink
Where silvery Thames doth wind.

A Plough the farmer he can get,
Waggon and Horses too,
And if on Lamb his thoughts are set,
He'll find one close to view.

As oe'r the Globe the sailors roam,
The Magnet for their guide,
Their Hope and Anchor is their home,
Whatever may betide.

The North Star helps to guide their course,
Until the Rising Sun,
And sweet Six Bells their sounds discourse,
To prove the day's begun.

Lord Nelson brave is twice assigned
To be a beer-shop's name,
Marquis of Granby much maligned,
To public gives the same.

The Duke of Cambridge he might ride
His White Horse in our bounds,
Hunt the White Hart near the Windmill's side,
Or follow Fox and Hounds.

Alexandra and The Prince of Wales
Are both in Brentford found,
A Royal Tar may tell his tales
Ere Eight Bells give their sound.

A Royal Horseguardsman stands quite near
The Standard, firm and loyal,
While Patriot and Volunteer
Both guard the Princess Royal.

Here heraldry is in full flag,
Displaying curious traces,
Bricklayers' Arms before us swing
And Watermens' in two places.

Grand Junction Arms are twice displayed,
Carpenters' Arms the same,
While Clarencieux would feel dismayed
The Pottery Arms to name.

The Hand and Flower, Red Lions two,
Bull, Harp, and Feathers beside,
Half Moon and Crown and Royal Oak
In which King Charles did hide.

The King's Arms and the Queen's Arms both,
With soldiers quartered oft,
While George the Fourth seems nothing loath,
And looks down from aloft.

With Coach and Horses you may ride
And view the Northumberland Arms,
With George and Dragon close beside,
And near an Angel charms.

Half Moon and Seven Stars combined,
And Seven Stars as well,
American and Turks may find
Their National pride to swell.

Black Boy and Still which does not run,
And Barleycorn quite near,
While not far off is The One Tun,
Near which The Grapes appear.

As Shovel and Hoe on shoulders borne,
The Bee Hive left behind,
The Jolly Gardeners tired and worn,
Rest at the New Inn may find.

Within The Castle lives a King,
Who like a man can't feel;
Two Black Boys near can dance and sing,
Or turn a Catherine Wheel.

A Salutation you may hear
When near Magpie and Stump,
You need not at The Cannon fear,
Nor stay The Drum to thump.

Three Pigeons near Magpie and Crown
The Sportsman need not mark,
And Waterman's Hall in yard far down,
He'll find it not too dark.

My walk is o'er, my task is done,
I've been the signboards round,
I hope I've not forgotten one,
Though I have done, I'll be bound.

I sometimes write to others please,
Sometimes I write for pelt,
But this I wrote my friends to tease
Because it pleased myself.

‘Tis stuff and nonsense, may be low,
But not scissors and paste,
And stuff and nonsense I well know
Oft suit the public taste.

Or why of Boards of Guardians read,
Or Local Board's sweet will,
Or "Tits by Tom," or Landlord's greed,
All which these columns fill ?

Such things, thought "bosh" by guardians wise,
Form part of our designs,
Some Brentford people perhaps may prize
This catalogue of signs.

The devil comes ! "All right, 'tis here,"
He's gone and out of sight,
I think I've earned a glass of beer,
I'll have one now. Good night.

FINE ALE.

__________________

Version 5

Vic has added notes and speculates about the date the poem was written.

*************************************

Middlesex Independent & West London Star, 13 January 1940.
Br. Lib. Ref. No. 958

THE STREET OF FIFTY INNS
Brentford's Public House Record Recorded In Verse

Three weeks ago a letter appeared in these columns from a reader who said he heard Brentford High Street referred to as The Street of fifty Inns. He asked if any reader could tell him the names of all the public house that could be counted at one time from Kew Bridge to Brentford Canal Bridge.

This week we have received the following verses from a well known Brentonian, who enumerates all the public houses that were to be found in Brentford High Street.

I took a walk through Brentford town
On ‘Copy' finding bent,
I scanned the buildings up and down
With harrowed feelings pent.

I saw a modest signboard swing
With legend Barge Aground.
Of public houses I'll take note
Of nothing else till night.

Come by Express to Brentford down
For honours do not barter,
For at the entrance to the town
You'll find the Star and Garter.

Geographers would never think
At Kew Bridge they would find
Oxford and Cambridge on the brink
Where silvery Thames doth wind.

A Plough the farmer he can get,
Waggon and Horses too,
And if on Lamb his thoughts are set,
He'll find one close in view.

As o'er the Globe the sailors roam,
The Magnet for their guide,
Their Hope and Anchor is their home
Whatever may betide.

The North Star helps to guide their course
Until the Rising Sun,
And sweet Six Bells their sound discourse
To prove the days begun.

Lord Nelson brave, is twice assigned
To be a beershop's name
Marquis of Granby much maligned
To public gives the same.

The Duke of Cambridge he might ride
His White Horse in our bounds,
Hunt White Hart near the Windmill's side
Or follow the Fox and Hounds.

Alexandra and The Prince of Wales
Are both in Brentford found.
A Royal Tar may tell his tales
Ere Eight Bells give their sound.

A Royal Horseguardsman stands quite near
The Standard firm and loyal,
While Patriot and Volunteer
Both guard the Princess Royal.

Here heraldry is in full swing
Displaying curious traces,
Bricklayers Arms before us swing
And Waterman in two places.

Grand Junction Arms are there displayed
Carpenters Arms the same,
While Claremeux would feel dismayed
The Pottery Arms to name.

The Hand and Flower, Red Lion (two)
Bull, Harp and Feathers beside
Half Moon and Crown, and Royal Oak
In which King Charles did hide.

The King's Arms and the Queen's Arms both
With soldiers quartered oft,
While George the Fourth seems nothing loath
And looks down from aloft.

With Coach and Horses you may ride
And view Northumberland Arms,
With George and Dragon close behind,
And near an Angel charms.

Half Moon and Seven Stars combined,
And Seven Stars as well,
American and Turk may find
Their national pride to swell.

Black Boy and Still which does not run,
And Barleycorn quite near,
While not far off is The One Tun
Near which The Grapes appear.

As Shovel and Hoe on shoulder borne,
The Bee Hive left behind,
The Jolly Gardeners tired and worn,
Rest at The New Inn may find.

Within The Castle lives a king
Who like a man can't feel,
Two Black Boys near can dance and sing
Or turn a Catherine Wheel.

A Salutation you may hear
When near the Magpie and Stump
You need not at The Cannon fear
Nor stay The Drum to thump.

Three Pigeons near Magpie and Crown
The Sportsman need not mark,
And Waterman's Hall in yard far down
He'll find it not too dark.

My walk is over, my task is done,
I've been the signboards round,
I hope I've not forgotten one,
Though I have done, I'll be bound.

Sign of the times it is quite clear
I've followed them aright.
I think I've earned a glass of beer.
I'll have one now. Good night.

From Kew Bridge to Brentford End there were the following public houses :

Right Hand side. -
Express, Lamb, Salutation, Fox and Hounds, Hand and Flower, Marquis of Granby, Queen's Arms, Barge Aground, Bull, Prince of Wales, The Drum, The Red Lion, Alexandra, King's Arms, The Cannon, The One Tun, Duke of Cambridge, The Feathers, The Bee Hive, Castle, Old Red Lion, Three Pigeons, Waterman's Arms, The Ram, Grand Junction Arms

Left Hand side
Star and Garter, Oxford and Cambridge, The Plough, Waggon and Horses, Royal Tar, Half Moon & Seven Stars, The Brewery Tap, The One Star (Royal Hotel), George the Fourth, Waterman's Arms, Bunch of Grapes, Rising Sun, Sportsman, Black Boy and Still, Catherine Wheel, Magpie and Stump, Magpie and Crown, Two Black Boys, Six Bells, Magnet, Lord Nelson

Brentford End
Northumberland Arms, George and Dragon, Half Moon & Crown, Angel, Coach and Horses

*************************************

PUBS LISTED IN POEM:
Vic noted the following names:
Barge Aground
Express
Star and Garter
Oxford and Cambridge
Plough
Waggon and Horses
Lamb
Globe
The Magnet
Hope and Anchor 10
North Star
Rising Sun,
Six Bells
Lord Nelson
Lord Nelson
Marquis of Granby
The Duke of Cambridge
White Horse
White Hart
Windmill 20
Fox and Hounds
Alexandra
The Prince of Wales
A Royal Tar
Eight Bells
Royal Horseguardsman
The Standard
Patriot
Volunteer
Princess Royal 30
Bricklayers Arms
Waterman Arms
Waterman Arms
Grand Junction Arms
Carpenters Arms
Pottery Arms
The Hand and Flower,
Red Lion
Red Lion
Bull 40
Harp
Feathers
Half Moon and Crown
Royal Oak
The King's Arms
Queen's Arms
George the Fourth
Coach and Horses
Northumberland Arms
George and Dragon 50
Angel
Half Moon and Seven Stars
Seven Stars
Black Boy and Still
Barleycorn
The One Tun
The Grapes
Shovel and Hoe
The Bee Hive
Jolly Gardeners 60
The New Inn
The Castle
Two Black Boy
Catherine Wheel
Salutation
Magpie and Stump
The Cannon
The Drum
Three Pigeons
Magpie and Crown 70
Sportsman
Waterman's Hall 72

Vic's Notes

The line - "Within The Castle lives a King" - this is a reference to George King who was landlord of the Castle 1871-77. In a couple of newspaper articles he is humorously referred to as the "King of the Castle."

The lines
      American and Turk may find
      Their national pride to swell.

is I assume a reference to the flags of the two countries, the American Stars and Stripes and the Red Crescent and Star, the emblem of the Ottoman Empire from 1844.

Checking the poem with the 1882 List of houses I sent you, I found almost all of the pubs extant at the time are included, the only ones missing were : --
      The Royal Hotel
      The Brewery Tap - by the Royal Brewery
      The Brewery Tap, Catherine Wheel Yard
      The Crown and Anchor, if that is not the Crown mentioned in the poem

The omission of the Royal Hotel is strange, that of the Brewery Tap can explained as the writer may not have considered them as separate houses, from their breweries.

The three others missing were where there were two pubs of the same name : --
      King's Arms, High Street & Boston Lane
      Jolly Gardeners, Drum Lane & Windmill Lane
      Grand Junction Arms, 12 & 166 High Street.

* * * * * * * *

The almost complete listing of the houses extant around the early 1880s has led me to the following speculation. The Griffin is not included, which opened about January-February 1884, immediately on the closure of the Two Black Boys, which is in the poem. The Griffin was licensed on the consideration that the Two Black Boys would be closed. This transfer is detailed in the article on the Two Black Boys.

Also the Crown and Anchor is not mentioned, which had closed by March 1883, the poem therefore lists all the houses extant, with the exceptions listed above, for 1883.

I wonder, therefore, whether the poem was written in 1883 or is based on a list compiled during that year, possibly from a trade directory, or from a printed list made at the licensing sessions in March 1883.

I then looked at the "Other Brentford Poems" and these include the Two Black Boys and again omit the Crown and Anchor. Curiously the Royal Hotel is also omitted. This then gives the same date for these poems of 1883.

The other poems omit the Half Moon (and Crown ?), instead naming the Standard. There was a pub called the Royal Standard in Isleworth, but it was at South Street, in the centre of the town.

[Editor: the finding of the version published in 1883, 'version 4', suggests Vic's dating conclusion is spot-on.]

Links

Pearce family research: includes Alfred Pearce born in 1874, too late to be the poet unless, as Vic suggests above, he wrote the poem later from a list compiled around 1883.

Published December 2008, updated May 2020