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A humorous journey around the 19 inns of Faringdon, c 1900 |
Driving through the town of Faringdon one day, I was delighted to find a very old and valued friend, the Duke of Wellington, and, having shaken hands with him by way of Salutation, we proceeded down Gloster Street escorted by the Volunteer, made the best of our way to the Marlborough Arms, having seated ourselves for a drink, the landlord informed us that the Angel had seen the Crown knocked out of the Queens Arms by the Duke of York. Determined to see if such a thing were true we started away to Coxwell Street and there we meet the Gardener with the Wheatsheaf in his arms, just preparing to feed the Swan. We asked him if such a thing was true, he did not think so but he informed us that the Red Lion has been chasing the Eagle and the Eagle was now at the top of the street and the Red Lion was now chasing the White Hart all round the Folly. Away we started again and when we got to the Market Place we were alarmed to hear the tolling of the Bell and enquiring what was the matter we were told that the Old Bull had been and kicked the Star over into the Baker’s Arms Finis Kindly provided by Douglas Dyer, Bournemouth. This was found in the papers of his father-in-law Percy Albert Hedges, who lived in Faringdon before World War 1 The handwritten originals can be found in:- Inns of Faringdon Page 1 Inns of Faringdon Page 2 Inns of Faringdon Page 3 By 2006 Only The Bell, Crown, Duke of Wellington, Red Lion, Swan, Volunteer, Wheatsheaf and the Folly are still open |
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