Page 5 - A History Of Food And Drink In Wokingham

1734

The first Rose inn, already over a hundred years’ old, was bought by Molly and Sarah Mogg
from their bankrupt brother. Molly was the subject of the poem Molly Mog, written by John
Gay with help from Alexander Pope and Dean Swift whilst they were in the pub sheltering
from the rain.

1740
The Queens Head has been recorded as a public house since at least 1740. However, its
origins are considerably older and this grade 2 listed building probably dates back to the
th
early 16 century. What makes this building unique is its timber frame, called a Cruck
construction which in this case is basically of similar appearance to a capital “A”. The long
uprights are formed with a curved trunk split along its centre and coupled together at the top.
The strong shape provided the framework onto which the roof was supported and alongside
which the walls were built. There are only seven buildings with this form of construction
known in Berkshire.

The pub is one of The Wokingham Society’s Blue Plaque Trial.

The Pin and Bowl in the Finchampstead Road got its first mention.

1750
The Wellington Arms public house at 24 Denmark Street was first mentioned.

1760

Around 1760, James Webb bought land in Wokingham and started the first of the larger
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breweries in Wokingham which by the first quarter of the 19 Century owned 12 of the 19
pubs in the town. The last of the Webbs died in 1821 and the brewery and business were
purchased by William Hayward whose son had married James Webb's daughter previously.

The Royal Oak public house at 3 Milton Road was first mentioned and continued until 1772.
1764

The Horse and Groom public house next to Emmbrook Mill got its first mention.

1770

The Half Moon public house on the site of the old Post Office and the Three Frogs in London

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