Page 13 - A History Of Food And Drink In Wokingham

Daniel Heron

23 Market Place – Henrietta Bulmer, grocer who rented from Daniel Heron until 1901..

25 Market Place – The Red Lion public house which is made up of a number of buildings.
Those at the front nearest the street are timber framed and were built in the 16th century.
They were originally thatched and then given a new roof in the 19th century. The section
behind was in the 15th century with a central fire and a hole in the roof to let the smoke out.
The third section was built in the 17th century. The only deed that still exists refers to The
Red Lion in 1782. In the 18th century the building was a malt house but as trade declined it
is believed that it became an alehouse from about 1754. In 1796 it was bought by James
Webb and after his death it was sold to Hayward brewery and then to Brakspear’s in 1856.

It now has the Pad Thai restaurant above the pub.
26 Market Place – Sale & Son. Philip Sale was a member of one of the best known and
respected families in Wokingham. As well as being dedicated to public service, the family
was successful in business. Sale’s Vegetable Seeds began in 1818 when grandfather
Stephen Sale (1799-1880) took a wagon to London to buy seeds which were to be his stock
in trade. The family owned a large piece of land in the vicinity of Cockpit Path, a part of
which was an orchard. The rest was used for testing seeds.

Philip Sale was Wokingham Town Mayor in 1920 and was made an Honorary Freeman of
Wokingham in 1936.

29 Market Place, Butler Brothers, grocers. The brothers Henry and Edwin were well known
cyclists. Their career started in 1864 and they continued cycling until the ages of 83 and 79
respectively.

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