Page 17 - A History Of Food And Drink In Wokingham

1910

The Anchor public house at 37 The Terrace shut.
1911

To commemorate the coronation of George V, the Coronation festivities were started at
10.30 o’clock on the eve of the Coronation Day by Miss Mylne, daughter of the Mayor, in the
absence of the Marquis of Downshire, of Easthampstead Park, who had donated a large ox
weighing 90 stone.

The ox was paraded through the town before being slaughtered and put on the spit.

The roasting was continued throughout the night under the superintendence of the Fire
Brigade and a strong committee of experienced helpers.

In 1910 Howard Palmer had purchased 21 Market Place (now Edinburgh Woollen Mill) to be
the home of the Wokingham Club, and in 1911 he held a goose dinner for 80 guests, which
became an annual event. By 1960 the club was bankrupt and shut.
Colebrook & Co took over 32 & 33 Market Place as a fish shop, changing it in 1914 to a
butchers, and continued in 33 Market Place until 1959. They had a pig’s head as centre
piece in the shop window. The premises are now M&Co Clothing.
1912

William Skilton took over the Butler Brothers business at 29 Market Place and traded until
1918.

1913
The Wokingham Brewery owned by Baker Powell was sold to Brakspears, along with nine
public houses.

1915
Mrs. Dunne, wife of Major Dunne of Toutley Hall, had organised a scheme for the collection
of eggs in the district for the use of the wounded at the front. 38-40 dozen per week were
sent.
John Lapper was running a tripe dresser shop at 10 Market Place, now the Co-operative
Food store. A tripe dresser was someone who cleaned tripe, the stomach of a cow or other
domestic animal, to make it fit for human consumption. He was there for ten years.

1916
One thousand one hundred and sixty-four new-laid eggs in addition to the weekly collection
st
were sent on December 21 from the Wokingham District Depot as a Christmas gift and
gratitude to wounded soldiers.
Mr. E.R. Janes, F.R.H.S., of University College, Reading, gave, in the Town Hall, his fifth
lecture on vegetable cultivation in war-time, and dealt with sowing early dwarf beans and
runner beans in boxes, globe beet, carrots, and successional peas, planti.ng main crop
potatoes, and methods of supporting runner beans. The Mayor presided.
Potato growers were advised to watch carefully their stored potatoes, especially those grown
in low-lying districts, with a view to removing any showing signs of disease.

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