Page 6 - A History Of Food And Drink In Wokingham
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Road got their first mention. The Half Moon was last mentioned in 1786.
1772
The Red Lion public house in the Market Place, The Ship in Peach Street and The Warren
House in Forest Road were first mentioned.
The New Rose public house at 30 Peach Street got its first mention, its last being in 1788.
1777
The Anchor public house at 37 The Terrace, The Six Bells in Cross Street, The Star at 54
Peach Street and The Queen’s Arms at 23 Rose Street got their first mention.
1791
The Dukes Head had its first mention. A few years later: -
1815
A book entitled “A Practical Treatise on Domestic Poultry” written by John Lawrence stated
“Oakingham is particularly famous for fatted fowls by which many people in that town and
neighbourhood gain a livelihood.” They were very expensive, sometimes fetching as much
as half a guinea. The fowls were put in a dark place and crammed with a paste made of
barley-meal, mutton suet, treacle, sugar and milk.
Great numbers of geese were also sold at this time but much cheaper at 2/- to 2/3d.
1816
Simonds & Co was the original bank in Wokingham and resided in the Roebuck Inn.
1817
A duel was fought in the Cock-Pit, Wokingham. The origin of the duel was a point of
honour as to who could eat the most beef steaks in the shortest time. Neither party was
injured so they decided to have a second round in which one fell to the ground and the other
ran away. The wounded man was carried to a neighbouring public-house to have his
wounds dressed. After a long examination, it was discovered that he was perfectly sound.
When both the combatants had recovered from their fright, they adjourned to an Inn in the
Town, where they settled the dispute in a more amicable manner by one (the conqueror)
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