Page 9 - A History Of Food And Drink In Wokingham

1864
The Rising Sun public house in Oxford Road was first mentioned.

1865

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The November fair was held on the 2 and 3 but, as the magistrates had prohibited any
cattle being brought to the fair, it was not as busy as usual.
1867

William Martin was born this year and later went on to Town Mayor in 1906, 1911, 1912 and
1919.
He left school at the age of 12 and was apprenticed to a butcher in Denmark Street. Three
years later he was promoted foreman butcher and, on his sixteenth birthday, he took over the
premises of his employer and went into business for himself.

1869
Wokingham was hit by a very bad case of the Foot and Mouth disease.

The Redan public house in Peach Street was first mentioned.

1871
The last mention of the Bricklayers Arms public house in Rose Street.

1872

There was no public water supply. There was, however, an abundant supply from 280 wells
in all parts of the town, with the exception of about 27 houses occupied by 100 persons, who
were obliged to purchase water from the Emm Brook.

1873

The Metropolitan public house at 58 Rose Street got its first mention.

1874

A new coffee house opened in the Market Place. Quote from the Reading Mercury: - It will no
doubt be found a great boon to many of the working classes who wish to pass a pleasant
evening with reading and rational amusement, without any inducement to spend their earnings
on intoxicating liquors.

1876

Upon Francis Baker’s death in 1876, his widow ran the Wokingham Brewery for the next 40
years. It was sold to Henry Powell who renamed it Baker Powell until it was sold to Brakspears
in 1913 along with nine public houses.

The first water works, constructed by the Wokingham District Water Company (Limited), were
opened by Mr. Walter M.P. The works consisted of a well and pumping station near the
Finchampstead Road, between the brook and the South Eastern railway, and a reservoir at
Buckhurst, on a site high enough to supply water by gravitation to Wokingham and nearly all
the surrounding district..

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