Cornfields Hotel [formerly Wheatsheaf also Old Wheatsheaf]: Wilden Road/Roothams Green, Colmworth

When Department of Environment listed this building as being of special interest they considered it to be 17th century in date; however, it may not necessarily have been a public house since that date and, in fact, its first mention in any document held by Bedfordshire & Luton Archives & Records Service is in the register of alehouse recognizances beginning in 1822. By the beginning of the 20th century the establishment was owned by the Wade-Gery family who were leasing it to St.Neots brewers Day & Son and, from them its lease passed to Charles Wells in 1919. Interestingly, however, when the public house was valued in 1927 under the 1925 Rating Valuation Act the valuer described it as a free house, owned by the Wade-Gery family. He described the premises as being brick and tile and comprising a tap room ("fair"), kitchen, scullery, living room and cellar with three attic bedrooms on the first floor. Outside were a chaff house, stable for three horses, cow shed for three beasts, barn, cart lodge and pig stye. Adjoining and occupied with the public house were 2.957 acres of grassland. The tenant also occupied a further 4.589 acres of grassland nearby. Trade was only about five gallons of beer per week with spirits "practically nil".

The Wheatsheaf closed as a public house in 1995 and is now a hotel and restaurant called Cornfields

former Wheatsheaf in  March 2007

References:

- CLP13: Register of Alehouse Recognizances: 1822-1828;
- PSS3/1: Register of Alehouse Licences - Sharnbrook Petty Sessional Division: c.1901;
- PSS3/2: Register of Alehouse Licences - Sharnbrook Petty Sessional Division: c.1903;
- PSS3/3: Register of Alehouse Licences - Sharnbrook Petty Sessional Division: 1904-1930
- PK1/4/3: sale particulars of cottages near Wheatsheaf: 1904;
- PK7/2/15: copy 7 year lease from Richard Wade-Gery to Day & Son: 1919;
- GK175/2: photocopy sale catalogue of Day & Son properties: 1919;
- WL800/5 p.31: photograph: c.1925;
- WL801/112: negative of above: c.1925;
- DV1/C180: rating valuation: 1927;
- RDBP3/521: plans for additions: 1945;
- RDBP3/555: plans for additions: 1946;
- Bedfordshire Magazine vii.88: photograph: 1959;
- Z53/32/7: photograph: 1962;
- BorB/TP/79/2253: plans and elevation of new beer store: 1979;
- Z49/753: print by D.Green: 1980s

List of Licensees: note that this is not a complete list. Italics indicate licensees whose beginning and/or end dates are not known:

1822 - 1828: George Loxley;
1869-1877: William Swales;
1885-1910: George Swales;
1914-1936: William H.Bates;
1940: Alfred Ernest Jolly;
1962-1979: Frank Swann Howe;
1979-1980: Sandra Brenda Palmer;
1980-1983: Grahan Hartwell;
1983-1986: Ann Harris;
1986-1995: Keith James Graham