Three Horseshoes Public House

Former Three Horseshoes October 2007

Three Horse Shoes Beerhouse: West End Road, Box End, Kempston Rural 

Licensing records reveal that this beerhouse| was first licensed in 1836. It was owned by Robert Palgrave in 1882 when he left all his real estate in his will to Robert Palgrave Page and Samuel Palgrave Page. They let the Three Horse Shoes to William Pritzler Newland. Robert sold his share of the public house and other properties to Samuel in 1889 and the following year Newland made a partnership with Bedford brewer William Joseph Nash's widow Susan as Newland & Nash, which became a public limited company in 1897 but was taken over by Biggleswade brewers Wells & Winch in 1924.

In 1927 Bedfordshire was valued under the Rating Valuation Act 1925; each piece of land and building was valued to determine the rates to be paid on it. The valuer at the Three Horseshoes noted that it was built of brick and tile; he was not impressed noting: "building itself miserable". Accommodation consisted of a small parlour, small tap room, scullery, living room, club room and cellar downstairs with three bedrooms above; outside was an earth closet. He also noted "No trade" which amounted to half a barrel and three dozen bottles of beer per week. He then noted: "I think trade underestimated must do at least ¾ barrel". The beerhouse also had 7.055 acres of good grassland with brick and tile barn, stable for three horses, loose box, piggery, two calf boxes, cart shed and poultry house which were, in contrast to the beerhouse "excellent".

In 1934 Samuel Palgrave Page sold the Three Horseshoes Beerhouse to Wells & Winch and it became a fully licensed public house on 8 Mar 1956. Wells & Winch were taken over by Suffolk brewers Greene King in 1961 and the Three Horseshoes closed in 1987, becoming a private house. 

Sources

- GK134/2: abstracted will of Robert Palgrave devising all property to Samuel Palgrave Page and Robert Palgrave Page: 1882;
- GK134/2: abstracted conveyance from Robert Palgrave Page to Samuel Palgrave Page of property including public house in Kempston let to Captain Newland: 1889;
- GK3/1a: conveyance from William Pritzler Newland, Emily Cressy Nash, Florence Mary Nash, Rosa Gertrude Nash and Constance Eveline Nash to Newland & Nash Limited of all properties: 1897;
- GK134/1: lease for 7 years from Samuel Palgrave Page to Newland & Nash Limited: 1923;
- DV1/C/2: rating valuation: 1927;
- GK134/1: lease for 7 years from Samuel Palgrave Page to Wells & Winch Limited: 1930;
- GK134/4: Three Horse Shoes conveyed from Samuel Palgrave Page to Newland & Nash Limited, property in occupation of Wells & Winch Limited: 1934;
- FSD/PC30 Newspaper report, with photo of lightning strike 1983 

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

1854-1864: Philip Boston;
1871: Joseph Boston;
1876-1877: Eli Burley;
1885-1894: (Thomas) James Odell;
1897 - 1946: George Odell;
1947-1949: Mrs Eliza Odell;
1949-1955: Frederick G Wells;
1956-1967: Archibald George Ashpole;
1967-1968: James Richard Smith;
1968-1970: Pearl Smith;
1970-1973: Stuart Ralph Smith;
1973-1987: Dennis Jessop.
public house closed 6 Sep 1987