The White Bear Public Houses Woburn

4-7 Market Place in March 2007

White Bear Public House: 4-7 Market Place, later Chapel Street, Woburn

White Bear: Market Place

There have been two public houses| of this name in Woburn, at different times. The original White Bear was in Bedford Street and is named on a map of the late eighteenth century. Licensees are given in the register of dues owed to the Vicar of Woburn and in the parochial assessment book. It is noted in an inventory of the brothers John and Joseph Morris of Ampthill, brewers, in 1827 and is described as the Old White Bear, a freehold public house occupied by Thomas Britchnell with a good four stalled stable, an old stable for twelve horses and a piggery. In 1828 Joseph Morris conveyed his half of the properties of the Ampthill brewery to John. The White Bear is then described as including a malting, brewhouse, butcher's shop and adjoining stable with a garden and walnut tree, necessary house (privy) and use of a yard leading to Abbey Lane (Park Street), it had been purchased by Joseph's father John from George Fossey in 1792. Evidence from Thomas Evans' 1821-22 survey and the parish rate books suggests that the Bear was the modern 4-7 Market Place; these premises were Grade II listed in 1952, at which time Department of Environment considered them to be late 18th century.

The premises were valued in 1927 under the 1925 Rating Valuation Act. At that time the Duke of Bedford was the owner and the occupier the solicitor Frederic Thomas Tanqueray and was used by him as the base of his practice. He was, in addition, clerk to the magistrates of the Ampthill & Woburn bench as wel las Coroner for the Honour of Ampthill. The premises are described as being of five floors including the basement though the valuer considered "Position v.bad right on road" although "back nice". Tanqueray was using his cellar for beer and wine and on the ground floor, above were a hall ("v.v.poor"), a living room (14 by 17ft), a kitchen, scullery and parlour ("large"), lavatory and cloak room, also a study (9 by 17ft), a work room, larder and game larder, heating plant and coal cellar. On the first floor were a reception room (15 by 32ft), a bill room (14 by 17ft) and bedroom (16¼ by 22½ft). On the second floor were three bedrooms, a bathroom and wc and on the third floor three bedrooms and a box room. Outside were a house containing an eight horse power gas engine and dynamo, a cell room, garage, coachhouse and loft, three loose boxes, a manure pit and earth closet. The valuer noted that the house had electric light and central heating as far as the second floor. Despite this he considered the house "v.v.poor inside". Tanqueray was 75 years old this year and perhaps not minded to decorate the premises or perceive any faults in it. The house had 1.215 acres of grassland and orchard behind it running down Park Street.

White Bear: Chapel Street

By 1850 the White Bear in the High Street seems to have closed. Around 1831 a new beerhouse called the White Bear had been built by George Rogers in Chapel Street, now called Duck Lane close to the modern public conveniences. The premises are described, in a sale catalogue of public houses owned by Newport Pagnell Brewery as containing a bar, parlour, taproom, six bedrooms, cellar with, outside a washhouse, coal and wood house, yard with side entrance containing a pump and a stable for four horses with a loft over, also with a loft over the gateway, the annual rent being £20.

A further sale catalogue of 1879 describes the premises as the White Bear public house, shop and dwelling adjoining with yards, outbuildings etc. in Chapel Street in occupation of John Mapley and George Potter; let on lease to Henry Fowler for 14 years to expire Lady Day 1884; annual rent £40; 4/8 per annum tithe rent charge. 

By 1925 the public house had been bought by Charles Wells but was closed in April 1927. The next month the premises were valued for rates under the 1925 Valuation Act. Charles Wells still owned the premises but they were now vacant; they consisted of a tap room, smokeroom, bar, kitchen and scullery downstairs, with a cellar beneath and seven bedrooms upstairs; both gas and mains water were laid on. Outside were a clubroom, skittle alley, stable for two horses, a coachhouse and 2WCs.

Interestingly the valuer does not note that the building had three floors, despite it being the usual practice to do so. A photograph purporting to be the White Bear at Woburn in an album of photographs of Charles Wells public houses, taken about 1925 definitely shows a building with three floors.

Chapel Street no longer exists and the former White Bear was demolished at some point between 1927 and the end of the century.

List of Sources Held at Bedfordshire & Luton Archives & Records Service:

- P118/3/1: parochial dues: 1709-1796 [1748-1796];
- P118/28/2: parochial assessment book: 1802-1833;
- R1/78: Thomas Evans' map accompanying R2/69: 1821;
- R2/69: Detailed survey of Woburn made by Thomas Evans for the Duke of Bedford: 1822;
- Z1043/1: listed in inventory of John and Joseph Morris of Ampthill, brewers: Jun 1827;
- X21/629: conveyance of properties from Joseph Morris to devisees under the will of John Morris, deceased: 24 Jun 1828;
- WG2533: sale of Newport Pagnell Brewery which owned inn: 4 Jul 1850;
- GK82/7: sale particulars: 5 Jul 1850;
- X171/326: sale catalogue: 1879;
- HN10/274/Hopkins3: sale particulars: 24 Oct 1879;
- HN10/274/Hopkins4: mortgage from Elizabeth Cobb to Edward Percival of properties including inn: 1876;
- HN10/274/Hopkins31: conveyance: 1881;
- WL800/5: photograph taken for Charles Wells Limited: c.1925;
- WL801/177: negative for WL800/5: c.1925

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

1748-1767: John Hatton;
1785-1796: John Weldale;
1802: Mary Weldale;
1806-1810: John Hale;
1811-1812: Cornelius Kinns;
1813: John Rush;
1822-1824: Charles Pearce - tavern;
1825-1827: Thomas Britchnell;

1830s new White Bear erected by George Rogers in Chapel Street
1850: John Flecknoe;
1854-1880: John Mapley;
1880: Mary Mapley;
1880-1890: George Potter;
1890-1892: S.Pritchard;
1892-1904: Eusebius Woodhams;
Thomas Page;
1897-1899: Mary Ann Page;
1899-1902: James William Thompson;
1902-1922: William Charles Adams;
1922-1924: Walter Scoot;
1924-1925: James Hay Jack;
1925-1927: George Russell Fido;
Public House closed 7 Apr 1927