The Black Horse Public House Wootton

Elevation of Black Horse 1912 [RDBP1/216]

Black Horse Public House: Potters Cross, Wootton [formerly Cherry Tree Beerhouse]

Bedfordshire & Luton Archives & Records Service does not have many records regarding this public house|, the first known date being 1885 when Isaac Tompkins was recorded as licensee in Kelly's Directory. The register of alehouse licences of 1903 notes that it was previously a beerhouse |and had been called the Cherry Tree. In 1927 Bedfordshire was valued under the Rating Valuation Act 1925; every building and piece of land was surveyed to determine the rates to be paid on it. The valuer visiting the Black Horse noted that it was a beerhouse owned by Bedford brewers Charles Wells. The premises consisted of a tap room, kitchen, cellar and smoke room ("very low pitched") downstairs with three bedrooms and a box room above; outside were a barn and earth closet as well as two pigsties, a two bay hovel, and meal place ("awful"). Trade consisted of 18 gallons of beer, 4½  gallons of bitter and 3½ dozen bottles of beer per week. Summing up the valuer noted: "Very old pub indeed. Poor position".

Existing ground floor plan in 1912 [RDBP1/216]

At some point in the next decade Wells obviously sold the house to Luton brewer J.W.Green Limited because it appears in a schedule of deeds and documents of that brewer in 1940. Green merged with Warwickshire brewer Flowers in 1954, taking the Flowers name, only to be taken over by Whitbread in 1962. Whitbread sold off their public houses in 2001.

Black Horse July 2007

References:
- PSB9/1: Register of Alehouse Licences, Bedford Petty Sessional Division: 1903-1935;
- RDBP1/216: plans for additions for Charles Wells Limited: 1912;
- WB/Green4/2/10: Schedule of Deeds and Documents - J.W.Green Limited: 1940-1960;
- Z1105/1: entry on liquor licence traders survey form: 1954;
- PSB9/2: Register of Alehouse Licences, Bedford Petty Sessional Division: c.1955-1995;
-  PSBW8/3: Register of Alehouse Licences - Biggleswade and North Bedfordshire Petty Sessional Divisions: 1976-1980; 

List of Licensees: note that this is not a complete list; italics indicate licensees whose beginning and/or end dates are not known:
1881-1906: Isaac Tompkins;
1906-1911: Jesse Thomson;
1911-1928: William Redhead;
1928-1933: Alfred Smith;
1933: Percy George Caves;
1940: George Baxter
1954-1981: William Frederick Burraway;
1981-1986: Anthony Derek Weddell;
1986-1988: John Orwin;
1988-1993: Richard Bigley;
1993-1995: Dina Smith and Mark William Smith