Pubs and their pasts (From Bucks Free Press)

Pubs and their pasts

11:31am Friday 11th December 2009 in

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HAVING safely ascended Dashwood Hill we can stop for some liquid refreshment at The Harrow public house in Studley Green, before proceeding into Stokenchurch.

In the days of horse transport the village was frequently an overnight stop for travellers from London to Oxford. In 1864 there were 13 pubs and ale houses in the village, including the present day Fleur de Lys, which dates from the 16th century.

Also dating from that time is the Kings Arms, although originally it was known as the George. In about 1670 King Charles II visited Stokenchurch with his Queen, and his ‘friend’ Nell Gwynne. He stayed at the George, which thereafter was known as the Kings Arms, but thought it an unfit place for his Queen, and had a tent pitched for her on the Common. There are no prizes for guessing where Nell Gwynne stayed.

Another Stokenchurch public house shown on the SWOP website is Dick Turpin’s Inn in Lower Church Street, shown in about 1900. (SWOP website image 28255). Do any readers have information about this establishment?