BRENTFORD PUBS

If Calcutta is correctly named 'the city of palaces' Brentford
might with equal justice be styled the 'Town of Taverns'. So
opined the Licensed Victualler's Gazette reporting on Brentford's
drinking establishments in 1881. Brentford was famous for its
pubs. From Roman times, travellers on the main road to the west
of England needed places to rest and eat, and in the coaching era
the pubs provided stabling for horses and succour for passengers.
The growing importance of Brentford market the holding of the
Middlesex Elections in the Butts and the expansion of Brentford's
industry must have been a great boost to the local licensed trade.
Pubs are recorded in Brentford from the beginning of the 14th
century and by 1793 there were at least 28 in the three Brentford's
Old Brentford, New Brentford and Brentford End. By 1888,
according to the County of Middlesex Independent Almanack and
Directory, his number had increased to over 60 (in New Brentford
and Old Brentford alone) All but one (the New England, Great
West Road) of the present 25 pubs in Brentford have been on
their present sites for over a hundred years. They have of course
been modernised and one or two have been renamed. Inevitably, most
of the pubs fronted Brentford High Street in the 1880s are given
in the verse below, The author starts at the Star and Garter
(converted to offices in 1984) at Kew Bridge Rd and proceeds
westward along the High Street across Brentford Bridge to London
Road. Fifty pubs are mentioned in a distance of just one and a
quarter miles. The poem is thought to have been written by Alfred
Pearce a lighterman who worked as a foreman in the Brentford Dock
and was a known entertainer. It was found among his possessions
when he died in 1951. It is not however entirely accurate since
the Brentford trade directories show that some of those listed
by Mr Pearce had closed before others opened.

When I was knighted with a STAR AND GARTER,
I was pushed into an EXPRESS
On my way to OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE,
I smashed into a PLOUGH
And stood aside by the WAGGON AND HORSES,
Little beyond a JOLLY TAR
With a LAMB by his side,
Receiving a SALUTATION
Presently FOX AND HOUNDS dashed by,
A beautiful HAND AND FLOWER
When I met the MARQUIS OF GRANBY,
He fell into the QUEENS ARMS
Tugging with a BARGE AGROUND
A BULL stared me in the face
As I crossed by the BREWERY TAP and the ROYAL HOTEL
The PRINCE OF WALES stood on the other side
Up above HALF MOON AND SEVEN STARS
With a GLITTERING STAR by its side
Cross yonder stood a DRUM
Attacked by a LION
When I reached the ALEXANDRA
I shook hands with GEORGE THE FOURTH
He advised to salute THE WATERMAN'S ARMS
Then I was back into the KINGS ARM'S
Up went the roaring CANNON
At the RISING SUN I tried to lift ONE TON
While BRITANNIA stood on one side
And I met the DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE
He told me he had lost his FEATHERS
A little beyond a BEEHIVE
And a BLACK BOY AND STILL
Playing with a CATHRINE WHEEL
As I crossed the BARLEY MOW
There was a magnificent CASTLE
Near by stood a LION
THREE PIDGEONS overhead
With MAGPIE AND CROWN
TWO BLACK BOYS rang SIX BELLS
Stood staunch with THE MAGNET with LORD NELSON
I got in the JUNCTION ARMS
They pushed me into the DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND
Beyond stood GEORGE AND DRAGON
The STANDARD floating high
With the ANGEL of peace
When the COACH AND HORSES passed by'.

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Last Updated: 21st NOVEMBER 2005