London 1746 Rocques map

Alma, Dropmore Road, Burnham, Buckinghamshire

At Alma Row in 1871 census. My research has indicated that the Alma Beerhouse was in Alma Road, North End, Burnham, close to what is now ‘The Bee’ (previously the Crispin) in Dropmore Road. It was where Alma Court now stands.  The beerhouse belonged to A. Terry & Co, Burnham Brewery, 34 High Street. *

Burnham pub history index

Directory of Pubs in the UK, historical public houses, Taverns, Inns, Beer Houses and Hotels in Buckinghamshire. The Buckinghamshire listing uses information from census, Trade Directories and History to add licensees, bar staff, Lodgers and Visitors.

The following entries are in this format:

Year/Publican or other Resident/Relationship to Head and or Occupation/Age/Where Born/Source.

1861/Thomas Vincent/Beer Retailer/60/St Mary Bourn, Hampshire/Census
1861/Eliza Vincent/Wife/48/Burnham, Buckinghamshire/Census
1861/Alfred Vincent/Son/2/Burnham, Buckinghamshire/Census

1869/Thomas Vincent/Beer Retailer/../../Kellys Directory

1871/Thomas Vincent/Beerhouse Keeper, Widow/70/St Mary Bourn, Hampshire/Census
1871/Alfred Vincent/Son/12/Burnham, Buckinghamshire/Census

1877/Thomas Vincent/Beer Retailer/../../Kellys Directory

My great great grandfather Richard Taylor was landlord there during the 1870’s - 80’s (ref 1881 census) to 1882 when he died. I believe that his son in law, Walter Bond took over after this (ref 1891 census, although name of the pub is not given). *

1881/Richard Taylor/Beershop Keeper/69/Chelsea, Middlesex/Census *
1881/Jane Taylor/Wife/69/Sunninghill, Berkshire/Census

1883/Mrs Jane Taylor/Beer Retailer/../../Kellys Directory

I cannot be definite that the ‘Alma’ was where George and Annie Bond were landlords in the 1891 Census, although it most likely was. George Bond was Richard Taylor’s son-in-law who with his wife Annie came to Burnham from Battersea in 1882 when Richard, landlord of the Alma died; presumably to help his widow 70 year old Jane run the place. George Bond was shown in the 1891 census as living in High Street, Burnham and an Innkeeper of an un-named pub. Whether it was another pub in Burnham that they ran, seems unlikely. The Alma was at the very end of Dropmore Road, just yards before it becomes the High Street so may have been included in that district.  *

Archive ref; D/147/35 - Conveyance of the ‘Alma’ beerhouse to A. Terry and Co brewers in 1903. *

Archive ref; D/147/48 - Conveyance of the ‘Alma’ beerhouse from A. Terry and Co brewers to Fuller Story & Co Ltd brewers in 1905 together with Burnham brewery, The Pheasant & The Swan in Burnham and other pubs elsewhere belonging to A. Terry & Co. *

Article in the ‘Slough, Eton & Windsor Observer’ of 07/03/1908:
Application from Mr G H Charsley for the renewal of the licence for the ‘Alma’ beerhouse was granted. *

Article in the ‘Slough, Eton & Windsor Observer’ of 17/10/1908
An amusing story that confirms location of the ‘Alma’
A news item re court hearing concerning two unattended horses, a cart and an iron bath tub of feed blocking the road close to the ‘Alma’ in Dropmore Road for 40 minutes. When warned by the police, the offender just moved the obstruction to outside the ‘Grenville Arms’. He was fined 10s 0d with 7s 6d costs. *

Bucks CC ‘ Burnham - Historic Town Assessment Report 2010’ reads:-
Inns and Taverns - "There is a continuity of inns and taverns from the post medieval period, the most prominent of which were the Swann and Rose Inn. Analysis of the brewing trade in Burnham’s has revealed at least four known inns during the 19th century, these included the Alma, Barleycorn, Pheasant, and the Sun. However the exact
locations of these inns and beer houses are unclear (Brown 2007)." *

Terry A & Co, Burnham Brewery 34 High Street
Gives dates on which Burnham Brewery acquired various pubs in Burnham.
The Burnham brewery was originally founded in the 18th century by Richard Howard as the Rose Brewery at 38 High Street, the business remained in the Howard family until 1847 when it was in the ownership of Edmund William Brown and George Terry. Under their tenure they expanded the business buying up another malthouse in the High Street next to the Sun beerhouse, although the exact location of the pub malting is not known. In 1875 Brown and Terry bought outright from Eton College the Rose and its brewhouse at the rear; although the College retained ownership of the neighbouring Swan pub. By the late 19th century the brewery had grown in size employing nine men and two boys and supplied ale to most of the inns in Burnham. Not content with its role as a supplier, the brewery also increased its ownership of pubs by acquiring the Alma by 1861, the Pheasant in 1888 and the one Mile House at Taplow. In 1899 it was trading as Terry A & Co although the Terry family’s association was the business was in name only as the brewer was John Webster.
Terry A & Co was eventually bought out in 1905 by Fuller, , Story & Co, a larger brewery in Maidenhead. Also purchased in the deal was the Swan Hotel, the Alma and its portfolio of five pubs. The Burnham brewery was maintained by the company but only as a token producer, eventually brewing ceased in 1913. The brewery site was bought back by George Webster one of the Terry A’s partners but a contractual agreement meant that the brewing could not be re-established on the site. By 1920 the site became the Sands Old Brewery Garage while the High Street address is now part of the Swan pub (Brown 2007). *

1901/William Squire/Beerhouse Keeper/39/Saint Giles, Devon/Census
1901/Mary Squire/Wife/38/Mancester, Warwickshire/Census
1901/William F Squire/Son/11/Sutton, Surrey/Census
1901/Frank Squire/Son/2/Stoke, Buckinghamshire/Census

1903/Henry Thurlby/Beer Retailer/../../Kellys Directory

1907/Mrs Emily Thurlby/Beer Retailer/../../Kellys Directory

1911/Mrs Emily Thurlby/Beer Retailer/../../Kellys Directory

1911/Emily Thurlby/Publican, Widow/40/Dormans Land, Surrey/Census
1911/William Henry Thurlby/Son/12/Cleiver, Buckinghamshire/Census
1911/Elsie May Thurlby/Daughter/10/Cleiver, Buckinghamshire/Census
1911/George Henry Thurlby/Son/8/Burnham, Buckinghamshire/Census


* Provided By Robert Taylor

And Last updated on: Wednesday, 02-Oct-2024 13:21:06 BST