Buildings

There are several documents, images and references to buildings in the village available on the Internet.

Most notably:-

Some of our buildings

Places of Worship

Hostelries (Inns, Public Houses, Beer Houses/Ale Houses)

Although there were public houses and alehouses in Weston Turville in the 16th 18th centuries, only one public house, "The Plow" is shown on the 1799 Enclosure Map. However it is known that the "Chequers" was also operating as an inn at that time. In 1824 a law was passed to restrict the proliferation of "home brewing" and making it illegal to make and sell ale within 100 yards of a licensed public house. In 1830 laws were changed with the cheaper licenses for houses to sell ale, beer and cider.

In 1858, Rev Arthur Isham was incensed by news that there was to be another application for a spirit license for one of the beershops in the parish that he sent two letters to the Magistrates of the Petty Sessions in Aylesbury. These seem to have been ignored so he sent copies of the letters to the editor of the Bucks Herald for publication in August 1859. He notes that there are already three public-houses in the village and another in the parish on the reservoir. Additionally there were six beershops in the parish and 50 yards beyond the parish boundary two public-houses that were nearer Weston Turville than Wendover. The application that had so upset Rev. Isham was probably from Mr. William Burtt of the Elephant and was granted, it is worth noting that there was no objection to the issuing of the license at the Petty Session on 28 Aug 1858 when it was granted, not even Rev. Isham.

Thus by 1860 Weston Turville was reported to have at least eleven public houses or alehouses. The alehouse was merely a front room of a cottage and the licensee often pursuing another trade during the day.

Examples of alehouses (beerhouses) in Weston Turville were: the Black Horse, the Five Bells, the Old Crown and the Vine. The Plough (Plow), the Elephant & the Chandos Arms were classed as public houses and are shown as such in the censuses of the 1800s. The Chequers, even then, was classed as an inn and probably took in paying guests. The Magpie (Harrow Inn) was licensed for beer to be consumed off-premises (equivalent to our off-license premises today). It would also appear that there have been several "beer retailers" that operated from either their homes or shops. However it is difficult to identify where these were located in the village.

Most of the public houses were leased and in 1872 the Chandos Arms, the Elephant and the Vine were owned by the Aylesbury brewers of Messrs. Wroughton and Co. The Five Bells was owned by Messrs. James and Horwood, solicitors of Aylesbury. Alehouses had closed down by 1918 due to the introduction of licensing hours to restrict workers' drinking time.[1] 

These establishments were at the heart of the community and many of the Benefits clubs were centred there, these helped out in times of hardship held annual feasts etc.


1867 - "FOUR CLUB FEASTS were held here on the 10th and 11th inst. The Waddesdon band was in attendance at the Plough Inn, where about ninety members sat down to dinner; at the Chandos Arms, about 100; at the Elephant, about forty; and at Bates's, about thirty. Most of the members attended divine service at the Parish Church, which was conducted by the rector, the Rev. A. Isham, who delivered an impressive sermon applicable to the occasion. Cricket and other amusements were afterwards indulged in, and all passed off very creditably".[2] Bates's would have been the Crown.

In  1898, there were no convictions for being drunk.

In  1899, there were no drinking related convictions.

In  1901, there was a population of 791 and ? licensed properties (one for every ? in the village) and no convictions for being drunk.

In  1908, (one for every 102.85 in the village) There were objections to renewing the licence for the Vine.

In  1909, (one for every 102.85 in the village) there was one convictions for being drunk.

In  1910, there was a population of 720 and 7 licensed properties (one for every 103 in the village) and no convictions for being drunk. The Plough (P.H.) however was not considered well conducted.

In  1911, there was a population of 720 and 7 licensed properties (one for every 103 in the village) and two convictions for being either drunk or drunk and disorderly. 

In  1912, there was a population of 737 and 7 licensed properties (one for every 105 in the village) and no convictions for being drunk.

In  1913, there was a population of 737 and 6 (The Vine P.H. had voluntarily closed under the Licensing Consolidation Act, 1910) licensed properties (one for every 123 in the village) and one convictions for being Drunk and Disorderly. The Chairman of the Aylesbury Licensing Committee also commented that there were no convictions of any license holder during the year.

In 1915, The Crown Beerhouse was closed under the Licensing (Consolidation act of 1910 (voluntary scheme) and no drinking related convictions.

In  1916, In the Aylesbury District, there were no convictions under the Licensing (Consolidation)  Act, there were 6 under the "Early Closing Order" of 17th Sept 1914 and the Army order made under the Defence of the Realm Regulations. There was a population of 737 and 6 licensed properties (one for every 147 in the village) and no convictions for being drunk. (Though the quoted population is from the census, it was noted that population had actually increased, though crime relating to drunkenness had decreased and more than half of those convicted were "strangers".

In  1917, there was a population of 737 and 5 licensed properties (one for every 147 in the village) and no convictions for being drunk.

In  1918, there was a population of 737 and 5 licensed properties (one for every 147 in the village) and no convictions for being drunk.  "The Black Horse" license surrendered (voluntarily) - reason not clear.

In 1918 & 19 opening hours were extended in Weston Turville by one hour during British Summer Time to 10p.m. (Sun Time 9p.m.) to allow allotment holders and agricultural workers to get a little refreshment after they had finished their days work on the land.

In  1925, there was a population of 849 and 4 licensed properties (one for every 212 in the village) and two convictions for being drunk and disorderly. 



References