Vol14; No14, Old Pub Tales

[Les1949]

HAMPTON, AROUND AND ABOUT

Things you may not know, or didn’t know you knew!

No 14 OLD PUB TALES

Many pubs have come and gone in and around Hampton, these are a few tales of ‘goings-on’…

THE RED LION (corner of Thames Street and High Street)

William Dent, a labourer who lived locally, was charged with assaulting Police Constable, Sumpton whilst ‘in the execution of his duty’. On 26th December 1878, the officer was on duty in Thames Street when he was called to the ‘tap room’ of the Red Lion. Two men including ,the accused, had been fighting in the bar and had refused to leave. A general melee ensued and punches were flying around as more of the pub clientele joined in. Whilst trying to detain Dent, Sumpton was struck several times, but gave chase and caught up with Dent, but he managed to get away again. At the Petty Sessions in front of Sir John Gibbons, Dent produced a string of witnesses who claimed that the prisoner had been at work during the fracas. The Bench, having some doubt in this matter, gave Dent the benefit of the doubt and discharged him. Dent got away with it, leaving P C Sumpton to ponder on his bruises!

WILLIAM IV (Thames Street)

Albert Beden, a Kingston resident, was ejected from the William IV pub and on 10th May 1879 appeared before the Bench charged with disorderly conduct. P C Sumpton (yes, him again) was called to attend. Whilst outside the pub, Beden continued to give offence, a crowd gathered and as he wouldn’t tone down his language was taken into custody. Beden was fined 5 shillings with 8 shillings costs. Now doubt, PC Sumpton took it all as part of a day’s work – you win some, you lose some.

THE JOLLY GARDENERS (High Steet, close to The Jolly Coopers)


On the 20th April 1893, P C Pomeroy stopped a rag and bone man, Charles Brunton, (Steptoe & Son, anyone?) and checked his load. Brunton had a sack on his back which contained ‘an old horse collar’, however he was unable to come up with a story as how he came to have it. Not satisfied, Pomeroy, took Brunton into custody. In court on the 29th it was stated that a number of harnesses had gone missing and that investigations were ongoing, so the case was delayed for a few hours. Later in the day, Brunton was recalled to the dock, with the charge amended to theft. Frederick Branchett, landlord of The Jolly Gardeners claiming that the horse collar, worth 20 shillings, was his property, last seen on the 19th in his parlour. Brunton was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment with hard labour.

Also present was Christopher Jones, landlord of the Swan Inn, Hanworth who reported the loss of a bridle and bit, worth 10 shillings, which was found to be missing shortly after Brunton left his premises. Brunton was then sentenced to fourteen days imprisonment, which amounted to six weeks in all.

And all because of a policeman’s ‘nose for a villain’.

The Old Historian