Morland Pub Signs of Old Berkshire

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Morland Pub Signs

Many visitors to Abingdon are intrigued and delighted by the curious Painter Ceramic Plaque which graces actual & former Morland Pubs. The plaques were produced by Poole Pottery or Carter Tile Works and was designed by Reginald Bell. The painter depicted is known as "The Artist Fayer".

They are extremely colorful as befits the artist depicted. Quoting from the brochure produced for the shareholders on the occasion of the 250th anniversary:

'An interesting connection of the Morland family with the famous 18th century artist of the same name is still preserved by the Company's Trade Mark, which depicts a painter of that period.'

Apparently the Georgian landscape painter, George Morland (1763-1804), was a member of the family, and that is how brushes and palette come to feature in the trade mark of the brewery, I cannot find actual proof of this.

Former Morlands Brewery Abingdon

The sculpture represents barrel making. The former Morlands Headquarters buildings have been converted into luxury apartments. The conversion of the former buildings is considered a great success.

The Brewery Tap, Ock Street, Abingdon

The Brewery Tap being adjacent to the brewery implied that it had a direct tap or pipe from the brewery, well no longer as the brewery is now hundreds of miles away. The pub is still very popular however and very busy at weekends

Morris Men and the Ock St Horns at Morland's Pub the Punchbowl Abingdon

Abingdon Heritage Day 2009, what could be more representative of Abingdon that the Abingdon Morris Dancers drinking beer at the Punchbowl Public House with the Ock Street Horns leaning up against the wall. What's more MG Cars were lined up in the Market Place just opposite (not in photo)

Anchor Inn, Thames Side, St Helens Wharf, Abingdon

Abingdon on Thames Former Home of Morlands and MG

Abingdon claims to be the oldest continuously populated town in England

Morland Items eBay

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The Grapes Abingdon, back as a pub again

Former Bee Hive Pub Stert Street

This is now an Indian Restaurant. The Pub's Famous Pub Sign disappeared shortly after the pub was closed

Morland Pubs

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Former Crown Inn Ock Street Abingdon

The Boundary House Pub Abingdon, Former Home of Cecil Kimber of MG Cars

"The Boundary House" is located in Cecil Kimber's house where the founder of MG lived from 1935-39.

Former Horse and Jockey Pub, Bath Street

This was only recently converted to housing

The Fox at Steventon

The Load of Mischief Pub at Blewbury

(Now converted to a private house)

Abingdon Arms Wantage Morlands Pub

The Maybush Pub at Newbridge

Pub Board stating "Not Flooded"

Newbridge is a thirteenth-century bridge carrying the A415 road over the River Thames in Oxfordshire, between Abingdon and Witney, close to the Thames' confluence with the River Windrush. It is one of the two oldest surviving bridges across the Thames.

There is a pub at either end of the bridge: "The Rose Revived" on the north bank, and "The Maybush" on the south bank.

The bridge consists two spans, where the northern span crosses the river and the southern span, south of the Maybush, is dry underneath except when the river flood (Wikipedia)

The Rose Revived at New Bridge

There was a Civil War Skirmish at Newbridge

The Rose Revived at Newbridge on the Thames

The River Windrush joins the Thames here, great starting point for walks. The Rose Revived is also a guesthouse

Morland Brewery Beer Mats and Labels

The Horse Shoe Pub at Bampton Oxfordshire

I've been struggling to find former Morland Pubs north of the Thames beyond Oxford, but here's one at Bampton. Bampton is well worth a visit

The Chequers at Charney Basset Now a Brakspear Pub

The Chequers Inn, a charming and peaceful characteristic countryside inn, with recently refurbished and decorated 3-en suite letting rooms and pleasant dining areas, overlooking the village green in a delightful Oxfordshire village of Charney Bassett. The Chequers has been licensed to serve fine ales, stout, wines and spirits since early 1800s

North Star Railway Pub at Steventon

This was the pub damaged by a JCB driven by the owner who was refused a drink by his staff! The Pub has now been restored

The Old Crown at Easy Hanney

Former Morlands Pub now a private dwelling

The Fox Inn Steventon former Morlands Pub

Still a big pub, with an Aunt Sally Pitch

What Happened to Morlands?

Morlands started out as a small brewery in the tiny village of West Ilsley in Berkshire and embarked on a program of buying up other local breweries to become a dominant force in Old Berkshire. However in recent times even being a national brewery wasn't big enough, so although they tried to expand by buying up 101 former Courages pubs and tried to diversify with a restaurant chain "The Artist Fayer" they were eventually bought out by Greene King. All Abingdon activities were shut down and sold off. Morlands Original, Old Speckled Hen, Hens-Tooth and Tanners-Jack are all still brewed by Greene King of Bury St Edmunds under Morland's Brewing.

The White Horse Ock Street, Abingdon, Morlands Pub

A former landlord George Moran claimed to have been a steward on the Titanic, however, his name does not appear in the lists of passengers published by various newspapers following the disaster.

Prince of Wales Pub at Shippon near Abingdon

Morlands Pub the Greyhound Letcombe Basset

Just closed down. Hopefully temporarily

Rare Morlands Beer Pub Sign - Didcot Labour Club

Rare Morlands Beer Pub Sign - Didcot Labour Club 

Morlands Pub the Queens Arms Didcot Old Village

Morlands Pub the Queens Arms Didcot Old Village
Lord Nelson Pub at Wantage

Lord Nelson Pub at Wantage (popular with Ridgeway walkers) 

The Lamb Wantage, near the former Canal Wharf & Mill

The Lamb Wantage, near the former Canal Wharf & Mill 

Pour a Pint at the Brewery Tap

Got any memories of Morlands or Abingdon?

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The Punter Canal-side Morlands Pub, Osney, Oxford

The Punter Canal-side Morlands Pub, Osney, Oxford (formerly the Watermans Arms) 

Former Morlands Pub Crowmarsh Gifford

Former Morlands Pub Crowmarsh Gifford

Don't know the name of this pub.

Duke of Wellingto Pub, Faringdon, former Morlands Pub

Duke of Wellingto Pub, Faringdon, former Morlands Pub

The Plough Pub at Kelmscott former Morland's Pub

The Plough Pub at Kelmscott former Morland's Pub

Did William Morris ever drink here? William Morris 1834 - 189) was an English textile designer, artist, writer, socialist and Pre-Raphaelite he lived in the nearby Kelmscott Manor.

Morland Pub Signs Blessings

Waggon & Horses Pub, Pinkneys Green, Maidenhead

Waggon & Horses Pub, Pinkneys Green, Maidenhead

A real local pub

Former Apollo Pub, St Aldates, Oxford

Former Apollo Pub, St Aldates, Oxford

Has been a Mexican Restaurant now an office or empty

Former Pubs Websites

The sad story of Britain's disappearing pubs.
Brewery History Society - Berkshire:
The Brewery History Society: Defunct Breweries Berkshire
Brewery History Society - Oxfordshire:
The Brewery History Society: Defunct Breweries Oxfordshire

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