Aylesbury, England

[DanaC]

It was snowing again today..

[TheMercenary]

wow, small world.

[Mike the Nobler]

This takes me back, I lived and worked in the Odfellows when I was 18 back in 1989, I don’t know how much longer it lasted after that time as it was pretty much on its last legs then. It was tenanted from ABC brewery by a former drag artist who lived and ran the Prince of Whales as well, which was out of town. We ran it as a ‘Gay Friendly’ pub and had some really crazy times. Apart from memories the only thing I have left from the pub is my Rock-ola juke box which was in the side bar along with a pool table and dart board. I remember the cellar was huge with an old area for storing barrels and wine. It was interesting that it had the old entrances to three tunnels down there, one you could still get along, that just went across the road to the Nags Head I think it was called, the others we inaccessible but I remember an old punter telling me that one went to another pub along the road and the other went into town. I think the pub even back then had a preservation order on it due to the windows? Up stars was a simple flat with two bedrooms one in the loft, a bathroom and a sitting room that held more than its share of after hour drinking parties. I could go on. I think someplace I have a photo of the bar if anybody is interested. Oh and yes the Ladies and Gents was outside, I remember both had a drain cover that we removed at the end of the day and just used a hose to clean the mess out. Sorry Ladies no loo rolls in those days.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Welcome to the Cellar, Mike.
I'd like to see that picture.

[memories]

Originally Posted by Mike the Nobler

This takes me back, I lived and worked in the Odfellows when I was 18 back in 1989, I don’t know how much longer it lasted after that time as it was pretty much on its last legs then. It was tenanted from ABC brewery by a former drag artist who lived and ran the Prince of Whales as well, which was out of town. We ran it as a ‘Gay Friendly’ pub and had some really crazy times. Apart from memories the only thing I have left from the pub is my Rock-ola juke box which was in the side bar along with a pool table and dart board. I remember the cellar was huge with an old area for storing barrels and wine. It was interesting that it had the old entrances to three tunnels down there, one you could still get along, that just went across the road to the Nags Head I think it was called, the others we inaccessible but I remember an old punter telling me that one went to another pub along the road and the other went into town. I think the pub even back then had a preservation order on it due to the windows? Up stars was a simple flat with two bedrooms one in the loft, a bathroom and a sitting room that held more than its share of after hour drinking parties. I could go on. I think someplace I have a photo of the bar if anybody is interested. Oh and yes the Ladies and Gents was outside, I remember both had a drain cover that we removed at the end of the day and just used a hose to clean the mess out. Sorry Ladies no loo rolls in those days.

did you experience anything paranormal - noises, sightings ,cold spots etc. in your stay there .were the spiral stairs there to the upper room. i hated them !!very eerie and our dog wouldnt go up them like the celler he hated too.
my mum told me stories of the history of the celler that had been handed down from landlord tol andlord that the celler was known to of have witchcraft practiced down there in the early years of the pub. they say dogs can sence the paranormal ande he wouldnt dare go down there.
i do vaigely remember the celler being very very big. why did they have these tunnels. what were they for .
t

[Mike the Nobler]

So memories I take it you spent some time there to, when was that if you don’t mind me asking?

I’m not sure but I was told that the tunnels all linked up under the town church. And that they were used for the population to get to ‘sanctuary’ if needed? I did have one regular who was a cab driver, (aren’t they always) who told me that when he was a boy the vicar had told him that under the church they had cells that were used by monks at one stage, and that they went of into tunnels. I hate to think what the church got up to in cells if this was true.
I remember the stairs as been very narrow, the ones that went to the loft room were a real pain. This was the domain of the manager’s son. As for the celler’s, yes they were creepy, hardly any light, and with the smell of very old pub celler.
As for anything paranormal, it would be difficult to say, as my whole time there was very strange. I learnt a lot about life there, and a lot about drinking, I lived there a while working as assistant manager, and the manager did not serve coffee with breakfast he served a double Vodka and coke, the day then went on like this, rack up the bar, open the pub, at least 4 doubles over lunch. Close. Sleep till five, another drink, opens at six….. Yes you got it more to drink. Close at 11, the curtains that is. And then carry on drinking until 2 in the morning with any punters that wanted to stay. He was a heavy drinker and expected those around him to do the same.
Oh I can remember one place that used to get me twitchy; there was a door that went of the bathroom into a hay loft that was over the big side gate. I left a lot of my stuff in there, Cine films, projector, records, all kinds of stuff. It was easier that rummaging around in the dark when I left the place.
I will try and find the photo of the bar, I'm sure I still have it somplace.

[memories]

Originally Posted by Mike the Nobler

So memories I take it you spent some time there to, when was that if you don’t mind me asking?

I’m not sure but I was told that the tunnels all linked up under the town church. And that they were used for the population to get to ‘sanctuary’ if needed? I did have one regular who was a cab driver, (aren’t they always) who told me that when he was a boy the vicar had told him that under the church they had cells that were used by monks at one stage, and that they went of into tunnels. I hate to think what the church got up to in cells if this was true.
I remember the stairs as been very narrow, the ones that went to the loft room were a real pain. This was the domain of the manager’s son. As for the celler’s, yes they were creepy, hardly any light, and with the smell of very old pub celler.
As for anything paranormal, it would be difficult to say, as my whole time there was very strange. I learnt a lot about life there, and a lot about drinking, I lived there a while working as assistant manager, and the manager did not serve coffee with breakfast he served a double Vodka and coke, the day then went on like this, rack up the bar, open the pub, at least 4 doubles over lunch. Close. Sleep till five, another drink, opens at six….. Yes you got it more to drink. Close at 11, the curtains that is. And then carry on drinking until 2 in the morning with any punters that wanted to stay. He was a heavy drinker and expected those around him to do the same.
Oh I can remember one place that used to get me twitchy; there was a door that went of the bathroom into a hay loft that was over the big side gate. I left a lot of my stuff in there, Cine films, projector, records, all kinds of stuff. It was easier that rummaging around in the dark when I left the place.
I will try and find the photo of the bar, I'm sure I still have it somplace.

my mum and dad were landlords thyere in the early to mid sixties. my memories of the place start at around at the age of two/three ( about 1966/67)
i used to love the jukebox on loud and a drink called hubbly bubbly- a lime fizzy drink.
i take after my mum and dont drink but my father was the total opposite . my mum said he always had lock ins which seems to be a bit of a tradition of that pub - very heavy drinkers indeed.
i remember once i had this toy gun and it was so loud and looked so real. i aimed it at the locals and starting fireing it and they all shat them selves... i can imagine the names they were calling me under there breath, lol.

[Sundae]

Originally Posted by Mike the Nobler

It was interesting that it had the old entrances to three tunnels down there, one you could still get along, that just went across the road to the Nags Head I think it was called, the others we inaccessible but I remember an old punter telling me that one went to another pub along the road and the other went into town.

I'd forgotten about this. One of my close friends was a regular in The Nag's Head, and he used to crash there sometimes. He told me about the tunnels too, although I was never really sure whether he was just having his leg pulled. That answers that I guess!

In fact, thinking about it, something of the sort was mentioned when I had a tour of St Mary's church (when I was in the Brownies). Too long ago for it to be anything other than a vague memory though.

[Sundae]

Thanks Memories - it's always good to know that somethign I chose almost at random can mean something to someone else

In my memory it has only ever stood next to the Telephone Exchange - with the carpark right next to the pub. I'll ask Mum & Dad, but as they only moved to Aylesbury in the 60s they might not know about the cemetary either. In fact they only moved into the house we are in now just after I was born (1972) so they wouldn't have had any reason to pass it before then.

I took a couple more pictures for you today.

First is just a close-up of the area behind the building.
As you might know, the door in the picture has the sign Gents on it. I assume they were outside when you lived there too.
I honestly don't remember the Ladies being outside, but I did only drink in there once or twice and just might not have needed to go. Behind is the Telephone Exchange as mentioned above.

Second shows the busy junction it is on. It's completely and utterly different even to when I grew up. The sorting office is on the left of course, but they pulled a lot down to open up Upper Hundreds - you're seeing all the way down to the Vale Park. To your right is Cambridge Street, and there would have been a row of shops and the Nags Head pub.

[memories]

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

Thanks Memories - it's always good to know that somethign I chose almost at random can mean something to someone else

In my memory it has only ever stood next to the Telephone Exchange - with the carpark right next to the pub. I'll ask Mum & Dad, but as they only moved to Aylesbury in the 60s they might not know about the cemetary either. In fact they only moved into the house we are in now just after I was born (1972) so they wouldn't have had any reason to pass it before then.

I took a couple more pictures for you today.

First is just a close-up of the area behind the building.
As you might know, the door in the picture has the sign Gents on it. I assume they were outside when you lived there too.
I honestly don't remember the Ladies being outside, but I did only drink in there once or twice and just might not have needed to go. Behind is the Telephone Exchange as mentioned above.

Second shows the busy junction it is on. It's completely and utterly different even to when I grew up. The sorting office is on the left of course, but they pulled a lot down to open up Upper Hundreds - you're seeing all the way down to the Vale Park. To your right is Cambridge Street, and there would have been a row of shops and the Nags Head pub.

thanks for more pics "sundae girl" your a gem !.i do remember the outside gents toilets as i was often playing in the yard and locals would say hello. but ill have to ask my mother about the ladies,. was only about 3 ish when we moved on to portsmouth. i dont remember the outside scenery at all, so its realy nice to see what its like now. as you said i bet it has changed an aweful lot .
ill try and get a few more facts of mum about the pub and she willlove your pictures too . cya

[Sundae]

One more to show the position.
Standing with my back to Cambridge Street - New Street runds away to the left, Cambridge Street continues down in front of us. Again, the lower part of Cambridge Street has changed enormously (I remember houses where there is now a retail park, even the Fire Station has moved). The County Arms used to stand halfway down the street, that went with the houses.

And finally...
Fading, but still there, an advert for the Aylesbury Brewery Company - long since defunct of course.

Of course you were very young when you lived there, so the chances are you would not recognise the streets around it anyway. But I thought you might still like to put it in perspective the way it is today. Hope these bring back happier times for you!

[xoxoxoBruce]

What do they sort in the sorting office, the mail?

[Sundae]

Yes - in the larger version of the picture the Royal Mail sign on the building is quite clear - it's not all that obvious on this one.

It used to be a main sorting office, but that is done in Hemel Hempstead now - theirs is HUGE! Our little one gets the post from there and further sorts it for Aylesbury and the surrounding villages. It's also where you go if you have to pay additional postage or if you weren't at home for a signed delivery or something that doesn't fit through your letterbox.

[spudcon]

Sundae, does the shop that sells Oddfellows Arms sell his legs too?

[dar512]

Thanks, SG for all these wonderful pictures. Better than a travelogue.