Newbury Pubs, 1823

Toomer evidently was unaware of all the Christian names of the landlords! The order of presentation is probably that of a set of Poor Rate books for that year – a readily available reference for a man in his position. The names are listed geographically, up and down Northbrook Street, across the bridge, down Bartholomew Street etc, with the occasional diversion into alleys and side streets.

The table below contains the names of the 38 pubs in Newbury in 1823, a number that would dramatically increase following the 1830 Beer Act. The original, handwritten table can be found in the Journal of Joseph Toomer, thrice Mayor of Newbury.

The Journal contains many snippets from his first term as Mayor (1790-1) and includes a number of lists added at a later date.

The 1820s was a decade of great interest in the history of the town, which resulted in the publication of The History of Newbury and its Environs in 1830 – the first attempt at a history of the town. The book is credited to Edward William Gray, but there is a general belief that he was more editor than the author of the whole book. These snippets in Toomer’s old journal my be evidence of his collaboration in the book.

Whether or not this was the case, Toomer’s biggest contribution to later historians was his decision to take a census of the town in 1815 (during his third Mayoral term). The census survived in the family archive for many years before being donated to West Berkshire Museum; it is now in the Royal Berkshire Archives. A transcipt is available from the Berkshire Family History Society.

The List

Unlike the 1761 list all the pubs on this list have known locations as most lasted well into the age of directories, census, newspapers etc. when far more information is available. The Catherine Wheel, Coopers, Dolphin, Gun, Half Moon Hatchet, Monument, Nags Head, Swan, Three Tuns, and Waggon & Horses, are all still licensed premises today (2026)