Old Boot Inn Stanford Dingley

[Dale]

Kia Ora
I have just received a death cert. for Florine Annie Fairy from 1926.
It says "of Boot Inn Stanford Dingley near Reading." Her husband John Fairy was a Licensed Victualler.

Is any one able to give me any further info? Photos or any idea of the time they spent there? An address to which I could write? Absolutely any wee gem will be seized upon with delight Down Under!
Thank you
Marlene

[behindthefrogs]

After a lot of searching I have discovered that the pub is a "free house".  This means that it is probably run by its owners rather than being owned by a brewery or a chain.

This means that you should write directly to the

 "Old Boot Inn"
Stanford Dingley
Berkshire
RG7 6LT

If you are lucky and they are interested they could help.  The deeds of the pub should tell you if they exist that far back.

However I have just been to the following site

http://www.a2a.org.uk/

Choose Berkshire Record Office and searched on Boot Inn.
The record office seems likely to have the deeds for the period you are interested in.  The fact that the Inn seems be sold between Breweries does how ever make me question my statement above.

If you can quote a reference, as you will be able to from that search, obtaining copies is usually very cheap sometimes free from record offices as no searching is involved.  you can find their address etc from a2a

David



 

[Dale]

Wow what wonderful service! Thank you. I'll take a look on a2a immediately.
Thanks David.
Marlene

[Vicwinann]

Hello Marlene,
Just to tell you that from 1851 through to 1891 at least (I haven't yet got the 1901 census for them) one of my families - the Laileys, first George Lailey and then his son George,  held the Boot Inn at Stanford Dingley.  Both father and son were also the village bakers.  It is possible that your Fairey family were somehow connected to the Laileys or maybe the Toms family.
If it should prove relevant for you I have most of the censuses for that address.
Regards
Vicwinann

[liverpool annie]

And just so you can say .....  ooh ee ooh ........ 

Stanford Dingley

The Boot Inn is reputedly haunted by a man who hanged himself in its orchard. Doors and draws are said to open and close mysteriously at times.

The old rectory is said to have a ghost.

A shrouded woman is said to walk in Jennet’s Wood at midnight.

Annie 

[Dale]

Kia Ora Vicwinann
How absolutely wonderful to meet a descendant of previous owners. Greetings!
The information on Florine's death cert came completely out of the blue to me.

John Fairy was my great gran's brother. She came to NZ in 1878 with her husband and was obviously sent, amongst other items,  a photo of John Fairy with the words "works at London Law Courts" or similar written on the back. I have tracked the Fairy family members back to the 1780s but only recently had the time to start searching forwards past 1901.

John Fairy was still working at the London Law Courts 1915/16 so I can only imagine Boot Inn was a retirement job or something to keep 'the wife happy'.
I have no idea whether they owned the Inn or maybe just worked there!
Are you aware of any deeds or lists of Licensed Victuallers I could research?
My greatgran died in 1936 and never returned to England and I guess the families lost contact as after 11 years of researching I have not made contact with any descendants of John's 2 daughters Esther Alberta (Ettie) & Annie Louise or his 2 stepdaughters Edith or Florence Julia formerly Mullins.
In 1901 the Fairys are at  37 Peckham Grove Camberwell. Still there in 1915.
Sorry I cannot help you any further but I'll let you know if I find anything!
Regards
Marlene
I have not come across the names Lailey or Toms in my search I'm sorry.

[Dale]

Kia Ora Liverpool Annie
OOOH! I do love the ghost stories! I've just put the Old Boot Inn on my list of must sees when I visit - after I've won the Lotto!
Do you live close by? I cannot find a photo on the Net nor the ghostly heritage story.
Any ideas how I could find out more?
Very grateful for that wee gem. Thank you
Marlene

[behindthefrogs]

Two thoughts on the previous comments.

One of my son's friends was a Layley and he obtained a grant for university from the Huguenot Society because the family was of Huguenot origin.

What was your source of the ghost story Annie?  I have another such story about the pub in whose Orchard my house was built, which I wouuld like to trace.

[liverpool annie]

Hi David !!

I got it from here !! hope you find your orchard !!

http://www.berkshirehistory.com/legends/ghosts_s.html

Annie