The Shades, Causeway, Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire

Bishops Stortford index

Established as an inn in the 16th century, this pub closed in 1972 and is now demolished. ***
Another victim of the Jackson Square development was the Shades public house, built of brick in the early 1900s to replace a 16th century timber-frame inn of the same name that stood on the same site. Its unusual title, unknown anywhere else in Hertfordshire and Essex, was probably a reference to the ‘shade’ offered by large elm trees that once lined the Causeway. The original inn also stood alongside the water mill for nearly 400 years and no doubt provided countless pints of ale to settle dust in the throats of generations of millers. Refreshment of a purer kind was available for horses from the mill pool behind the pub. In the early years of the 20th century, when the circus paid its annual visit to the town, locals were treated to the sight of elephants drinking and bathing in the same pool.

Directory of Pubs in the UK, historical public houses, Taverns, Inns, Beer Houses and Hotels in Hertfordshire . The Hertfordshire listing uses information from census, Trade Directories and History to add licensees, bar staff, Lodgers and Visitors.

Painting of the Shades, Causeway, Bishops Stortford - pre World War 2

Painting of the Shades, Causeway, Bishops Stortford - pre World War 2

Kindly provided by Kevin Clarke

William Clark outside the Shades, Causeway, Bishops Stortford - circa 1934

William Clark outside the Shades, Causeway, Bishops Stortford - circa 1934

Kindly provided by Kevin Clarke

The Shades, Causeway, Bishops Stortford - circa 1937

The Shades, Causeway, Bishops Stortford - circa 1937

Both kndly provided by Kevin Clarke

Residents at this address

1861/John Eden/Bricklayer & Beer Seller/45/Albury, Herts/Census ***
1861/Anne Eden/Wife/43/Bishops Stortford, Herts/Census
1861/Jayne Payne/Niece, Domestic Servant/16/Bishops Stortford, Herts/Census

1871/John Eden/Bricklayer & beerhouse keeper/55/Albury, Herts/Census ***
1871/Mary A Eden/Wife/55/Thaxted, Essex/Census
1871/Betsy Gillett/Servant, General Servant/16/Little Hadham, Herts/Census

1881/John Brazier/Plumber & Beerhouse Keeper/35/Bishops Stortford, Herts/Census ***
1881/Lydia Brazier/Wife/29/Aylesbury, Bucks/Census
1881/Thomas H Brazier/Son/1/Bishops Stortford, Herts/Census
1881/Elizabeth Bush/Servant, General Servant/13/Manuden, Essex/Census

1882/John Brazier/beer retailer/../../Kellys Directory ***

1886/Robert & John Brazier/beer retailers & plumbers/../../Kellys Directory ***

1890/Daniel Blakes/Beer Retailer/../../Post Office Directory

1891/Carston Blake/Beer House Keeper, Widow/47/Bishops Stortford, Herts/Census

1901/Charles Newman/Publican/43/Henham, Essex/Census ***
1901/Agnes Newman/Wife/42/Wickham, Hants/Census
1901/Agnes E Newman/Daughter/11/Bishops Stortford, Herts/Census
1901/Edgar C J Newman/Son/9/Bishops Stortford, Herts/Census
1901/Gladys E M Newman/Daughter/7/Old Sampford, Essex/Census
1901/Marguerite E W Newman/Daughter/5/Old Sampford, Essex/Census

1911/Edwin Margetts/Publican/44/Quenington, Gloucestershire/Census
1911/Mary Kate Margetts/Wife, Assistant/42/Straton, Gloucestershire/Census
1911/Katherine Rose Margetts/Daughter, Clerk/17/Quenington, Gloucestershire/Census
1911/Edwin Reginald Margetts/Son/8/Coln St Aldwyns, Gloucestershire/Census

1912, Edwin Margetts, beer retailer, 2 Causeway

In June 1914, Mary Margetts, and her two children took a boat, the Victorian, to Quebec, in Canada from Liverpool.

The picture in about 1934 is of William Adolphus Harry Clark who was the proprietor from around 1934 until two weeks before world war two started. At this point Trumans tore down half the building, leaving just the Pub part of the building.
One of his daughters Veronica, explained that the Shades was a beautiful building and it was a travesty when Trumans pulled it down. A plan of the building layout showed a Tap room with cobble stoned floor and a huge fireplace, beams, wood panels on the walls. There was also a off license room used as the entrance to the Inn section and for guests to dine when staying overnight.

My father George Thomas Prigmore and Brenda Prigmore were the last Licensees. During the draining and dredging of the mill pond prior to square concrete pipes used as a conduit were put in place hiding the river and mill pond, and the subsequent demolition of the pub; the workers with an excavator thought they had uncovered a bomb. It turned out to be a rusty drum .
However they did later recover an empty bomb case that was completely empty except for mud. I found it in a big pile that used to be left over night to drain as i used to go through all the excavated material looking for artefacts. I believe the workers were unaware of what was in the pile as the casing was almost intact and if it had been caught by the edge of the excavator bucket it would have shown some damage.
It was about waist high to a teenage boy 2'6" tapered at the tail with four fins.  The metal was extremely thin. I got it out of the mud and after cleaning it up on the side the tree, only to find it had been driven over the following day. I remember a story about there being bombs jettisoned in the fields across from the pub. *


* Provided By Glenn Prigmore

** Provided By Colin Ager

*** Provided By Stephen Harris

Provided By Kevin Clarke

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    And Last updated on: Friday, 09-Feb-2024 14:53:34 GMT