Stewkley Local History Group

PICTURE (TOP):
Workers at
Marlow Brewery
around 1900.

  • The Carpenters Arms:

Known to its locals as simply 'The Carps', the premises at number 1 Wing Road has been a pub since 1867. Its double-pile building with front-facing gables is mainly early 19th-century – but with some evidence of a 17th-century timber frame with brick infill at the east end of the south range. The construction is of brick in Flemish bond with some dark headers.

This old image indicates that the pub purveyed ales brewed by Roberts and Wilson of Ivinghoe, so we know that this image dates from before 1927, because the Ivinghoe brewery was acquired that year by Benskins of Watford and brewing ceased at Ivinghoe.

The Swan Public House, a part 17th and part 19th-century Grade II Listed Building, remains little changed. In 1910, The Swan offered good accommodation and sold Berkhamsted brewery Locke and Smith's Ales and Stout. The brewery went into receivership in 1913 and was taken over by Watford brewery, Benskins.

Images and words reproduced from the 'Now and Then' page of the Stewkley Local History Group's website.

  • Who we are:
  • The group was formed in 2006 by village residents interested in the study research and promotion of local history in the area of Stewkley, especially its buildings, characters, occupations amd evolution.
  • Our activities:
  • At our monthly meetings during the winter we hold relevant talks, and during the summer explore the locality – but our meetings have been curtailed since the Covid-19 lockdown earlier in the year.
  • Our publications:
  • STEWKLEY'S WELLS AND PUMPS is our most recent publication, in 2016. Local wells and pumps were once essential to village life, but since the installation of a mains water supply many have disappeared without trace. The group have surveyed and recorded those that have survived. £5.00 including postage. To order, use the form on our website.
  • Earlier publications – on the Church of St Michael and All Angels, Stewkley School, and the Stewkley Lads fallen in the Great War and the Second World War – can be found on the publications page of our website.
  • Enquiries:
  • There is a contact form for all enquiries on our website.

The contents of this page have been reproduced from the Stewkley Local History Group website.