Page 26 - Thrapston Life July 2024

newspaper reported that “Harriett
Smith, a sunburnt damsel of about 24,
was charged with being drunk, very
noisy and refusing to leave. She was
fined 10 shillings with 14 shillings 4d costs. She paid on the spot, producing a £5 note and some gold”. Shown in circa 1930 it proudly advertised Praed’s ales and stout.
On the corner of this part of High Street and Chancery Lane stood the White Hart. In 1702 William Morton became owner of the White Hart Inn. It adopted the name White Hart Hotel during the 1800’s and, once the railway had arrived in town, became the Midland Railway’s parcel office as well as transporting passengers from Midland Road Station to the hotel. Just visible behind the town pump in the picture below is the entrance to the yard with sufficient clearance to allow a horse and carriage to enter. It regularly appeared in newspaper pictures, often with the local hunt enjoying a stirrup
cup in front of the Hotel with many residents watching before setting out into the fields. When it was demolished in 1965, items of china and a glass spirit flask, all marked with the pubs’ name, were rescued from the rubble. A small cream jug is shown.
My final picture shows the Mason’s Arms in circa 1930. There is just a possibility that this was
originally the Duke’s Head which is recorded in town in 1779. In January 1804 it was mentioned in the local newspaper named the Masons’ Arms. This picture from the 1930’s shows it
with two entrances, one on Oundle Road which is now a window and one on Huntingdon
Road, with the pub’s name being the Masons’ Arms. Once again, Praed’s is advertised. A Northamptonshire rhyme from the beginning of the 20th century both extolled the virtues of and condemned some local breweries. It ran:
“Campbell’s beer is very good, Dulley’s ain’t amiss, Bedford beer is damnable and Praed’s is worse than...”
Eric Franklin can be contacted for comments and suggestions for future articles at: ericfranklin2@hotmail.com
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