Remember the Globe Public House
Previous article about the Globe Pub
Drunk policemen, street parties land ghostly goings on are all memories connected with the Globe pub in Old Town cherished by three Croydon residents with links to the area.
Image: The Globe in 1969
Last month, Heritage asked if anyone could shed any light on the origins of a modest glass jug owned by Phyllis White, from Winchester, which was inscribed with a Christmas message from the Globe's landlords, Mr and Mrs Shenton, in 1926.
According to John Keep, of Chapman Road, the photo we published of the Globe brought back some happy memories.
He says: "I was courting my wife Sylvia who lived at 33 Old Town. We and all the family, used to drink in the Globe most weekends."
"The landlady used to make the Best ham and salad rolls in Croydon and a pint cost about one shilling and six pence."
"We were married in December 1963 and all the family went to the Globe for a drink after the wedding, so it couldn't have closed in 1952."
"My wife's grandparents, the Andrews, lived at number 31 Old Town and according to my wife's aunt Win, the glass jugs were given to the regulars at Christmas time for their custom."
Another resident, Mr R Taylor of Meadvale Road, has more colourful anecdotes of life in and around the Globe pub. He says: "Right next door to the pub used to be two glass fronted shops. One was a bakers and the other was Pooks, the greengrocer."
"When the bakers closed because the baker hung himself, my gran and grandad took it over. It was haunted. My gran had all the internal doors taken off because they used to open on their own."
"My gran, grandad and my father visited the Globe regularly. When my mum and dad got married, also at his father's 21st birthday, Old Town was closed off at both ends while the celebrations went on. It lasted three days and it was even alleged that some of the police got tipsy."
"At weekends the Black Maria used to turn up outside the pub to pick up the drunks. The time of these events was between 1925 and 1930. I myself lived, next door to the pub when I was a toddler. I am now 77 years old."
Mr V Redford, of Cromwell House, Old Town, recalls the days before the Globe was torn down to make way for the road widening of Old Town. He says: "My wife, with her family, moved into Cromwell House in 1957 as some of the first residents. The Globe was open then and I frequently drank there with my father-in-law right up until 1966 when I went to Australia."
"The publican's name was Bert Chinn and he lived there with his wife Olive, When they retired the new publican was called Frank but I can't remember the surname or his wife's name but he had a daughter called Penny who married a fireman from the fire station along the road."
"When it finally closed it would have been around about 1969. I am not sure of the exact date as I was still in Australia."
"It was compulsorily bought for the road widening scheme on Old Town along with the George, which was up the road. We have a picture of the then GLC councillor David White meeting with Old Town residents who were demonstrating against the widening of the Old Town to a six lane carriageway."