The Bailey at Yorkley
Courtesy of: Stuart Akers. Uploaded:
Just
down the hill on the right is what was once The George public house.
Evelyn Beard has kindly written down a few
memories associated with The George:
"
Mum used to live at the George Inn Yorkley with her sister Joan, brother
Ted and parents Horace & "Meg" Ellway. She mentioned that
the first ever woman to drink in the George Inn at Yorkley was a Mrs Hilda
Akers (wife of Sid Akers). She can't remember whether this was before or
after the end of WWII, but she clearly recalls Mrs Akers sitting in the "Smoke
Room" drinking a glass of beer, and also remembers the men going from
the "Tap Room" to the "Smoke Room" just to see her
drinking!. Other Akers family she remembers are Sam (Sid's brother), Dick,
Ted and Beryl (who apparently still lives on the Bailey). A couple of other
memories related to this specific time was that Woodbines cost fourpence
per pkt of 10 (or 5 wrapped in paper for twopence). Players were sixpence
per 10. They hardly sold any packs of 20 cigarettes, but sold plenty of
tobacco to the older men who smoked pipes (and played cards in the Tap
Room). Mum ("Molly" Ellway) often played crib with the men, apparently
being welcome as she was allegedly a good player! Beer was apparently quite
scarce at the time, and once a barrel was opened it was sold very quickly
until it ran out - with everyone buying pints instead of halves to make
sure they got their share! The pub would then have to close until the next
delivery.
I also have fond memories from the George as my grandparents and Uncle
Ted were still there when Mum was married and we lived in a cottage at
the bottom of the garden of the pub. The cottage was named "Bream
View" and it is still there now, with the name on the gate, but with
a new roof and significantly extended!"
(October 2005) - Evelyn left
The George in 1955
Further down the hill towards Pillowell, the Bandhut was once home to Yorkley Cinema. The Ad is from November 1915.
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