Bunch of Grapes & Coach and Horses

[claire1966]

Hello,

I wonder if anyone has any information about the Bunch of Grapes pub which used to be in Mariner Street, Swansea? I've found out from Kelly's Directory that it used to stand at no. 4 but that's since been turned into a carpark.

It was run by Rachel Lewis (nee Williams) who was my gr gr Aunt. Her husband was David Lewis and they had a son also called David. She went on to run the Bird in Hand in Waunarlwydd.

Also, on the other side of the family. My gr gr grandfather Robert Nelson Stratton used to run the Coach & Horses in North Cray Road, Bexley, Kent. The pub is still open but does anyone know where I can find out more about the history of it?

Many thanks,
Claire

[Jan1954]

Also, on the other side of the family. My gr gr grandfather Robert Nelson Stratton used to run the Coach & Horses in North Cray Road, Bexley, Kent. The pub is still open but does anyone know where I can find out more about the history of it?

Many thanks,
Claire

Hello Claire,

If the pub is still open, you could contact them to find out if it's a managed or free house. If managed, obtain the brewery details and contact their archives. Many of the long-established breweries have wonderful archives, containing details of who ran what and when.

Good luck,

[claire1966]

Hello Jan,

Thanks for your advice, I'll get in touch with the pub and see what else I can find out.

Kind regards,
Claire

[Jan1954]

Claire,

Mr P (ex pub trade) also says that if it's a free house you could always ask the landlord when it became one and the name of the brewery that owned it before.

Also, for free house, you could contact CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale). They may be found at:

http://www.
camra.org.uk/ They have a contact page.

[Peter Goodey]

For the Bexley pub, you may be interested to know that transcriptions of a dozen or so issues of Kelly's Directory (1870 to 1938) are online from the Bexley Local Studies & Archive Centre.
http://www.bexley.gov.uk/localstudies/kellys_directories.html

[claire1966]

Hello Peter & Jan,

Thank you both for the extra information. I've had a look at the Kelly's Directory and have managed to track Robert down. Also it's lead me to a lot of details about the Elms side of the family who also lived in Bexley. They ran the Royal Oak which is also known locally as Polly Cleanstairs as Mary Ann Elms was such a houseproud lady.

Next job is to get in touch with the present landlord at the Coach & Horses.

Many thanks again, your help is much appreciated.

Kind regards,
Claire

[Peter Goodey]

There's a website with an email address :D
http://coach-and-horses.com/

[claire1966]

Thanks Peter.

I've sent them an email. I think it might be worthwhile driving over there especially if I can find out more about the Royal Oak as well.

Claire

[JohnnyCurry]

Hi i am new to this site but i live in Swansea and can tell you the Bunch of Grapes is no longer on Mariner street. A member of my family ran this pub with her sister many years ago. I am going to go to the Town Hall to speak to the licensing department but. I would be gratefult if you could forward any info you have re. dates of the pub being open. I would love a picture if you have one and i will update you with what i find, regards John

[Jan1954]

Hello John - welcome to Brit-Gen,

Unfortunately, claire1966 has not visited the forum since last summer and so may not see your post. However, she is still a member and, if you click on her user name, a drop-dpwn menu appears. From that, you could either send her a private message or email direct.

[JohnnyCurry]

Thanks Jan as you can see i am new to this, John