The Phoenix, Hartley Wintney

The Phoenix, Hartley Wintney, originally uploaded by Mike Cattell.

The pub dates back to the 1670’s as a traditional coaching inn and has been surpassed by the age of the motorcar.

During the 1930’s the then Landlord was Tim Carson, a Vauxhall 30-98 enthusiast, with a group of friends founded the Vintage Sports Car Club.

The Phoenix Inn and adjoining Phoenix Garage is steeped in motoring heritage and will surprise and delight your senses.

The Anton Arms, Andover, Hampshire

The Anton Arms, Andover, Hampshire, originally uploaded by Mike Cattell.

The Portsmouth Arms, Hatch Warren, Basingstoke

The Portsmouth Arms, Hatch Warren, Basingstoke, originally uploaded by Mike Cattell.

The White Hart, Andover, Hampshire

The White Hart, Andover, Hampshire, originally uploaded by Mike Cattell.

Town centre pub on Bridge street.

The Crown Hotel, Alton, Hampshire

The Crown Hotel, Alton, Hampshire, originally uploaded by Mike Cattell.

This inn seems to have been built by the lord of the manor of Alton Eastbrook, Hyde Abbey, in the early 1500s. It was named the Pelican, probably because the symbol of the then Bishop of Winchester, Bishop Fox, was a pelican.

At the Dissolution, the manor came into the hands of the crown and so the inn, very wisely, changed its name to the Crown.

As the premises were built on a corner, there was not much room and they were always leased together with Crown Close – later the site of the Assembly Rooms, Curtis Museum and hospital.

At the Restoration, the new innholder was Jonathan Sly and he was assessed for 7 hearths - the smallest number for Alton’s inns. When Jonathan died, his wife, Joan, took over. She was a member of the Gates family, many of whom were leading Quakers, and was excommunicated and sent to Winchester Prison for about three weeks.

One benefit of the position of the Crown was that Crown Close was used for the Alton Eastbrook fair which, until the mid-1700s, took place on St Lawrence’s Day (10 August). This must have brought a lot of trade to the inn. The date of the fair was changed to Michaelmas to avoid harvest time.

During the French Wars, an outhouse at the Crown was used for French prisoners who were being escorted through the town. On one occasion, there was a breakout but they were captured and continued on their way.

Like the George and Swan, the Crown was acquired by the Hawkins family and then sold to Henry Hall. Together with the Swan, it was sold in 1903 to Courage & Co. Over the years there have been alterations and improvements but the carved beams put up in the early 1500s can still be seen in one of the main rooms.

Plough and Horses, Cove, Hampshire

Plough and Horses, Cove, Hampshire, originally uploaded by Mike Cattell.

The John Russell Fox, Andover, Hampshire

The John Russell Fox, Andover, Hampshire, originally uploaded by Mike Cattell.

10 High Street is the former home of the Andover Advertiser, founded by John Russell Fox, who produced the first edition at this address on 1 January 1858.
The premises were rebuilt by the Fox family 10 years later, but in the same year a new proprietor took over. In 1876, the paper changed hands again, to James Charles Holmes. The Holmes family then ran the Andover Advertiser for 110 years, until 1986. Since then, the paper’s format has changed from broadsheet to tabloid.