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The Plough |
The Plough sits on the corner of Christ Church Road and Well Lane, adjacent to Merton Cottages, a row of 18th century buildings which still survive in Christ Church Road. While officially an 18th-century inn (it is said to date from 1733) parts of the Plough's structure are older. A timber beam which was dated by English Heritage as being 16th century, was discovered in 1990 during building works. It is likely that the inn began as a collection of farmers' cottages built around 1530. In 1846, when Jepe Nalder Bell was the landlord, it was known as the Plough and Harrow but by 1891 the inn was referred to simply as the Plough.
On Census night 1901 Charles Higham, licenced victualler, was living on the premises with his widowed aunt Annie Trowbridge and Margot Daylon who was a barmaid and servant; both women were from Somerset.
In the 1914 Valuation, the Plough was described as an old brick-built public house with a part-tiled roof. The ground floor had three public bars, a serving bar, tap room, kitchen and scullery. On the first floor three rooms led from the first staircase, and a further three led from a second staircase. There was stabling at the rear of the building with four stalls and also a wc.
Fullers acquired the freehold of the Plough in September 2011. It is a popular local public house with a garden, restaurant, quiz nights and live music.