69 High Street

This property was researched by John Thurston

Cross Keys Public House, 16 July 1973, [ref: BorBPH3/115]

 It appears that an Inn (or Inns) may well have been on the site from as early as 1628, while our first precise source of information, a “lease and release”, shows that in 1681 the “Robin Hood” Inn  was located at the corner of the High Street and Mill Lane.Circa 1700 we have the first mention of the “Black Swan” Inn, in the occupation of Mary Gale, which is separated from the “Robin Hood” by two cottages. By 1711 the Innholder of the “Black Swan” is given as John Gale and then John Franklin. On Franklins death, around 1713/14, his son, John Gale the younger, conveys the “Black Swan” to William Dodgson for £225. [ref: CRT130BED/233]. 

In 1718 a wedding settlement between John Cooch and Dorothy Hensman elaborates further by stating that the two two cottages on the site between  the “Black Swan” and the “Robin Hood” were occupied by their respective occupiers and publicans, John Franklin and William Dove [ref: BC22].William Dodgson’s will of 1729 leaves the “Black Swan” to his wife Elizabeth, “lately occupied by John Franklin” [ref: GK100/18, 29].By 1736 we learn from a Mortgage that James Bailey, the Innkeeper was the Mortgagee of the “Black Swan Messuage” occupied by Paul Winslow, John Garret and Richard Cook. The later owner was Francis Walker [ref: GK100/20]. In 1738 Alderman (Francis ) Walker sells the “Black Swan” Inn to Nathaniel Costin for £170. 

Our next two occupants are known from Licence Recognizances from 1751-1753 with John Watts at the “Black Swan” and Thomas Woodroffe at the “Robin Hood”[ref: QSR1753/31]. In 1767 the “Black Swan” is conveyed by Nathaniel Costin to sons John and Gideon. The Inn was in the occupation of John Watts, John Ward and John Antill [ref: GK100/24].In September 1785 the "Black Swan" was conveyed by John Costin, son of Nathaniel, to Benjamin Palmer for £350. It was in the occupation of  Joseph Medbury, Matthew Abbott & Thomas Gibbs [ref: GK100/25]. By 1785 Peregrine Nash, a major brewer in Bedford (ref: GK/Newland&Nash”) had acquired the “Robin Hood”. 

The 1795 Enclosure Award confirms that Benjamin Palmer owned the "Black Swan" while Peregrine Nash owned the "Robin Hood" [ref: MA26, Award BooK G]. By 1800 the “Black Swan”, 3 messuages , a warehouse or china shop was owned by Robert Wilkin Robinson. They were in the occupation of  Robert Wilkin Robinson, Joshua Page, Jane Lady & Widow Beane [ref: GK100/26].Later in 1800 Peregrine Nash acquired the complete site and demolished both inns and cottages replacing them with a new “Robin Hood Inn”. Richard Amos was installed as the publican.and remained in the position until at least 1823/4 according to trade directories. By 1830/31 the new incumbent was John Jones and on his death his widow (name unknown). 

The 1839 Directory and Beds Archives show John Hills and then George Hills in charge of the “Robin Hood” , shortly to be followed in 1841 by James Freshwater who lived on the premises with his wife Sarah. In 1847 John Harris is the Publican with George Gazeley in 1850. The 1851 Census has Mary Wakefield as the new licensee, staying in the job for 3 years. Beds Archives shows George Paris briefly taking charge in 1854 before, in the same year, Richard Willshaw takes over. He is shown on the later 1861 Census as living at the Inn with his wife Emma and four children. 

In 1862 we have a conflict between Beds Archives who name the Publican as Charles Cox and Beds and Hunts Directory which still name Richard Willshaw as the Publican. In 1869 Beds Archives also states “Neith, mentioned” as a Directory entry though we have no other information on this.In 1869 another Inn owned by Peregrine Nash, the “Cross Keys” in the Market Place in the High Street, was demolished and the sign (and the name) was transferred to the “Robin Hood” in 1870. 

The first publican in charge of the renamed “Cross Keys” Inn was Thomas Knox in 1871 who was followed by Arthur Bull in 1876, William Bull in 1881 and Thomas Markham Hoe in 1891.In 1901 the site was divided in two, with Emmanuel Lenton, the publican at the “Cross Keys” at No. 69 and Taylor and Brawn, Chemists and J Shipley Slipper, a Dentist occupying No.69A.

In 1910 William Rootham was the new Publican, with Taylor, Brawn and Flood, the new chemists and sole occupants of No.69A.The Site would remain subdivided  until 1939, the interim “Cross Keys” publicans being Ernest Ennis Perkins (1914), William Rayner (1920) and Jesse Tyrell (1929)

By 1940 No. 69a was no more having been demolished and Jesse Tyrell was the sole named Occupant. Two further publicans are known, L.C.Sharman in 1947 and C.A.A. Chatterley from 1949/50 until 1957. After this time just the name, the “Cross Keys” Public House, is listed at the site. 

Summary of Occupiers

C 1628/9 and 1659: Unnamed Inn mentioned on site

1681:“Robin Hood” Inn mentioned on site

1700:“Black Swan” Mary Gale occupier (probably the Publican)

1711: “Black Swan” John Gale, then John Franklin Innholders

1714: “Black Swan”: William Dodgson, owner

1718: “Black Swan”: John Franklin, Publican,

1718: “Robin Hood”: William Dove, Publican

1729: “Black Swan”: Elizabeth Dodgson, Owner, John Franklin, Publican

1736: “Black Swan”: James Bailey, Owner and Publican (Paul Winslow, John Garret and Richard Cook, Occupants)

1738: “Black Swan”: Francis Walker sells the inn to Nathaniel Costin

1751-3: “Black Swan”: John Watts, Publican,

1751-3: “Robin Hood” Thomas Woodroffe, Publican

1767: “Black Swan”: John and Gideon Costin owners

1785: “Robin Hood”, Peregrine Nash, Owner

1795: “Black Swan”, Benjamin Palmer, Owner

1800: “Back Swan” , Robert Wilkin Robinson, owner Robert Wilkin Robinson, Joshua Page, Jane Lady & Widow Beane, occupiers

1800: “ Black Swan and “Robin Hood” Demolished, New Robin Hood built by owner Peregrine Nash

1800:  New “Robin Hood”, Richard Amos, Publican

1830/31: “Robin Hood”: John Jones, Publican then Widow Jones

1839: “Robin Hood”: John Hills and George Hills, Publicans

1841: “Robin Hood”: James Freshwater, Publican

1847: “Robin Hood”: John Harris, Publican

1850: “Robin Hood”: George Gazeley, Publican

1851: “Robin Hood”: Mary Wakefield, Publican

1854: “Robin Hood”: George Paris, Publican

1854:  “Robin Hood”: Richard Willshaw, Publican

1862:  “Robin Hood”: Richard Willshaw (? Then Charles Cox)

1869: “ Robin Hood”: ? Neith, Publican

1870: Renamed to “Cross Keys”, Nash’s Brewery, Owners,

1871: “Cross Keys”: Thomas Knox, Publican

1876: “Cross Keys”: Arthur Bull, Publican

1881: “Cross Keys”: William Bull, Publican

1891: “Cross Keys”: Thomas Markham Hoe, Publican

1901: “Cross Keys”: Emmanuel Lenton, Publican, No.69a Taylor and Brawn, J Shipley Slipper.

1910: “Cross Keys”: William Rootham, Publican, No.69a Taylor, Brawn and Flood

1914: “Cross Keys”: Ernest Ennis Perkins Publican, No.69a Taylor, Brawn and Flood

1920: “Cross Keys “: William Rayner, Publican, No.69a Taylor, Brawn and Flood

1929: “Cross Keys”: Jesse Tyrell, Publican, No.69a Taylor, Brawn and Flood

1940: “Cross Keys”: Jesse Tyrell, Publican

1947: “Cross Keys”: L.C.Sharman, Publican

1949/50: “Cross Keys”: C.A.A. Chatterley

1959  - 2023: “Cross Keys”: No named Publicans 

For a more detailed list of the owners an occupiers of 69 High Street see here.