The Crown Public House, Langford

The Crown public house was on the west side of the High Street and had a meadow attached to it which was used as the site for the annual statute fair. The building dates from the 18th century and was very important to the local community. The Enclosure Commisioners met there in the early 1800s. The building became a butchers, a hardware shop, an office equipment shop before being converted into part residential and part beauty salon.

Licencees: note that this is not a complete list and that dates in italics are not necessarily beginning or end dates, merely the first/last date which can be confirmed from sources such as directories and deeds.

Licensees:

• 1847 - 1851 – Ann Piper
• 1853 - 1854 – William Piper
• 1861 – Jessie Smith Jnr.
• 1876 – James Brown
• 1910 - 1928 – Alexander Earl

List of sources at Bedfordshire Archives: 

• HF4/38/1: Draft will of George Brown of Crown Inn, Langford, publican, 1893
• HF40/2/13/7-49: Crown Inn and land near it at Langford, 1688-1861
• HF40/2/13/44: Declaration by Samuel Pryor regarding rent of Crown Public House, Langford, 1830
• HF40/2/13/45: Rent receipts etc. regarding Crown Public House, Langford, 1828-1830
• HF40/2/13/46: Valuation of The Crown Inn with garden, yards, barn, stable, hovels etc, 1851
• X836/6/41: Surrender of The Crown and other properties, 1855 & 1857
• Z1039/34/2a: Copy Conveyance of The Crown and other properties, 1899