The Wrestlers Public House, Langford

The Wrestlers: 126 Church Street, Langford

The Wrestlers was a public house located at 126 Church Street. It was the headquarters of the Wrestlers Friendly Society and the Ancient Order of the Foresters. These two organisations provided support for the village by providing sickness benefits, clubs, funeral expenses and terraced houses for rent. Originally it was a thatched building adjacent to the road. The pub belonged to Stimpsons of Baldock in 1876 and Charles Wells was the landlord. Joseph Brown took over in 1890 and Swithun Simms followed in 1909. The pub still ran until 2017.

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.

• 1847: John Wells
• 1851 - 1876: Charles Wells
• 1881 - 1901: Joseph Brown
• 1909 - 1931: Walter Swithun Sims
• 1940: Ernest J. Bushby

List of sources at Bedfordshire Archives: 

• X836/9/5: Draft notice of General Court Baron and Customary Court to be held at the Wrestler's Inn, 1916
• Z1169/8/44/1: Architects drawings for The Wrestlers, 1953.
• PL/P/BWR68/130A: Proposed function hall at the Wrestlers Public House for Greene King, 1968