The Bowling Green Inn
The Bowling Green Inn is thought to have opened in the late 1800s. Certainly it shows on OS maps 1888-1913.
The site falls partly within Cherwell District Council and partly within West Northamptonshire district (formerly South Northants)
When the M40 Banbury stretch was built in the late 1980’s, the Overthorpe Road was re-routed into a bridge over the M40. This resulted in an access road from the Overthorpe Road being required in order to reach the pub car park
Public footpath 120/1/20 runs through the Bowling Green Site
The Beer House Act of 1840 required public houses to close at midnight in towns and 11 p.m. in rural areas but also enabled local authorities to decide on shorter opening hours if desired.
Before the outbreak of the First World War, normal opening hours were 6 am to 11 pm, Monday to Saturday in towns and 6 am to 10 pm in country districts.
In February, 1916, the Government Control Board (which had powers over much of England and the whole of Wales), reduced opening hours in pubs and clubs to:
12-2.30 pm and 6-9 pm, or 6.30-9.30 pm on Mondays to Saturdays
12.30-2.30 pm and 6-9 pm on Sundays. (Pubs with a 7 day licence could serve bona fide travellers).
In March 1919, evening hours were extended: 6-9.30 pm and residents of a hotel of club could buy alcohol with a meal until 11 pm.
Two months later pubs could stay open until 10 pm.
In July, 1920 Sunday hours were extended in summer time 7–10pm, and soon these hours were applied to the whole year.
The Licencing Act of 1921 extended opening hours again: 11.30 am – 3 pm and 5.30-10 pm., Monday to Saturday and 12.30-2.30 pm. and 7-10 pm. on Sundays. These hours were in force until the next session of the local licencing committee who could amend them as long as they did not extend the total number of opening hours.
It is said that The Bowling Green Inn was particularly popular at the time when Oxfordshire had a closing time 30 minutes before Northamptonshire. At this time, Oxfordshire residents would cross the border to enjoy an extra 30 minutes drinking time!
I have recently been researching my family history and have discovered that my maternal great great grandfather William Thomas Brown purchased the Bowling Green Inn in 1877 according to the Banbury Guardian. (if desired I do have a copy of the newspaper article and a picture of WT Brown himself)
In the 1881 census he and the family are still recorded as still living there. William died in 1887 in Coventry. I have a copy of the
That is amazing! If you are able to email a copy of the images and picture of article would be brilliant please!