The Bee Hive
The first license for the Beehive was granted in 1836 to William Foddy and the Foddy family ran it for several decades. In the 1881 and 1891 Census Records, the publican listed is John W Webb and in the 1911 census records, Archibald Thomas Webb is listed as the “Beer House Keeper”. During the Coronation year of King George V, the Beehive was decorated with banners and flags and the brewery 'Newport Pagnell Fine Ales & Stout' sign can be seen affixed to the front of the building.
In 1926, Charles Wells Ltd. bought the Beehive.
In 1975, after the retirement of the then landlord, George Stewert, the Beehive was in danger of closing. CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ales) entered a fight to keep it open and in 1976, the pub had a new landlord.
Today, the Beehive is the only surviving pub in Deanshanger.
An Image, c1905, of The Green looking towards The Beehive with an encampment of travellers and horse-drawn caravans.
The Beehive pub, decorated with banners and flags, to celebrate the coronation of George V and Queen Mary at Westminster Abbey on 22nd June 1911. Note the 'Newport Pagnell Fine Ales & Stout' brewery sign affixed to the front of the building.
The Beehive pub, about 1905-1910.
Captain James Canvin sits astride a horse pulling a Royal Army Medical Corps ambulance, outside The Beehive. This was part of the 1913 army manoeuvres in the area.
The “Beehive Corner” on the A422 in Deanshanger was an accident blackspot. In 1950, it was reported in the Wolverton Express on 4th August:
“A much needed improvement has been affected at the “Beehive” corner, Deanshanger".
The article describes the removal of the hedge when approaching the bridge across the brook from Old Stratford to give motorists a clear view of the oncoming traffic from Buckingham and states that:
“This improvement should eliminate the possibility of accidents, many have occurred at this point”.
Several serious accidents, some fatal, occurred on Beehive Corner, and a petition was organised demanding a bypass. On 11 November 1991, the Northampton Chronicle and Echo reported that the “Bypass gets go-ahead” and that work was due to start the following spring.
The bypass was long awaited as 'Beehive Corner' was not only noted as an accident Black Spot, but the children's crossing point for Kingsbrook School, which was supervised by a Lollipop Lady, could also result in huge traffic queues in both directions. The bypass was finally opened in 1993 and at the time had the longest curved footbridge in Europe (known locally as “Wards Folly”). This bridge allowed school children and other pedestrians to safely cross the A422 when walking from Old Stratford to Deanshanger.
There were concerns that the Beehive might close in 1994 when it was reported that the Brewery, Charles Wells, had drawn up plans to change the 'hostelry into a home'. However, this did not happen and the Beehive 'outlived' all the other pubs and is today the only operational pub in the village.