Fox and Hounds
The original Fox and Hounds
The present late 19th-century building, now the Co-operative store, replaced the original Fox and Hounds. This original building was a farmhouse with its own malthouse and the first deeds are from 1824. However, there is a reference to previous ownership by Richard Windmill, who purchased it from Richard Rand when he sold the adjoining cottages in 1706. In 1828, the building was converted to a public house known as the 'Fox and Hounds' and was first licensed in 1830. In 1861, Edwin Roberts, of E and H Roberts, purchased 1 acre of land, including the original Fox & Hounds and the building was incorporated into the foundry site and lost amongst the expanding Iron Works buildings. It was replaced by a new Fox and Hounds on the High Street, only a few yards away.
In 1937, the factory site was bought by the Wreschner family and the old Fox and Hounds was used as an Office for the Oxide Works.
The photo above shows the origional Fox and Hounds. It was taken in 1975 when the factory operated as an Oxide Works and the building was used as the Oxide Factory office.
After the factory closed, the original Fox and Hounds was demolished in 2003 along with the demolition of other factory buildings.
The ‘new’ Fox and Hounds
The original Fox & Hounds building was absorbed into the factory site when purchased by Edwin Roberts in 1861 and a 'new' public house was built close by on the High Street in the late 1800s and given the same name.
The photo above was taken from Willow Green in about 1900, and shows the 'new' Fox and Hounds pub and it's close proximity to the Iron Foundry.
A photo of the new Fox and Hounds on the High Street taken c 1910. It is believed that the man standing in the doorway is the publican of the time, George Roberts.
An exterior view of the Fox and Hounds with the publican George Roberts, his family and customers posing for the camera. The building has been festooned with flags and GR and ‘God Save the King’ banner celebrating the coronation of King George in 1911.
The Steam Train
From 1888 to 1926, a steam train ran between Stony Stratford and Wolverton. However, in 1888 the line was extended to Deanshanger, the terminus was outside the Fox & Hounds. It transported men to the railway works at Wolverton and the fare between Deanshanger and Wolverton was 4d. Unfortunately, the operating company declared itself insolvent, and was liquidated in December 1889. The steam train reopened again two years later, but only ran between Stony Stratford and Wolverton and no longer included the line to Deanshanger.
After the First World War, the license for the Fox and Hounds was taken over by Archibald and Sarah Webb and it was to stay in the family for several decades.
A Newspaper article dated 17th November 1978 describes the Web family and their offspring celebrating the ‘Diamond Jubilee” of the family's operation of the pub for 60 years.
The article also includes many interesting snippets of information, such as beer being in short supply at the end of WW1, but pointing out that it was 'just as well' as the pub only had 22-pint mugs and 6 wine glasses at the time. The article also explains that out of “financial necessity” Archibald still had to work as a foreman at the Ironworks factory. After Archibald died in 1941, his wife, Sarah took over with the help of her daughter Olive and son-in-law, George Brazier, and later, Olive and George continued to run the pub after Sarah died in 1950. When George died in 1968, Olive continued to run the pub and was aided by her daughter, Kay, who developed the catering side of the business.
The photos above show the Fox and Hounds in the latter half of the 20th Century.
21st Century
The Fox and Hounds today.
In 2015, the 'new' Fox and Hounds was sold and although planned to be a Morrison's store, it was eventually converted into the local Co-operative Food store which is generally thought to be a great asset to the village.