Robert Holdom and Sons, of Fenny Stratford & Bletchley
Robert Holdom was baptised on 11th February 1818 in Bletchley, the son of Thomas and Sarah, Thomas being an auctioneer in the Buckingham district. Robert grew up and was married on 6th June 1843 to one Ann Higgs of Wavendon (probably of the family that ran the Red House pub there), at Bletchley. They went on to have six sons and one daughter:
George Holdom (1845)
Thomas Holdom (1846)
Sarah Holdom (1850)
Edward Martin Holdom (1851)
John Holdom (1853)
Joseph Holdom (1856)
Charles Higgs Holdom (1857)
His first three sons went on to run a brewery and pub businesses in the Fenny Stratford and Bletchley area.
Around the time his first son was born, Robert took over the Bull and Butcher pub in Fenny Stratford. Robert was involved with the local cricket club and used his pub as the location of a Cricket team dinner. (Northampton Mercury – 2nd September 1848).
The 1851 Census shows the Holdom family living in Cross Street, Fenny Stratford, (now Aylesbury Street) but the pub is not named. Robert is shown as a Victualler. Two years later, he switched to the Bull public house on Watling Street, taking over the license from James Gurney. (Bucks Herald – 8th Jan 1853) and the 1854 Post Office Directory confirms Robert as running the Bull Inn.
The 1861 census listing of the High Street, Fenny Stratford (Watling Street) again has no pub names shown but Robert is there listed as a Maltster and Innkeeper. He became a member of the Oddfellows Society and hosted their meetings in 1862. When Fenny created its own Fire Brigade in 1863, Robert was appointed as the first Superintendent.
He had expanded into farming and brickmaking, being listed as “Bull Inn and brick maker and maltster” in the 1864 Post Office Directory and it appears he was speculating with property for some time as well. There was a huge land sale of his estate in 1869, where he sold the Saracen’s Head pub, also on Watling Street, in occupation of a Mr. Gordon; a dwelling house and shop adjoining, Ann Goodage in occupation; a dwelling house in rear; a dwelling house and butcher’s shop in Aylesbury Street, occupied by Mr. Wright; three more houses and shops adjoining; three more cottages in the same street, 14 cottages in New Street; a beershop and dwelling house at the corner of New Street and Bletchley Road and 17 more cottages in Bletchley Road. (Leighton Buzzard Observer – 23rd March 1869). Quite a portfolio! It raised just over £3,900, with his son George Holdom being the buyer of several lots in New Street. He hadn’t finished with sales though, as in August the same year, he was selling 68 building plots on the Bletchley Park Building Estate, suitable for villa residences. (Bucks Herald – 31st July 1869) When and how Robert had acquired the land, I do not know.
It appears he was raising money for a large acquisition, as in the same year he bought the newly erected Railway Hotel near the Station, to be called the Park Hotel. In 1871, his son George was listed as the landlord of the Park Hotel, while Robert was living at 13 High Street, Fenny Stratford, described as a Maltster, innkeeper & farmer. Yet it was Robert who applied for a late license at Railway Hotel to serve late-night rail passengers in 1872 (Refused).
Robert’s second son Thomas was married in 1873 to Mary Turner Loe, the daughter of a local hair draper and the license of the Bull at Fenny was transferred to him from his brother George the same year. (Bucks Advertiser – 14th June 1873). Yet in 1875, it was being transferred again, this time from Robert to his son George!
They seemed to swop the licenses around at will. George had been away running the Lion Brewery in Bethnal Green Road, obviously learning his brewers craft as Robert now handed his malting/brewery business at Fenny Wharf by the canal down to his sons, George and Edward, who immediately started to advertise their new company, offering “The Guinea Hamper” in the Leighton Buzzard Observer, containing “1 bottle of Gin, 1 bot. Brown Brandy, 1 ditto Whisky, 2 ditto Port, 1 ditto Pale Brandy and 2 ditto Sherry. Bottles and Hamper Included”, and carriage paid to any Railway Station in England for 21s. This must be the period that they produced stoneware flagons marked “G & E HOLDOM, WINE & SPIRIT MERCHANTS, FENNY STRATFORD”. They were soon expanding, buying the Crooked Billet at Winslow in November 1877 for £940.
While Robert’s first and third sons ran the family brewery, his second son, Thomas, had been expanding his family with three daughters and a son of his own: Florence Edith Holdom (1873), Emily Marian Holdom (1875), Agnes Mary Holdom (1877) and Robert George Holdom (1879). He had taken over the Park Hotel by January 1878 and produced his own flagons marked “THOMAS HOLDOM, WINE & SPIRIT MERCHANT, PARK HOTEL, BLETCHLEY”. He also purchased hybrid Codd/Hamilton bottles marked “T. HOLDOM, BLETCHLEY” to sell his drinks in. From the maker’s marks embossed on this, it is possible to date it from 1884-1888. (Mark Potten in ABC magazine – Issue 31).
George and Edward were engaged in building a new Steam Brewery at their premises in 1880, but something happened in 1883 to break up their business as George left his brother in September, their partnership being dissolved and Edward Holdom continued alone. He had flagons made with “EDWARD HOLDOM, WINE & SPIRIT MERCHANT, THE BREWERY, FENNY STRATFORD” impressed on.
By 1883, their father Robert was living at Belvedere Cottage, Bow Brickhill and described as a farmer. He passed away in May 1884, aged 67. There was a long obituary for him in the North Bucks Times in May, as one of Fenny’s “oldest, most enterprising and best-known inhabitants” and a shrewd man of business. He had been ill for three years and confined to bed for the last 12 months. It says when Fenny was in stagnation, he came forward and laid out new streets and rows of houses and shops. He was connected to almost every public institution, a Guardian of the Poor, 30 years a Churchwarden, first member of the Burial Board, Chair of the Gas Company, Director of Town Hall Company, member of United Brothers Friendly Society and well respected by all. In August that year there was a large sale of his land, totalling 200 acres. Son Thomas bought 19a 3r 20p of land with a frontage to Bletchley and Fenny Stratford Road, Duncombe Street and Water Eaton Road for £2,560.
The Holdom’s malting behind the Bull inn suffered a serious fire in February 1884, during which the brewery manager, Mr. Cave, saved as much as he could from the flames. Mr. Cave was central to the next part of the Holdom’s story. In 1885, George and Edward had a very public falling out over being appointed as a Parish Guardian. George thought the parish had asked him to stand for the post uncontested, which he accepted, then discovered that Edward wanted it for himself and there would need to be a poll. Edward sent his employees (Mr. Cave & Mr. Amos) around the town canvassing on his behalf and was successfully voted in. George wrote to the press complaining, which Mr. Cave responded to, calling into question George’s education and saying George could not write a letter without the aid of a dictionary or his wife at his elbow! George replied in print again, furious with the remarks. Even their father’s name was dragged into the very public ugly argument. (North Bucks Times – July 1885) I wonder if this argument had been ‘brewing’ since the end of their partnership?
Meanwhile at the Park Hotel, Thomas Holdom was involved with the local Conservative Association. He was present at their Fenny Stratford dinner (Buckingham Advertiser – 22nd October 1887) and lent the Oddfellows the field next to his Park Hotel for their festivities in 1888 (Bucks Herald – 4th August 1888). His daughter Florence passed her musical examinations for Trinity College (North Bucks Times – 26th January 1889)
When the Pavilion was to be erected on Cricket Ground, it was “…thanks to Thomas Holdom”, according to the North Bucks Times of 25th January 1890. I think he gave the land for it from his land holding. This was the Pavilion that only recently burnt down in the grounds of Milton Keynes College. Yet within a month, on 18th February 1890, Thomas died aged just 43. The Northampton Mercury of 22nd February 1890 said that it was “after a painful illness”. The North Bucks Times (22nd February) said he had conducted his business in an exemplary manner and was very popular. He had been seized with an inflammation of the lungs. More than 100 mourners followed the cortege to the cemetery from the Park Hotel while St Martin’s bell tolled.
His widow Mary carried on at the Park and took on many of her late husband’s roles e.g. providing suppers for Cricket Club etc. Their daughter Florence Edith married Mr. F Meredith Day, a local solicitor. North Bucks Times – 14th November 1891). Mary Holdom was left with the lands that Thomas had bought from his father’s estate. She submitted plans for four new cottages in Duncombe Street in 1894.
By 1897, Edward Holdom had sold out his brewery business at Fenny wharf to George Cave, his manager, who later operated it as Bletchley Breweries Ltd. Flagons exist printed “BLETCHLEY BREWERIES LIMITED, FENNY STRATFORD”. The business and premises were later sold to the Aylesbury Brewery Company who used the brewery as their local depot and had their own flagons printed.
Adverts appeared showing Mary had decided to sell the Park Hotel by August 1900, with the auction on September 13th, but she was still in charge in November when 150 sat down to dinner to celebrate Mr. W. W. Carlisle being elected as the Conservative local MP. (Northampton Mercury – 30th Nov 1900) The auction catalogue describes it thus: “With commanding position and possessing unique and exceptional advantages in an increasingly populous and prosperous neighbourhood, doing a trade of nearly 500 barrels per annum, and bottled beers and spirits in proportion with immediate possession. On the ground floor: front coffee room, bagatelle room, smoke room, taproom, with side entrance from Duncombe Street, bar, bar parlour, kitchen, large scullery, and staircase. On the first floor: large commercial room, sitting room, four bedrooms, WC. On the second floor: seven bedrooms. In the basement: extensive cellarage. A spacious Assembly Room over the coach house. A large stable yard containing excellent stabling and coach house accommodation comprising 2 lock-up coach-houses, 16 loose boxes with extensive lofts over of which two are used as a soda water manufactory, a large backyard approached from Duncan Street containing boarded and corrugated iron shed, brick and tiled piggeries with loft over and two boarded sheds. Adjoining the house and facing the Bletchley Road is a front ornamental garden with kitchen garden at the back. The following is the result of sales from August 1st 1898 to August 1st 1900, so far as they can be ascertained: 981 barrels of beer, 3510 dozens of bottled ales, 1234 gallons of spirits and … mineral waters.”
When the license transferred to Philip Coe of Ampthill, in January 1901, the Leighton Buzzard Observer said that the Park Hotel had been sold for £15,000 to Morris & Co, brewers of Ampthill.
Thomas’ executors, (presumably Mary?) gradually sold off other lands he had left. In November 1902, 14 building plots were for sale in Duncombe Street and then 15 acres of Bletchley Park Estate were put up for sale in 1906 along with seven plots in Bletchley and Water Eaton Roads. The lot included the Cricket field. It was bought by Mr. Hobourn, a solicitor of Woburn, no doubt acting for someone else. (Wolverton Express – 6th July 1906).
George Holdom died in Porton, near Salisbury in 1908. His body was returned to Fenny Stratford for burial.
Thomas’ daughter Emily Marian had married a Mr. Pouchot and was running the Bell Hotel in Leighton Buzzard. A lamp she was lighting exploded in September 1911 and she was killed by the resultant fire. Her son, John Pouchot, received a Distinguished Conduct Medal in WW1 with the Queen’s Westminster Rifles, but was later killed in 1918 after transferring to the Royal Air Force.
Another sale by Thomas Holdom’s Trustees was held on 25th April 1913, of a plot of freehold building land with frontage of 168ft to Bletchley Road, “suitable for the erection of a club etc”. Was this the site used by Bletchley Working Men’s Club, a few doors down from the Park Hotel?
Thomas’ widow Mary died on 14th July 1923 at Homeside, Bletchley. She left £1,565 in her will. The Bucks Advertiser of the 21st July said she had retired from the Park Hotel and lived in one of her own houses using her time to support all the local organisations, institutions and charities connected with the Church and the Primrose League.
Edward Holdom died in Parkstone, Dorset, in March 1929, having become a J.P. His obituary says after he sold the brewery, he farmed at Yard’s End Farm, Fenny Stratford and also Cross Roads Farm, Bow Brickhill, and was a member of Bletchley Urban District Council. His body was brought back to Fenny for burial.
The last bottles that Holdom’s were connected with locally were milk bottles from a Mr. Edward Holdom’s Model Dairy Farm in Little Brickhill in the 1950s.
Page last updated November 2023.