Angel and Rose & Crown – Basingstoke's two Potters Lane pubs

This article is to highlight these two pubs and tell you a bit about their history with help from local historian, the late Ken Smallbone.

The Angel, believed to have been built between 1867 and 1871, was formerly known as The Cross Keys.

The name Angel was carried over from a pub of the same name in Market Place, which closed in 1866, and the landlord William Litchfield transferring to the new Angel on it’s opening.

Mr Litchfield was widowed in 1880, and became bankrupt soon after, thus losing his licence.

After a spell in London, he returned to The Angel as a lodger where he died in 1892.

Bachelor Harry Westbrook took over the tenancy, but he had dubious lodgers who stole his gold watch and chain.

They were eventually apprehended and sentenced to six months imprisonment with hard labour.

The Angel circa 1915

Shortly after this Mr Westbrook became ill and had to relinquish his tenancy. He had to leave the pub, and live with his mother in Winchester Road.

Sisters Miss Emma Thomas and Elizabeth Cooper were the next landlords of The Angel. Since taking over on the new year’s day of 1889, they shared the roles of duties in the hotel and bar.

Unfortunately, the following year they were prosecuted for allowing gaming on the premises.

They argued the case and found witnesses to state that there was no money that had changed hands and the case was dismissed.

Various other landlords were listed over the years – including three who served in the forces – but it was the wrecking-ball in 1966 that finally finished its reign when the building was demolished in preparation of building Festival Place.

The Angel circa 1960

At the other end of Potter’s Lane in Church Street stood the Rose and Crown, dating from 1669. It was built on the site of a pottery from which the road was named.

A plaque over the door showed the initials CDE, believed to have been the names of the people who had the pub built or renovated – possibly husband and wife.

The book ‘Gone But Not Forgotten’ by Ken Smallbone on the history of Basingstoke’s inns and pubs has information from 1857 about the Rose and Crown.

It says the building contained “three shelving attics, three rooms on the first floor with three behind. On the ground floor, a taproom, entrance lobby and parlour, with a sitting room behind, and a parlour at the side; a cellar underground behind, and a lumber room.”

There was also a yard with a well and pump, a brick and slated wash house, stabling for six horses and a skittle alley.

Although Potters Lane was a narrow and unmade lane back in 1823, there were regular visits by the carrier who travelled to Farnham and Newbury, sometimes taking passengers.

In April 1867 the landlord Frank Complin appeared before the magistrates charged with keeping his pub open for the sale of beer on a Sunday.

The judges dismissed the case after Mr Complin appealed that the people he was drinking with were lodgers and guests.

Other misdemeanours included being prosecuted in 1902 for removing the fat content from the milk he sold. Although he was fined £2, his luck or charm once again saved him as he was convicted of carelessness and not dishonesty.

But later Mr Complin came into conflict with the Inspector of Nuisances when it was discovered that he was housing twenty-two cows, only being licensed for seven, and slaughtering them on the premises without authorisation.

In 1903 the Rose and Crown was valued at £23 per annum and was listed as the 27th most important pub in Basingstoke.

However, that may not have been such a compliment as Basingstoke only had 53 pubs during that time.

As with the Angel and many other properties in the town, the Rose and Crown was also demolished in 1966 as part of the redevelopment scheme.

The Rose and Crown awaiting demolition 1966