Croxley Green History Project
  • Home
  • Croxley Green Chronicle
    • John Caius
  • Keys to Croxley Green
    • Latin Document
  • A Village Grows
    • A Stroll Down New Road >
      • Introduction
      • Odd Numbers
      • Census Interlude
      • Even Numbers
      • Appendix 1
      • Appendix 2
      • Appendix 3
    • Byewaters Estate
    • Council Houses
    • Cassiobridge Estate
    • Kebbell Housing
    • Durrants Estate
    • Highfield and Windmill Estate
    • Mayfare Estate
    • Nuttfield Estate
    • Parrotts Estate
    • Prefabricated Housing
    • Street Names
  • World Wars
    • War Memorial WW1
    • First World War 1914-1918
    • WWI Soldiers from Croxley
    • WW1 Centenary >
      • Community Club 03-10-2018
      • Celebrations 100 years 1918 -2019
      • Remembrance Day 11-11-2018
      • Residents Photographs 11-11-18
      • All Saints Memorial Doors
      • All Saints Memorial Doors Booklet
      • Peace Picnic 14-07-2019
    • War Memorial WW2
    • Second World War 1939-1945 >
      • Civil Defence
      • Celebrations
      • Rationing
      • Croxley Mill
      • All Saints Rededication
      • Second World War Memories >
        • WW2 Memories - Glenn Kinnear
        • WW2 Memories - Jill Butler
    • WW2 Forces and Croxley Residents
  • Schooldays / Educators
    • Children at Play
    • Yorke Road School >
      • Yorke Road School History
      • Leukaemia Research
      • Paul O'Reilly Builders
      • Grand Opening
    • Yorke Road Infants School
    • Yorke Road Girls School
    • The Old Boys School Watford Road
    • Harvey Road School
    • Durrants School >
      • Croxley Song Book
      • Croxley Song Book
      • Physical Education
    • Malvern Way School
    • Little Green School >
      • Little Green School - Architects Journal
    • Rickmansworth School
    • Yorke Mead School
    • Oak House Private School
  • The Institute / Guildhouse
  • The Railway to Croxley Green
  • The Housewifes Choice
  • Celebrating in Style
    • Golden Jubilee Queen Victoria 1887
    • Diamond Jubilee Queen Victoria 1897
    • Coronation Edward VII 1902
    • Coronation George V 1911
    • Silver Jubilee George V 1935
    • Coronation George VI 1937
    • Festival of Britain 1951
    • Coronation Elizabeth II 1953
  • Churches
    • Methodist Church New Road
    • Gospel Hall
    • All Saints Church
    • Little Chapel Chandlers Cross
    • St Oswald Church
    • St Bedes
    • Baptist Church
    • Fuller Way
  • Public Houses
    • The Plough
    • George and Dragon
    • The Sportsman
    • The Artichoke
    • The Coach and Horses
    • The Rose
    • Gladstone Arms
    • The Red House
    • The Two Bridges
    • The Halfway House
    • The Fox and Hounds
    • Duke of York
  • Community Activities
    • Camera Club
    • Church Lads Boys Brigade
    • Croxley Mummers
    • Croxley Week
    • Girls Brigade
    • The Revels >
      • Revels Chronicle
      • Revels Archives
    • Parish Council >
      • Croxley Green Main
      • CGPC Craft Fair
    • Scouts Brownies Guides >
      • Scouting in Croxley Green
      • Scouting Memorabilia
    • Wassail
    • Youth Club
  • Sports
    • John Dickinson Sports >
      • Football Team
      • Ladies Hockey
      • Rifle Club
    • Football
    • National Association of Boys Club
    • Old Boys School >
      • Old Boys Football Club
  • Croxley at Work
    • John Dickinson >
      • Aerial views of the Mill
      • Coal Deliveries
      • Fire Fighters >
        • William Beauchamp (Fire Fighter)
      • The Mill Railway
      • The Mill Employees >
        • Union of the House of Dickinson
      • Mill Photos
      • General Views
      • Delivery Vehicles
      • 1896 Booklet
      • JD Booklet
    • Blacksmiths
    • Coal Deliveries
    • Croxley Commercial College
    • Sand and Gravel
    • The Windmill
    • Watercress Growers
    • G H Browning Recovery
  • Croxley Farms
    • Croxley Hall Farm >
      • Croxley Great Barn
    • Durrants Farm Estate
    • Hollow Tree Farm
    • Killingdown Farm
    • Lovatts Whitegates
    • Stones Orchard >
      • Stones Orchard Excavation
    • Parrotts Farm
  • Census
    • Census 1841
    • Census 1851
    • Census 1861
    • Census 1871
    • Census 1881
    • Census 1891
    • Census 1901
    • Census 1911
    • Census 1921
    • Population
  • Aerial Photos
    • Croxley From Above
  • Local Publications
    • 1896 Booklet
    • 1896 Booklet 1
    • The Croxley Resident Archives
    • The Parish Pump Issue 1 to 26
    • Parish Pump Issue 27 to Current
    • Local Directories
  • Village Views
  • Croxley Green Society
    • Croxley Festival 1951
  • Local People
    • Famous Locals >
      • Charles Fraser Smith
      • Dr Julius Grant
      • Doctor Wright
      • John William Beckett
      • Francis Beckett
      • Madame Tussauds
      • Samuel Ingleby Oddie
      • Sir Guy Spencer Calthrop
    • Memories >
      • Anon
      • Alan Williams
      • Bill Roberts
      • Chris Pepper
      • David Neighbour
      • David Wynne-Jones
      • Donald Finn
      • Fred Heckford
      • Godfrey Cornwall
      • Hilda Morgan
      • Jim Linwood
      • John Swift
      • Ken Cooper
      • Margaret Hobbs
      • Memories 1994to2000 Part1
      • Memories 1994to2000 Part2
      • Memories 1994to2000 Part3
      • Peggy Leader
      • Prefabs
      • Record Memories
      • Tom Brady
      • W.G. Rogers
  • Before and After
    • B&W / Recoloured
    • Original / Modern
    • Merged B&W / Colour
  • Contact / Q&A
  • Page Directory
    • Useful Links
    • Copyright
  • Committee

The Duke of York, previously the Gladstone Arms

The first reference to the Duke of York is dated c1869, when the pub was founded as the Gladstone Arms on Garden Road as a beer house. (Hertfordshire Inns and Public Houses by Graham Jolliffe and Arthur Jones)
However, there is a mystery because the Gladstone Arms is listed many times prior to 1900 with this address in Garden Road then appears with an address in the Watford Road.
 
During the collection of the census details, the enumerator would arrange his route in such a way to make his task uncomplicated. Village properties were particularly scattered at this time although housing on Scots Hill was already established.
 
Garden Road and Croxley Green New Road part of the original Hollowtree farm land had been sold for housing and properties were erected on individual plots not necessarily side by side. Consequently except for large established properties, house naming did not feature for another two decades.
As the enumerator moved around the village in this way, it is now very difficult to identify  exactly at which point he is recording information from the inhabitants other than from his basic route he has logged.
 
Several extensions  and improvements were carried out during its existence as the Gladstone Arms probably started out as a private house.  A notice in The Watford Leader newspaper October 1896 reports an application for improvements were  applied for in the Watford Petty Sessions. Others were to follow mainly between 1914 -1961.
 
As a small village Croxley Green was administered by Rickmansworth Urban District Council (RUDC) but would have local  representatives elected to make decisions on their behalf. Charles F Yorke lived in West View, a Colliery Commission Agent (coal mines) and became Chairman of RUDC around 1900.  As this was a great honour for the growing village Garden Road was renamed Yorke Road and the Gladstone Arms, The Duke of Yorke.
 
The population was steadily increasing and public houses began to take on more social activities and several pubs in Croxley Green had inter-active sports competitions. Depending on where a person lived and with private transport for the average workman unheard of at these times, villagers might therefore visit within easy walking distance to their nearest venue. Teams were established for many types of games and The Duke of York was known to have had a successful Quoits team.
 
John Dickinson had provided a sports ground on land opposite the Red House public house for use by all the village residents. ( now Frankland Road and the railway cutting to Croxley Station.
Brewery company's including local Benskins of Watford as well as Healey and Ind Coope were known to have been suppliers to 'The Duke' as it became known in the latter years.
 
A pathway to the rear of the property connected the original Yorke Road school and the boys' school in the Watford Road and was often used as a safer route between the schools by pupils and teachers.
 
This public house soon followed the fate of the boys' school that was demolished and apartments built in 1997 called Magisters Lodge. Following an  Architectural report in 2007 the pub was demolished and replaced by seven five-bedroom homes collectively known as Dukes Place.

Picture
The Duke of York c1908 (A postcard posted Christmas Eve 1908) - The sign says "Every accommodation for CYCLISTS - DINNERS TEAS BEDS" Also Tea Rooms were available. The pub was served by Benskin's brewery of Watford with Ales & Stouts.
Picture
The Duke of York pub were Samuel William Newberry lived when he enlisted for WW1
Picture
The Duke of York
Picture
The Duke of York sold for re-development
Picture
The Duke of York Watford Road - sold
Picture
The Duke of York showing the last event - NOW SOLD
Picture
Picture
© National Archives - L/15/00003139K
1871 census
Randall Payne - 41 years born Hempstead Herts Beer House keeper
Matilda Ann - 40 years born St James Middx wife
Mary Lucy - 5 years born St James Middx daughter
Joseph Henry - 2 years born St James Middx son

Picture
Picture
© National Archives - L/15/00003139K
1881 census (Gladstone Arms)- Garden Road
John Gibson - 58 years born Islington London (Beer Retailer)
Rhode Gibson - 60 years born St Lukes London (Wife)
Picture
Picture
© National Archives - L/15/00003139K
1891 census
James Bowler - 60 years born Chalfont St Giles Bucks - General Labourer & Beer house keeper
Sarrah Bowler  - 57 years born Amersham  Bucks - Wife
Picture
Picture
© National Archives - L/15/00003139K
1901 census
William E Treadaway - 37 years born Paddington London - Beerhouse pub keeper
Ada P Treadaway - 34 years wife born Ruislip Middx
Priscilla M Treadaway  - 8 years daughter born Pinner Middx
Laura E Treadaway - 6 years daughter born Pinner Middx
Doris M Treadaway - 3 years daughter born Pinner Middx
Sarah Ive - 54 years Mother- in – law (widow) born Tooting Surrey

Picture
Picture
© National Archives - L/15/00003139K
1911 census
William Duley(Buley?) Sykes - 42 years born Stoke Poges Bucks - Beerhouse Keeper(Army Pensioner)
Florence Ceilia Sykes - 30 years  born Rawal Pindi India (Resident) wife
James William  Sykes - 2¼ years born Shorncliffe Kent son
Aubrey Francis Sykes - 6 months born Croxley Green Herts son
Picture
​Copyright of Census
Crown Copyright information taken from the Census has be re-used under the terms of the Open Government Licence (OGL)  The OGL is a free licence developed to enable freer use of government information and public sector information without the need for formal agreements or any registration transaction,  This licence takes the form of a simple set of terms and conditions for re-use and can be viewed at;
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/open-government-licence.htm
Picture
​© Simpson McHugh
Picture
Picture
The Duke of Yorke
Memories of the Duke of York by Alan Hallett  - From The Croxley Green Resident issue 193
"Hello I'm Mick and I drink Mild" "Hello and I'm Barbara and we haven't got any yet" and so it began. Bob and Barbara Hallett took over the pub in 1977 and as even the first customer found out there was rarely a dull moment. A lot of hard work went into it but eventually with several dart and football teams amongst others it became a real community pub. Charity events were regular, the annual fancy dress party saw six foot budgies sitting up trees, a Viking with a bucket for a helmet as doorman, because he was too tall to fit under the ceiling and a nun sat in the corner of the bar with a pint and a clay pipe stunning two passing customers who spotted him/her.

One year Bob took the pub dog, Shandy, for a walk at 4am still dressed as Henry the VIII, the first customer in the pub the next lunchtime had great pleasure in telling him that he had seen him walking down Watford Road. Shandy went missing one New Years eve, Barbara phoned the police to report him lost and they asked if he had any distinguishing features, Barbara said:" yes, he is wearing a party hat".

The 24 hour dart marathons coincided with putting up the Christmas decorations - Bob would dump the box on the pub floor tell people what needed to go where, and disappear to bed. At 7am he would reappear with a tray of bacon sandwiches and inspect how the dart players had done ..

The annual walk to Roundwood Hostel in St. Albans was a 13 mile walk and when you got there the residents played football against us!. Barbara actually walked back too one year completing 26 miles. The regulars were characters too. One pair of printers had told their wives that they started work an hour earlier than they really did so they could call in for a couple on the way to their night shift. It all nearly went wrong when one of the duo rushed in one bank holiday announcing to everybody that he, his
partner in crime and their wives were coming in as the wives thought "It looked a nice place to have a drink" Their wives didn't know they drank there every night and were known by all.

You see the other side of people where alcohol is concerned. One of the funniest moments was the evening that someone, having been asked to leave threw his glass at Barbara. With a quick sidestep she reached out, caught the glass one handed and thanked him. In 1984 ITV's Six O'clock show came to film a pre FA Cup Final piece. The place was packed all afternoon. Cup final day brought chaos with so many people trying to get in the pub that the crowd covered the garden, the car park and blocked Watford Road by 10.30.

The building itself nearly fell down - during a revamp the builders knocked out a supporting wall, the upstairs and downstairs never did join in most places again. Then they built a wall upside down - if you had wanted to use the gents you would have needed to stand on your head! There is an old well in the car park, nobody knew of it's existence until a hole appeared in the car park entrance and got bigger and bigger as traffic passed over it. It will be interesting to see how the developers get on with that one.
Picture
CGHP are proud to be included on the Imperial War Museum "Mapping the Centenary" project website. You can see other projects HERE and our project HERE
© Ross Humphries
Clicking on a photo will open it in a new window to view more easily​
Try Useful Links 
Download the page directory
HERE it will help you keep a
record of pages visited
Please contact us should you wish to contribute or have images you would like to share. Contact HERE
© Croxley Green History Project 2012        Legal | Privacy

If you have any questions or comments please use the contact page