Category Archives: Roads

Spotted Dog, Garratt Lane, Wandsworth

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The Spotted Dog< was a pub at 72 Garratt Lane, this pub was a centre for industrial workers and later radical politics before being demolished for a shopping centre expansion.

Contents

Timeline
Newspaper articles
Maps

Timeline

  • c. 1762 – 1840: The pub operates under independent or local brewers during the Georgian and early Victorian periods.
  • By the late 18th century, it was established as a “well accustomed Public House” serving the mill workers and laborers of the River Wandle.
  • Late Victorian Era: The pub becomes a significant asset of Page & Overton’s Brewery Ltd , a Croydon-based regional powerhouse.
  • The building features a robust brick facade and ornate signage typical of the “Brewery Tie” era.
  • c. 1910 – 1954: The pub remains under the tenure of Page & Overton.
  • 1934: Clement Belk Barron, a key licensee who owned both The Spotted Dog and The Fishmongers Arms, dies leaving a substantial estate, indicating the pub’s profitability during the interwar period.
  • 1954 – 1993: The pub is owned by Charrington & Co.
  • 1971 – 1972: The pub becomes a site for radical political mobilization, serving as a regular meeting place for the International Socialists (precursor to the SWP) due to its proximity to Wandsworth Town Hall.
  • 1989: The Beer Orders legislation forces large brewers to release ties on pubs, triggering a period of instability for The Spotted Dog.
  • 1993: J D Wetherspoon acquires the pub, rebranding it as “The Dalmatian” in an attempt to modernize the image while retaining a link to the name.
  • It became a focal point for a “real ale” revival in the area.
  • 1998: The pub is sold to Ambishus, a pub company, marking the end of the Wetherspoon era.
  • Early 2000s: The pub passes to Planet Inns.
  • During this period, original Victorian interior fittings (bar counters, glasswork) were threatened with disposal but partially saved by heritage activists.
  • 2004 (March 9): A legal charge is placed on the property by The Royal Bank of Scotland.
  • 2005: Ownership transfers to Woolwich Taverns, the final private equity owners.
  • 2007 (January 1): The Spotted Dog closes permanently.
  • 2008: The building is demolished to facilitate the expansion of the Southside Shopping Centre (formerly the Arndale).

Newspaper articles

South Western Star – Friday 18 November 1955

SUPT’S VISIT TO SPOTTED DOG

Licensee denies police allegations

A Wandsworth licensee denied at the South Western Magistrates’ Court on Friday police allegations that he had taken betting slips from customers in his pub.

Leonard Simmonds, licensee of the Spotted Dog in Garratt Lane, appeared on an adjourned summons for using the premises for the purpose of betting.

Evidence has already been given by two police officers who kept observation in the saloon bar that they saw customers hand money and slips to Simmonds. One officer said that on one occasion he saw Simmonds hand some notes and silver from the till to a man who came in and asked, “Anything for me?”

Supt. Potter said that on October 7 at 1.55 p.m. he entered the public-house with other officers. With Chief Inspector Preece he went to the private room behind the saloon bar, where he saw Mr. Simmonds engaged on the telephone. On the top of a cabinet he found a 10s. note, 6/6 silver, and a betting slip. He showed it to Simmonds and asked him what it was, and he replied, “A betting slip.” In a drawer of the cabinet he found a £1 note, 11/7½ in silver and bronze, 17 betting slips and six paying-out slips. Three of the slips referred to racing on that day and two of them were signed “Tubby.” One was written on a public-house menu card. Each of the paying-out slips showed a transaction with Simmonds.

DIFFERENT HANDWRITING

He then said to Simmonds, “Do you deny these premises are being used for the purpose of betting?” and he replied, “If any of my friends phone me up to put them on I do.” Witness then said, “These slips, then, should be in your handwriting?” He replied, “Should be, or my wife’s, if she answers when I am busy.” The 17 slips were all in different handwriting. He then asked Mrs. Simmonds, “Have you ever taken bets on the phone for your husband?” and she replied, “Never, I swear to that.”

Insp. Griffin said that when he entered the public-house with Supt. Potter there were eight men sitting in the saloon bar. Two of these, Samuel Weller and Charles Langley, he knew as bookmakers. In the corner he saw a man named Coombes, known as “Tubby.” He went up to Tubby and from the top of his boot removed a piece of blue paper in which was wrapped a 2/- piece. On it was written “Belladonna 1/- win; Beddington 1/- win. Double stakes up and down. Tubby 2/-.”

HAD WARNED BOOKMAKER

Simmonds, in evidence, denied all the allegations that customers handed him slips and money and said he had no recollection of handing a man money from the till after ringing up “No Sale.” If this did take place he was cashing a cheque. He did this for a certain section of his customers—log boys. When he went into his private room it was to get food. He had warned Langley, whom he knew as a street bookmaker, not to take bets on his premises.

The hearing was adjourned until November 19.

—

Maps

1955 OS map

Raising the Ale Garland

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Raising the ale garland was an old custom that was revived by Youngs Brewery when they reopened rebuilt, or repaired, pubs after the Second World War. This was done when the Cricketers pub was reopened officially on 8th January 1956 for example.

A letter to the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, published on Wednesday 2nd January 1963, explained the custom:-

SIR,

— When a new inn was opened in Bristol earlier this year, the ancient custom of hoisting the ale-garland was observed. The accompanying photograph shows the garland hanging over the door of the house.

The custom has links with the Romans, who used a bush as their sign to advertise a tavern. Other references to the garland or bush are found over a long period of literature. For instance in 1603 a traveller records that he “spied a bush at the end of
a pole (the ancient badge of a country ale house ) “.

It is from this custom that the saying arose, “good wine needs no bush” —i.e., is advertisement enough for itself. The “bush” was often composed of ivy leaves, not only because of ivy’s lasting quality, but also because of Bacchus’ connection with ivy.”

Image © Illustrated London News Group. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD!

A longer explanation can be found in this article from the Lewisham Borough News, Tuesday 16th January 1951:

STORY OF THE ALE GARLAND
‘Conning The Brew’ In Ancient Times

By Stephen E. Hutchins

The hoisting of the ale garland in City and suburban taverns which is much observed about the New Year together with what is known as “ale conning” is regarded as the revival of a custom of the time of William the Conqueror and involves an expression of goodwill to all, and a kind of public protest against all sorts of vexatious regulations.

In olden days all garlands were to be seen outside all the inns at the festive season as a sign that fellowship and hospitality reigned within.

To “con the brew” is to sip at the mulled ale, the wassail bowl, and the ale posset, and the lambs wool — (meaning pulped roasted apples, sugar, nutmeg and ginger in warmed ale) — and pronounce it to be an excellent concoction.

The ale garland is usually displayed from a pole known as the “ale-stake” — in former days such ale-stakes had to be exhibited by inn-keepers to tell the travelling ale-conners that the new beers were ready to be tested.

The punishment for brewing poor beer was to be ducked in a pond in the ducking stool.

Under an Act of 1604 ale houses had to be inspected by constables to see if they were properly conducted and the object of the law was “to restrain inordinate tippling in inns and alehouses” and to confirm that the true use of the English inn was to relieve wayfarers and supply victuals, and not to entertain idle people and encourage them to spend their money.

Penny a Quart

Fines were levied by the constables and church wardens on people who indulged in drink for “an unreasonable time” and the money was given to the poor.

There was a fine of 5s. for being drunk and the alternative if the offender was unable to pay was to be awarded a spell in the stocks.

The price of the best ale was fixed at one penny a quart and “small” ale was one half penny a quart.

In 1614 the City had a thousand breweries with 40,000 barrels in their cellars. Beer was made at the back and sold for consumption in the front.

The old English ale was made from malt, yeast and water, and eventually beer flavoured with hops, called “hopping beer,” was brought in from Germany. This beverage became very popular.

Inns were often owned by the Church and we still have reminders of this in titles like the Seven Stars, the King and Keys, the Mitre and the Angel and “The Case is Altered” — the later signifying the period after the Reformation when the inns passed to other ownership.

Many inns were in the nature of hostels for pilgrims to the religious shrines. The poorest often received free hospitality and they were usually situated in a town near to the abbey or cathedral.

Among notable examples of this type of establishment may be listed the Falstaff of Canterbury, the “Star” at Alfriston, and the Pilgrims Rest beside Battle Abbey. The “Star” was a house of call for pilgrims travelling eastward to the noted Abbey at Battle and it was owned by the Monks of Battle.