The Black Horse
From Lacey Green History
click Lynne Comley Reports for Black Horse reports written by Lynne.
click Black Horse Management reports written by Sam Oakford.
click Charity Events for reports
Before 1823 there were no roads in Lacey Green village. The route from the Hughenden Valley to Princes Risborough ran through Speen, along Highwood Bottom, cut straight across the Common of Princes Risborough to the pond behind Windmill Farm. It proceeded down towards Princes Risborough joining Woodway, which was already an established route and on to the town.
After 1823 the proposed Main Road, Lacey Green was confirmed in the 1823 Enclosures of the parish of Princes Risborough.
At the Enclosures of Princes Risborough 2 allotments were made to James Tilbury
- was plot no 683, a Freehold piece of land, being the track to the later called Floyds Farm. It had been allotted to Joshua Dell, and James Tilbury rented it from him.
2. The other plot was no. 684, a piece of land, a new allotment, leasehold to the Manor. It was the plot upon which The Black Horse public house was later built.
The Black Horse, Lacey Green, John Ginger Snr
JOHN GINGER Snr
In 1840 a child, Mary, was born to John Ginger, publican and Sarah his wife, nee Turner, lived at the Black Horse in Lacey Green in 1840 when Mary was born. (baptism recorded in Princes Risborough Baptist Chapel Records)
John and Sarah had 2 sons, John baptised 1808, and William baptised 1813 both born in Loosley Row (P.R. Baptist Chapel Records)
John Ginger Jnr took over The Black Horse in Lacey Green.
1841 CENSUS
John Ginger 36 Publican, Celia 25, Mary 11, George 9, Ann 7, Caroline 5, Gains 3, Jane 1
The Black Horse is situated on the west side of Main Road, Lacey Green.
Note. It is thought to have been registered as a beer house when the 1830 Beer Act was introduced. It may have been a beer house prior to that, but no proof has so far come to light.
It consisted of a bar with a small seating area near a fireplace, with a tiny window so rather dark. A typical local cottage with a room used as a pub. This was usual. It would be predominately used by men, although the wife would run it, while her husband, the landlord, was employed elsewhere. It was also usual to walk to the pub.
NEIGHBOURS The Main Road was put through Lacey Green after 1823. A track beside it led to what was later known as Floyds Farm. Also on the left of that track, behind the pub, was a pair of semidetached cottages possibly older than the pub, known as "Ye Olde Cottage" and 'Rose Cottage', for Rose Cottage see Rose Cottage, near Floyds Farm
OWNERS Discovery Inns of Weston- Super- Mare then Gibbs Mew, Brewers of Wiltshire
LANDLORDS
1841 Census. John Ginger with wife Celia. John continued landlord with Celia until his death in 1866. Celia continued as Landlady until her death in 1882. From 1882 John and Celia's daughter Ann carried on as landlady until her death 1910.
LANDLORD 1910 JOHN (Johnnie) WILLIAM SAUNDERS, nephew of Ann Ginger.
In her will Ann Ginger left the pub to John Saunders, son of George Saunders and her sister Elizabeth Daisy, known as 'Daisy'
CENSUS 1911 The Black Horse, public house with 8 rooms
John William Saunders 37 carpenter, Daisy 34, William 14 carpenter, Frederick 12, Cecil 6. Emily Ginger, 69 aunt.
1921-1931-Horace Adams
1939-1952 Frank & Flo Gomme Frank was a wood machinist.
In 1947 the winter was bitter. The frost penetrated so deeply that the mains water pipes froze. The black Horse and surrounding properties were without water for weeks on end.
Black Horse Darts Team Photo on the right
From left to right - Frank Gomme (landlord), Frank Chilton, Ted Randell, Bert Dell, Frank Dormer, ? , Alfred Stevens, ? , Charlie Currell, Harry Stallwood
for links to those in the photo click :-
for Frank Gomme click Frank & Flo Gomme,for Frank Chilton click Frank & Elsie Chilton, for Ted Randell click Ted & ? Randell for Bert Dell click Bert & May Dell, for Frank Dormer click Frank and Freda Dormer,for Alfred Stevens click Alfred & Connie Stevens, for Charlie Currell click Charlie Currell, for Harry Stallwood click Harry & ? Stallwood.
1955 Harry and Molly Ridgley
1976 Bob and Mary Shaw
1977-1982 Jackie and Jeremy Hunt
1991 Jim and Julie Butler - only stayed a few months.
1991 Ray and Sam Musgrave
1995 Mike and Joanne Cousins (for licensees Kevin & Pauline Markham)
1966 Lynne Comley was the Landlady. Her husband Tony was a builder
1960s - SOCIAL CHANGE
Pubs in the 1960's were effected by big social changes that were happening in the UK as peoples' lives improved.
The "Road Safety Act of 1967" introduced the Drink Driving Limit. Simple pubs for drinking were in trouble, as by now many people had cars. Serving food was an answer, but the Black Horse was slow off the mark
Hallmark May 1983 report - Darts Marathon DARTS MARATHON
In February 1983 the Landlord Graham Carter and no doubt Janet, his wife, organised a Charity event, a 24 hour darts marathon in the Black Horse. On friday evening members of the darts team assembled with a collection of blankets and lucky mascots (including in some cases, wives and sweetearts) and flights were fitted with particuar care. It was not just another friendly contest with another team, but a marathon to raise funds for "Merryfields", the Bucks County Council home for mentally handicapped children in Cressex, High Wycombe.
Sponsors and benefactors assembled to see the start of of the contest when the first dart was thrown by Sylvia Hewinson who is the officer in charge of Merryfields. (click Ray & Sylvia Hewinson for more about Sylvia)
From 8 pm onwards two teams of six took it in turns, an hour on and an hour's rest to play non stop until 8 pm the next day.
Refreshments were laid on and at 6 am breakfast was cooked and served by a couple of local volunteers.
On Saturday afternoon a telephone interview went out on Radio Oxford.
One member who had moved house on the Friday won a substantial bonus for the charity by winning a wager of £50, by staying on his feet until the end.
8pm Saturday arrived, the raffle was drawn and Graham Carter, who had played throughout, thanked them all. £700 was raised and will go for a soft play area for the children at the home.
1988 - Hallmark editorial - Our Congratulations to the Black Horse Darts Team on another great marathon raising approximately £1200 for the Merryfields Home for mentally handicapped children.
Hallmark June 1989 editorial - £1216 has been raised by patrons of The Black Horse for the Natalie Fund at Great Ormond Street Hospital and the Merryfields Home for the mentally handicapped children over the last year - great effort - well done.
During the 1980's the Graham & Janet Carter staged more events. Another dart's marathon raised £1000 for Merryfields Home.
Hallmark December 1991. After only a few short months Jim and Julie Butler, licencees of the Black Horse will be moving on. Whitread Breweries will be installing a manager for the time being.
Hallmark December 1995 - editorial report - The owners, Discovery Inns of Weston-Super-Mare have put the pub under the new management of Kevin Wallace and Pauline Markham, with Dave Tyers as barman, on a 3 month trial to "improve its run down, loss making condition, with the possibility of an extension if it makes satisfactory progress".
A planning application was made by the Brewery Owners to convert the pub to a private dwelling. Meanwhile Kevin and Pauline were serving traditional pub food, putting on a menu comprising 9 different sandwiches, 12 grills, 7 salads, 5 children's dishes and 5 desserts, with a different menu on Sundays with a narrower choice of hot foods, but with a full roast beef dinner also. An "Opening Night" with free buffet was held on 16th December 1995.
1996 - Planning application declined April 1996. The following was published in Hallmark. "We understand that the planning application for The Black Horse premises to be converted to dwelling accommodation was turned down by a vote of 28 to nil.
Mike and Joanne Cousins are the new landlords working for the existing licensees. Mike and Jo already have the Sunday roast back on the board and they have a full menu 7 days a week. The local campaign to save the pub had paid off.
NEW OWNERS
THE following article was written in "Swan Supping", a magazine of the Swan Theatre, High Wycombe:- THREATENED PUB SAVED. The Black Horse at Lacey Green, which has been under threat of closure has been sold to Wiltshire brewer, Gibbs Mew. Discovery Inns who owned the pub had applied for planning permission to convert the pub into a private residence and build a house on the car park. Permission was rejected by Wycombe Rural District Council. Discovery Inns appealed against the decision. Local campaigners wrote to the brewery explaining the situation fearing that their offer to buy might be withdrawn unless a decision is made quickly. More than 300 households opposed Discovery Inn's planning application. As well as the threat to the community pub, the village has lost its Post Office and the village shop, Hickman's Stores, is also closing. The current landlord and landlady will be continuing at the pub when Gibbs Mew take over on 9th May.
Lynne Comley In 1996 Lynne Comley took over. Her husband ran his own building business.
Lynne regularly reported in Hallmark - for these click Lynne Comley Reports.
She proved herself to be a real village publican, maintaining the established traditions and introducing new ideas, keeping up with the times. Ian, the chef, producing a varied menu to suit all tastes including a children's menu. She started: - THE PENSIONERS' LUNCH
The Pensioners' Lunch, which soon became a regular very popular event.
MEALS DELIVERY. She delivered food to people who were confined to home.
BEER FESTIVALS. She laid on her first Beer Festival in 2013. Beer and music Fest. weekends became popular, with 10 plus real ales and say, 4 ciders with live music and Guest bands. Special menu for those of course, with a BBQ on the Sunday evening.
SPECIAL LUNCHES. Special lunches for Christmas, a "Survivors Party" on New Years Day, Burns Night and so on.
PUB GAMES TEAMS. A winter season for the Darts, Dominoes and Crib teams and a summer an "Aunt Sally" team
CHARITY QUIZ. A yearly charity event a Quiz was established.
PLAYGROUND. A childrens' playground made it a welcoming place for families.
SKY TV. Also in 2013 Sky TV was put on in the little front area (originally the whole pub). Unless fully booked for dining, sport could be watched there.
SPORTS CLUB TEAS Lynne took to doing the cricket teas for the Sports Club and their members were loyal in return, often to be found there at other times, (their "unofficial watering hole", when their club bar was not open).
BREAKFASTS. She would do breakfasts for pre-booked parties.
In 2006/7 A Smoking Ban in enclosed public places became law. Dining out became a much more pleasant experience for everyone. Smokers were designated somewhere outside in which they could smoke.
PARTY MARQUEE. Soon Lynne extended the dining area with a large sturdy permanent marquee type gazebo. Now they could cater for larger parties, weddings, christening, wakes, indeed any celebration.
ADMIRAL TAVERN'S TOP PUB from Bucks Free Press 18th April 2014
A village pub has been given a flawless score in a national pub excellence scheme - one of just three in the country to achieve the mark.
The Black Horse in Lacey Green emerged as the best from almost 1,000 pubs spread across England and Wales, which were assessed by Admiral Taverns, which own the pub.
Licensee Lynne Comley, who has run the pub for 19 years, said "We are just so delighted with the result of the scheme. It's great to have achieved this award, and its fantastic to know that our hard work at the pub is being recognised in this way".
RESEARCHER'S NOTE Writing now in 2019 The Black Horse still appears to be going strong, although Lynne keeps threatening to retire. She has been saying that for a long time but her customers seem to be turning a deaf ear.
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Hallmark May 2023. The Black Horse
The year has got off to a great start and we have plenty more planned for the rest of Spring and into Summer!
We have had a couple of great events so far this year, beginning with celebrating Burns Night for the first time since before the pandemic, with the traditional three course meal, speeches, and toasts of whisky. This was followed by AJ cooking up a marvellous Mother’s Day lunch with both sittings fully booked! Thanks to all those who attended and got involved with these events.
A great deal of work has been going on in the garden as we get ready for Summer. The new Marquee is looking lovely, and we have remodelled the garden with a new patio area to make more space outside for the summer. The play area has had some attention and been redone with astroturf.
It is always a pleasure to have the company of the Over 50’s Pub Lunch on the first Tuesday of the month. All are welcome so if you are interested in joining, please see the contact details at the back of the Hallmark.
Dominoes and Crib have had a great result for the season! The Black Horse team won the league and the knockout double crib. Well done to them! If you are interested in getting involved, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We are also looking for more teams and if any other pubs are interested in getting involved, contact Lynne. Looking to the year ahead we have lots of exciting things lined up.
Firstly, the Coronation weekend and we are looking forward to a busy weekend kicking off with Karaoke on the Friday Night. Saturday begins with Brunch from Yam till 20m with the Coronation being shown throughout the pub and garden. Through the afternoon from 2-4pm we will be serving Picnic Boards followed by Fish and Chips in the evening from 6:30-9pm. The Sunday we will have Sunday Roasts from 12-3pm. Our Sunday Roast have a selection of meats each week and include a pudding for only £16.95!
We are also starting to do food Monday Lunchtimes from 12-3pm with a Lighter Bites menu. So pop in if you fancy a baguette for your lunch!
We also are excited to announce our Beer Fest will be on 8th-10th September and there will be live music and a wonderful selection of Beer, Cider and Gin!