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Picture source: Hania Franek

The Lord Duncan was situated at 59 New Road. This is a grade-II listed building, which was built in 1799. It has remained empty since closure and is due to be converted to residential use.

This was still a wonderfully busy and atmospheric old pub in the late sixties, with a loyal and vocal group of regulars. A memorable but not unusual event was when someone drained his pint before giving us a warbled rendition of the Paul Anka song 'Diana' - sang using his straight pint glass to add volume and tone.  All the - seated - women responded spontaneously with the much earlier "Don't do it tonight - the moon is shining bright ". A man was playing spoons too. When did you last see that? Very sad to see it all boarded up a few years later - but at least it hasn't been demolished.

Andrew Dickersen (April 2011)

My Dad was born in this pub and his parents (Maud and Frederick Webb) I believe were the landlords on its closure. I remember it for years as a kid as it had “ Tory Scum” graffitied on the front. Dad had tonnes of stories and was always threatening to break in to have a look around and salvage all the valuable artwork in there...Supposedly the basement/foundations were made out of a ships hull (perhaps the reason for the listing?)

Stefan Webb (December 2020)

Listed building details:

Public house, disused. Late C18-early C19. Stucco with weather-boarded sides and rear, side lateral stacks and a tiled hipped roof. Plan: double-depth. Exterior: 3 storeys and basement; 3-window range. Rusticated quoins and central segmental-arched first-floor blind window, a central entrance has a bracketed cornice, rectangular overlight and 6-panel door, with flanking 2-storey canted bays, and 3 second-storey windows, all boarded at time of review. Rear a 2-window range. U-shaped roof with gablets to the front and 2 hips to the rear mansard. Interior: not inspected. History: named after Admiral Duncan who defeated the Dutch off Camperdown and Egmont in 1795.

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Other Photos

Picture source: Dave Dunmall