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Date of photo: 1960s	Picture source: Brett Lampitt
The Old House At Home was situated on Quebec Square. This pub is now in residential use.
For two or three years, back in the mid-1960s, five or six of us teenagers used to camp out for a few days up on nearby Hosey Common - before we went back to school in September. The Old House was indeed our home! The landlord then was Ernest Dumbleton, ex-master stevedore and a super guy - and he had a first-rate, pretty barmaid called Rita, who took no nonsense. We played a lot of darts down there and I remember getting down late from Croydon on my bicycle, walking in and (filling in for one of the boys absent in the loo) finding myself on six to finish . . . so (why?) treble one, one and double one - checkout and a kind of 'Shanghai' all in one! It was such a laid-back, friendly place. If drawn, Ernie would tell us a bit about the the old days, including the disastrous Dieppe raid in WW2, in which he'd played a part and been lucky to escape with his life. He used to call our campfire cuisine 'bangers and beans', and he was about right! He'd always buy us all a pint before the sad day when we had to leave.
Howard Harries (April 2020)
I well remember the halcyon days of the 60’s at this pub. I was that no nonsense bar maid called Rita. I continued to work, on and off, for Ernie up to the time he died in 1979. Wonderful memories.
Rita Hillary (November 2020)
Hi Rita - it was lovely to see your note, and I hope you're well and enjoying life. Yes indeed, they were happy days! And bitter at about 1/9 a pint, etc. etc. All the very best, ever
Howard Harries (May 2021)
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Other Photos
Picture source: Darkstar