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Picture source: Darkstar

The York House Inn was situated on Town Street. This pub is now in residential use.

My name is Roger Greenslade and I am the son of Olive and Harold Greenslade who were former tenants/licensees of the York House Inn, Shepton Mallet from about 1951 to around 1957. Olive and Harold Greenslade were raised in Birmingham and lived through the second World War in the city, both were Red Cross Nurses and dealt with horrendous bombing injuries in a Birmingham First Aid post. I was born in 1944 and in the early fifties my Mum and Dad (Olive & Harold) decided to move from Birmingham to the York House Inn, Shepton Mallet to take on a pub. It was about the time of the Queens Coronation in 1952. I recall Dad bought a small 9" TV black & white of course which was located on the first floor in the function room and the entire neighbourhood came in and out all day to see the Queen being crowned. It was very good for business. I remember being amazed at the size of the pub/hotel. It had a cellar which was very dark and damp, Dad kept the beer and bottles beers in the cool down there. I lived in a bedroom on the very top floor and remember I could look over the town and watch the swifts and swallows flying round during the evening. The pub was owned by the Frome Brewery which then became the Frome and Lamb Brewery. The Showering Company were developing Babycham at that time and I remember my Mum providing accommodation to the engineers who were building the bottling line and I always remember the very large Babycham which stood on the roof of Showerings bottling plant. Mum charged 12/6p for Bed & Breakfast and managed to make a good living from it. The York house licensed rooms were very dark and old. I remember and nickelodeon machine in the main bar room, there was no actual serving bar, Dad served from a small hatch area and took the drinks to the customers. On the opposite side to the main drinking bar was another room which was the Lady's Room. When they wanted a drink they rang the bell and Dad went into the room to collect the order. Ladies were kept separate from men at that time. I do remember that we had a close association with the local Police, Dad always left a pint bottle of Indian Pale Ale together with a glass covering the bottle and that was for the night Constable who took the drink and then checked the pub. Often the 2pm- to 10pm officer would come into the pub and say to Dad, "I need a word with you Harold about your son"! It was his way of asking for a drink, the Constable would go into the back kitchen and Dad would serve him with a pint of beer. Needless to say I was never in any trouble. Whilst in Shepton Mallet Dad was a member of the retained Fire Brigade and I recall we had a huge bell situated in Mum and Dad's bedroom and when Dad was called the fire control would set off the bell which would wake the entire house including any B & B guests. These were very happy times for a young lad growing up and I always have a soft spot for Shepton Mallet and the York House Inn. Mum and Dad transferred to the Wheelwrights Arms, Chapmanslade, Nr Westbury and from there they moved to the Bird in Hand, Bishops Lydeard, Nr. Taunton where they served drinks for over twenty five years.

Roger Greenslade (April 2020)

Recall this being a basic local, popular with workers at Showering's & local factories.

Bruce Enzer (May 2021)

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Other Photos

Picture source: Darkstar