Home > Dorset > Wareham > Pure Drop Pure Drop
Picture source: Mark Bennett
The Pure Drop was situated at 46 West Street. This grade-II listed pub closed in the early 1970s to become a restaurant called Olivers for 20-25 years. It has now been converted into a house.
As a small boy during the early 1950s my parents took our family to Wareham where we spent several nights at the Pure Drop. The B&B upstairs was very quaint and attractive, and I particularly remember two things that struck me as a child. The first was the incredibly strong smell of beer and cigarettes when one went downstairs first thing in the morning, and the second was the well-known verse above the bar. The landlord delighted in telling us boys that he often went swimming in the Piddle. I also remember that he had what seemed to me to be a very strong Dorset accent, as did his wife. Man The horse and mule live thirty years And nothing know of wines and beers; The goat and sheep at twenty die, With never a taste of scotch or rye; The cow drinks water by the ton, And at eighteen is mostly done. Without the aid of rum or gin The dog at fifteen cashes in; The cat in milk and water soaks, And then at twelve years old it croaks; The modest, sober, bone-dry hen Lays eggs for nogs and dies at ten; All animals are strictly dry; They sinless live and swiftly die, While sinful, ginful, whisky-soaked men Survive for three score years and ten. And some of us - a mighty few - Stay pickled ’till we’re ninety-two.
Christopher Pankhurst (May 2017)
My Grandad Harry Fellows was at Wareham Camp with the tanks in the 1920s and married my nan Ivy Orchard (a Wareham girl) in 1924. He used to sing in the pub and was well known for his rendition of 'The laughing policeman'. My nan loved a 'kneesup' and could often be seen dancing on the tables, well it was the twenties.
Deborah Smith (November 2021)
My mum's second cousin was Joe orchard who lived In the house next door on the left of the picture. She remembers staying there ,and his wife Gladys would have to knock on the wall Sunday lunch time to get him to come home to eat it. Walked past today and mum had here picture taken out side for old times sake.
Ian Knowlson (March 2023)
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Other Photos
Date of photo: 2022	Picture source: Admin