Home > Wiltshire > Oxenwood > Kings Arms Kings Arms
Date of photo: c1928	Picture source: Gill Whitehouse
The Kings Arms closed in February 1960. The pub had been operating as a Wadworths off licence only, for a number of years. I know as my first wife's mother lived there! The skittle alley was used as a coal storage area, as the building was also used by a coal merchant while it was an off licence!! Now used as a private house.
Source: Phil Harwood
Present by the 1830s, John Beard was the publican in 1834, when he married the daughter of the previous innkeeper, Richard North, who died in 1833.
Gill Whitehouse (February 2023)
From The Reading Mercury, 1847
William Harold alias Horrell, 38, charged with having on the 18th of April, at Hungerford, stolen a pair of silver spectacles, the property of John Beard. Mr. Stephens for the prosecution, and Mr. Carrington appeared on behalf of the prisoner. The counsel for the prosecution called John Beard, the prosecutor, who stated that on Sunday, the 18th of April, the prisoner called at his house, the Barley Mow, Hungerford, and asked for a glass of beer and a sheet of writing paper ; he wrote a letter and remained in the room half-an-hour, and after left he discovered that his spectacles had been taken away. Information was forwarded to Benjamin Baker, superintendent of the Wiltshire constabulary, who went to the prisoner's lodgings on Monday morning, at Ramsbury, and on questioning him he admitted had been at Hungerford on the previous day, and had taken a pair spectacles from the room. The spectacles were found in his coat pocket and the prisoner was taken into custody.
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Date of photo: 2009	© Copyright Chris Talbot and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence