The Gun at Wash Common has had a public house on that site since the seventeenth century. The later picture also shows the Falkland memorial put there in 1878 by some local person with a penchant for the civil war. The finance was raised locally but the person who organised it wanted it to commemorate all those who fell in the battle but was outvoted by the Earl of Carnarvon and the members of the committee who wanted a Royalist memorial. And, so it was. The design was by local architect John Money and carved out of Cornish granite brought at great cost from a couple of Cornish quarries and crafted by a Penryn company.
The first picture was taken in about 1898 when the pub and another one owned by a local brewery were put up for sale.
The vista which includes the Falkland memorial dates from about 1900.

Quoted from brian

The first picture was taken in about 1898 when the pub and another one owned by a local brewery were put up for sale.

The sale in 1898 was at an auction of six Newbury pubs (Gun, London Apprentice, Tiger, Cross Keys, Hunt's Bar & the other one that I can't bring to mind at present - possibly the Queen's Arms).  The Gun and London Apprentice were owned by the Borough of Newbury, not a local brewery - they were, of course, all bought by local breweries.

Quoted from blackdog

The sale in 1898 was at an auction of six Newbury pubs (Gun, London Apprentice, Tiger, Cross Keys, Hunt's Bar & the other one that I can't bring to mind at present - possibly the Queen's Arms).  The Gun and London Apprentice were owned by the Borough of Newbury, not a local brewery - they were, of course, all bought by local breweries.

I was deliberately vague because I knew that you would come along and help me out with the detail. Thanks

This photograph of the Gun was taken in June 2009;

Quite a lot of infilling gone on as well, It's no longer an isolated building

You even got 'Parkway' in the good old days!

The Gun is an excellent pub with a first-class landlord in Alan Lamb, and is one of the few around that still has two completely separate bars. To get from one to the other you have to go out into the long porch behind the 6X umbrella.

Alan told me once that the pub is said to be haunted by a Civil War soldier, and that he has reason to believe that the building has cellars, Unfortunately he has never been able to find the entrance.

Quoted from Brewmaster

Alan told me once that the pub is said to be haunted by a Civil War soldier, and that he has reason to believe that the building has cellars, Unfortunately he has never been able to find the entrance.

Most, if not all pubs, had cellars to keep the beer temperature constant as much as possible in the days before refrigeration so I would guess that he is right. If there is a cellar, would be interesting to open it up.

Quoted from brian

Most, if not all pubs, had cellars to keep the beer temperature constant as much as possible in the days before refrigeration so I would guess that he is right.

Er, yes, I did know that!

Quoted Text

If there is a cellar, would be interesting to open it up.

It is some time since Alan told me this, so it may be that the pub has a normal cellar for the beer as well as this other, mysterious one. Next time I go there I will check it out.

It will be no trouble!

Quoted from Brewmaster

Er, yes, I did know that!

Bit touchy aren't we.

Quoted from brian

Bit touchy aren't we.

Not at all. It is you who is touchy if you take that as anything other than as the light-hearted response it was intended.

Perhaps I should have added a smiley at the end.

Quoted from Brewmaster

Not at all. It is you who is touchy if you take that as anything other than as the light-hearted response it was intended.

Perhaps I should have added a smiley at the end.

That's the trouble with a forum, I cannot look into your eyes as you reply so as you obviously know all there is to know about beer, brewing and pubs, I can only apologise.

Quoted from brian

That's the trouble with a forum, I cannot look into your eyes as you reply so as you obviously know all there is to know about beer, brewing and pubs,

Oh, if only I did!

Quoted Text

I can only apologise.

No need.

Quoted from blackdog

The sale in 1898 was at an auction of six Newbury pubs (Gun, London Apprentice, Tiger, Cross Keys, Hunt's Bar & the other one that I can't bring to mind at present - possibly the Queen's Arms).  The Gun and London Apprentice were owned by the Borough of Newbury, not a local brewery - they were, of course, all bought by local breweries.

The sixth pub was the Black Boys, not the Queen's Arms.  The Gun and Apprentice were sold by the Borough, the Tiger by St Bartholomew's Charity, the Black Boys by the Shaw family and Hunt's Bar by the Chesham Brewery Company (I think). I've no idea who was selling the Cross Keys.

The South Berks Brewery bought the Black Boys (£2250), the Tiger (£1500) and The Gun (£1450)
The Newbury Brewery Company bought the London Apprentice for £2800.
Herbert Finn (Phoenix Brewery) bought Hunts Bar and the adjoining shop for £3000.
A Benjamin Blaiberg (not a Newbury brewer) bought the Cross Keys and another house for £1000. I would guess that this means that the current Cross Keys was built shortly after this.

Three different auctioneers handled the sales, which were all done in the same session at a major London auction room.

Quoted from blackdog

The Newbury Brewery Company bought the London Apprentice for £2800.

This was situated opposite St John's church close to the row of cottages that face East and not to be confused with the Old London Apprentice in Hambridge Road a fairly new build. These pubs were built to a standard format by Simonds of Reading, distinctive by the green roof tiles.
My Mother met my Dad in the London Apprentice before the war when he was home on leave from the navy