The Elephant and Castle Inn was a thatched building until fire ripped through it September 30th 1958. The following day firemen Son Townsend from Castle View farm and Cyril Weeks from the Horse Shoe went to help clear up and in the photo the two boys are also from the Horse Shoe Inn in Bampton.
At one time in late C20th Joan and Lionel were the landlord and landlady and they can be seen behind the bar with Dora Townsend, sister of Son the fireman.
The Elephant & Castle Inn after the fire in September 1958. It was started by a rocket firework let off well before bonfire night. People with thatched roofs used to soak them with a hose pipe before the evening on a bonfire night if it hadn't rained.
The Elephant and Castle in Bridge Street before the fire in 1958 after which it was rebuilt with a tiled roof. A protective wall was built in front of it in the 1970s to stop people from spilling out and straight on to the road. The handsome Elm tree in the background was lost to Dutch Elm Disease in the 1970s.
The Elephant and Castle Inn on Bridge Street.
A horse and cart outside the Elephant & Castle on Bridge Street, circa 1940s Elephant and Castle date unknown but a fire destroyed the roof in 1958 and was replaced with stone tiles. [postcard].
Elephant and Castle with Mrs Penny at the door
Ducks on Mill Green with Bridge House on the left next to The Elephant and Castle in the background.
Joan & Lionel, landlords of the Elephant & Castle, with Dora Townsend in the middle
Firemen clearing up Sept 30th 1958 after the fire at the Elephant and Castle. Son Townsend from across the road at Castle Farm and Cyril Weeks. The two boys from the Horse Shoe Inn.
The Elephant and Castle Inn with no wall in front to stop people falling out of the door straight into the road in 1965. The two bay windows have also gone now.

Roy Shergold and others in the Romany
photo by Bill Govier

Two photos taken by Bill Govier showing Peter Elliott Landlord of the Talbot

Article in the Limited Edition Magazine of Oxfordshire in 2000 about Don Rouse having been connected with the Bampton Mummers for 50 years. Characters in the play, the script of which has been handed down through the ages by word of mouth, include The Doctor, Jack Finney, The Turkish Knight, the Royal O'Prussia King, Tom the Tinker, Father Christmas, Robin Hood and St George or King George. The Bampton Mummers are organised by The SPAJERS and they collect funds by performing at private homes and pubs on Christmas Eve every year.

Photo taken by Bill Govier of Ursula Booth
Landlady of the Romany

The Malt Shovel Inn was in Lavender Square and sold Belcher and Habgood's noted Ales & Stout. They also kept pigs and sold sausages and bacon and also vinegar from a barrel. Still called the Malt Shovel it is now a private dwelling with great care taken to make sure the frontage is a delight to see in all seasons.

The Malt Shovel had a malthouse probably by the mid 18th century when it was owned by the maltster John Minchin, and passed later to John Ward, maltster, and to Ward's son-in-law Richard Hambidge, maltster and spirit merchant, before becoming a public house in the 1870s. (from Victoria County History)

Witney Gazette December 10th 2014. New chef Kevin Jones now works at The Trout, Tadpole Bride