High Street
Elstow Garage.
Elstow village Smithy was situated on the south-western end of High Street, just north of the cottage that is now 28 Bunyan's Mead. The site appears on OS maps as late as 1925 marked as a 'Smithy' but it was probably not long after then that it became a garage. The garage was operated by the Cooper family and then by the Carding family. (Mr Carding also had a grocery van and did a round in the Mile Road Estate.) The garage probably closed in the 1970's when bungalows were built on the site.
The 'jetty' on High Street
Pilgrim House. Although Pilgrim House is - for Elstow High Street - a relatively young building (having been constructed in 1806), there was previously a cottage there, that was attached to the next-door "The Green Corner". It is said to have had three wells and was a pub named "The Chequer".
Records of the owners, and many of the tenants, of Pilgrim House / The Chequer exist from the days of the Abbey right up to the present day. Unlike many other properties in Elstow, it was only owned by Whitbreads / The Southill Estate for just over 100 years - from 1871 to 1984. One of Elstow's evacuees, Curly Watts, lodged here with Richard and Gladys Burr.
Pilgrim House. Although Pilgrim House is - for Elstow High Street - a relatively young building (having been constructed in 1806), there was previously a cottage there, that was attached to the next-door "The Green Corner". It is said to have had three wells and was a pub named "The Chequer".
Records of the owners, and many of the tenants, of Pilgrim House / The Chequer exist from the days of the Abbey right up to the present day. Unlike many other properties in Elstow, it was only owned by Whitbreads / The Southill Estate for just over 100 years - from 1871 to 1984. One of Elstow's evacuees, Curly Watts, lodged here with Richard and Gladys Burr.
Village Hall and Scout Hut. Unfortunately, we do not yet have any photos. Has anyone got any? If so, please do contact us.
Built (probably) in the 1920's or 30's, this was a traditional black and white timber-framed building, with one of its gable ends fronting onto the High Street. It was used as a Scout Hut, for village dances and housed a weekly mother and baby clinic.
In the 1950's the "Have a go" programme, featuring Wilfred Pickles was broadcast from here. Former Elstow resident Andy Curtis reports that six villagers were invited to take part in the programme, to be interviewed. These included a Councillor, local historian Oswald Crouch and the boy who replaced Andy, Michael Groome. Andy had been refused permission to take part by his headmaster at the Modern School. (They were very strict in those days!)
The hall was demolished in the 1970s, to make way for the Bunyan's Mead development. The council built a replacement Scout hut at the end of Pilgrims Way.