Sometimes you find unexpected links between projects. In this case, while researching the history of the Royal Oak as part of our project studying the history of the pubs in Shinfield Parish – on which we are working with Shinfield Local History Society – one of our members established that in 1906 the pub was supplied by Dymore Brown’s Royal Albert Brewery in Reading. We had previously encountered the Dymore Brown family as part of our research into the history of Three Mile Cross Methodist Chapel, a project we completed ten years ago.
The Family were committed and enthusiastic Methodists giving generously to a number of local churches including the chapel in Three Mile Cross and Mrs Janet Dymore Brown, wife of the ownwr, laid the foundation stone of the Chapel. The Group’s book, subtitled The Little Village Chapel in the Meadow is still available, price £4.00.
If you know the identity of this group of men, gathered outside the former Red Lion pub or can can help us with our current project on the pubs of Shinfield – photos or stories of those who worked or frequented any of our pubs, many now lost, please get in touch.