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LATEST BOURNE SOCIETY BLUE PLAQUE  

THE SOCIETY'S latest blue plaque, at The Lord Roberts, Woodcote Village, Purley, was unveiled by the Society's President, Gwyneth Fookes, on Saturday, 15th November 2003.

The Inn-style sign recalls that The Lord Roberts was originally a temperance inn with a small store and post office – the only business allowed on the Webb Estate. Lord Roberts, a Victorian Soldier born in 1832, achieved fame in the Afghan War, the Indian Mutiny, and the Boer War.

The Lord Roberts is now a well-stocked general store and post office.

From: Bourne Society Bulletin 195 (February 2004)

A handbill dated June 1907 announced the opening of the "Lord Roberts" Temperance Inn and General Stores by Mr. Edwin Castleman. He stated. "Visitors to the Village can obtain at the "Lord Roberts" a capital Tea, Luncheon, or Light Refreshments at quite moderate charges, served in the quaint Elizabethan Coffee Room, or on the old goose green". The floor of the coffee room was strewn with silver sand, and it was one of the chores of his daughter to sweep up and sieve this sand each day, then re-use it if still clean enough. Mr. Castleman used to buy the sand by the cartload and dry it in a large shed.

William Webb named the inn after his hero. Field Marshal Lord Roberts. The inn style sign depicts the famous soldier in uniform and by the inglenook inside hangs a miniature paintingof him: also a drawing by Spy. A framed letter dated 3rd November 1914, signed "Roberts F.M." thanks Mr. Webb for field glasses sent in response to an appeal. There are also photographs showing the pond and geese.

Today only morning coffee may be obtained and the Elizabethan coffee room has been merged with the shop and post office into one big room.

From: Local History Records 3 (1964)