The Old Dove

Probably dating from the late 1830’s, the Dove was licensed to sell only beer until as late as 1929 when Greene King transferred the liquor license from the Hunted Stag in St. Johns Street to George Cole of the Dove. The house appears in White’s 1844 Directory as an unnamed beerhouse in Union Terrace, the name given to the new row of terraced houses which were taken down in 1960 and which have since been replaced by modern housing.

This terrace was named after the nearby Union Workhouse, which was situated just round the corner from the Dove.

The Dove will be remembered by many of its older customers as one of the last “basic” pubs in Bury, with two small and uncarpeted rooms and an atmosphere which reflected its beerhouse origins. This has, of course, all changed in recent years and the Dove has expanded to double its old bar size with the acquisition of an empty property adjoining it.

Taken from Old Inns and Beerhouses of Bury St. Edmunds by Gerry Nixon, with the authors permission – published by CAMRA

Draft Listing of Landlords at The Dove – Bury St Edmunds

• Robert Edwards – Union Terrace – beerhouse Whites Directory 1844
• Robert Hennels – 26 Union Terrace – beerhouse Whites Directory 1855
• Henry Edwards – 28 Hospital Road – beerhouse Post Office Directory 1865
• 1868 – first recorded as the name “The Dove”
• Charles Boggis – 36 Hospital Road – beerhouse Kelly’s Directory 1892
• Isaac H. Russell – 36 Hospital Road – beer retailer Kelly’s Directory 1900
• Alfred Russell – 36 Hospital Road – beerhouse Kelly’s Directory 1916
• George A Cole – 36 Hospital Road – beerhouse Suffolk Record Office - license transfer date - 2nd December 1925
• Kelly’s Directory from 1936 ~ index reads - “The Dove”
• Edith May Game – 36 Hospital Road S.R.O. - transfer - – 29th June 1929
• Oliver Ralph Gibbs – 36 Hospital Road – S.R.O. - transfer – 3rd July 1941
• Eliza Gibbs – 36 Hospital Road S.R.O. - transfer- – 1st July 1943
• Thomas Harry Hall S.R.O. - transfer – 3rd March 1949
• Alfred John Speck S.R.O. - transfer- – 7th January 1954
• Ernest. H. Reeve – 68 Hospital Road S.R.O. - transfer- – 7th April 1955
• T. (Tommy) Leslie Reach – The Dove, Hospital Road – S.R.O. - transfer – 4th April 1968 - GPO Telephone Directory 1972 (Bury St Eds 5680)
• Major structural and bar layout alterations to Dove 1986

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