Travellers Joy History
Ruth and I took over the running of the pub in
December 1989, though at times it feels like 1889!
Research has shown that a Mr. William Pope was born
in the Travellers Joy, Tinkers
Lane, Northwood in
1799, (The name of the road was changed to Pallance Road sometime during 1939.). The Popes kept the pub from at
least 1799 to 1835 and most likely into the 1860's. William died in 1859 and
his wife, Fanny, died in 1866.According to the deeds of the pub there has been
an alehouse on the site for some 300 years when it was a row of cottages.
The alehouse was originally located at one end of
the row and was relocated several times from cottage to cottage. During the
excavation for the footings of the pool room extension in 1987 several
implements were discovered which intimated that some kind of wood crafting
cottage existed next to the present pub.
In an application for a license in 1904 in the name
of Mrs. Preece the premises were rebuilt at a cost of between £700 &
£800. The distances to the nearest pubs then were: The Horse Shoe Inn 1mile,
The Flower Pot Inn 1mile 1 furlong, The Gurnard Hotel 1&1/2 miles, The Stag
Inn 2miles 1 furlong, The Foresters Inn 2miles 3 furlongs. There was only one
house within a mile. Mrs. Ellen Hurzza Preece stated that her father held the
place for 35 years and she had held for 6.
A map printed on War Substitute Paper dated 1939
shows Tinkers Lane scored through and Pallance Road typed in its place. The current pub has been extensively
extended over the years and now features a conservatory, pool room in addition
to the bar areas which were part of the occupiers accommodation. The current
lounge area used to be the front room and the area behind the bar was their
lounge. Locals can remember such idiosyncrasies as a paraffin heater in the
centre of the bar being used as the only form of heating, a mynah bird which so
upset a visiting darts team that they set it alight! And don’t forget the
2 ghosts: one, an old chap wearing a flat cap who gets quite mischievous at
times; the other, a lady wearing old fashioned dress who appears when the
decorating is being carried out.
The garden now boasts a Petanque terrain (a
peculiar type of the French game Boulle) a pets' corner, play area and patio.
There is also a large car park. The Travellers has, for several years, been
winner and runner up of the Isle of Wight Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale
Pub of the Year and operates a "try before you buy" policy.
We received an email in January 2005 from Ray
Jolliffe who lives in Canada informing us that during the 2nd world war his
father was too old for the army so he joined the Home Guard which gave him and
a chap called Ray Tarrant a lot of time on their hands. At one time they had to
defend the area of Pallance Road against the real army, so they made their base
the Travellers Joy where they took up residence in the bar, drinking the local
tipple (probably Burts) When unannounced, the CO arrived outside. To avoid him
they leapt over the bar and disappeared out through the back door into the
night. The outcome of the night was that real army got to Carisbrooke
Castle and back to whence they had come and never saw a member of
the Home Guard.
Ray then goes on to say “I’m surprised
that the Travellers Joy still exists as it was only a very small pub, a bit
like the Falcon Inn”. Well, Ray we are still here trying to eke an existence
in our own little way. If anyone has any other anecdotes concerning the
Travellers we would love to hear from you.