History of the Thatcher’s Arms, Mount Bures

To be exact, although Mount Bures is in the Lexden Hundred, ‘The Thatchers’ at Garners Tye is in the Hinckford Hundred and so is part of Bures Hamlet in the Parish of Bures St. Mary

This pub probably started as a Beer House, brewing its own beer, providing for the navvies who were building the Stour Valley Railway 1847-49. It obtained a full licence around 1869 and was known as The Thatches Public House, with Clarles Eley as the licensee. He was succeeded by Jeremiah Pettitt around 1877, then by Henry Bull in 1881 who was there until 1893. Sam Adcock followed and in turn he succeeded in 1909 by Charles Newcombe Warner. He stayed until the outbreak of the First World War, when Harry Jaggs took over. He was there 12 years before handing on to Cyril Cook around 1928. The outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 saw much activity on the Stour Valley Railway. Gun emplacements were built on the side of the cutting nearest to ‘The Thatcher’s’ which, had the German invaded the Essex Coast, would have been part of the first line of defence which roughly followed the railway lines stretching from Southend to the Wash.

Thatcher’s Arms, Mount Bures

The Germans did not come the Americans did…

In November 1943 three squadrons of Republic P47D Thunderbolts, part of 362 Fighter Group of the 9th United States Army Air Force, arrived at Wormingford. They were in action as bomber escorts, including attacks against Doodlebug launching sites in France. In April 1944, three Squadrons, numbers 377, 378 and 379, moved to Headcom in Kent to be succeeded by three squadrons of Lockheed P38J Lightnings from the 55th Fighter Group of the 8th USAAF. These squadron numbers were 38, 338 and 343. They were used as long-range fighter bombers for patrolling shipping in the English Channel.

During June 1944, the Lightning’s made way for North American P51D Mustangs. The Mustangs of the 55th, stationed at Wormingford, received two Distinguished Unit Citations and were involved in many operations amongst which, specifically, was fighter support for the St. Lo breakthrough, the airborne landing in Arnhem, the Ardennes offensive and the crossing of the Rhine near Wesel. Their final operative flight was 21st April 1945. The information on Wormingford Airfield history is partly from Michael Bowyer’s ‘Action Stations’.

During this time ‘The Thatchers’ was popular with American airmen. A memorial to those who did not come back is at Jenkins Farm in Wormingford. After the war, Cyril Cook continued until his daughter, Corrie Locke, took over with husband, Gerald. During the 1970’s they purchased ‘The Thatchers’ from Greene King Brewery, although the beer continued to be IPA and Abbot. At this time ‘The Thatchers’ became the headquarters of the Mount Bures Morris Men, with the level crossing gates as their logo.

Everyone in the area knew ‘The Thatchers’

Everyone in the area knew ‘The Thatchers’ and it was a sad day when Corrie decided to retire. At one of her leaving parties, 18 draymen from Greene King hired a minibus from Bury St Edmunds to come and say ’goodbye’.

After a short close-down period, Terry and Frances Martin of ‘The Swan’ at Chappel, re-opened ‘The Thatchers’ in time for the 1992 General Election. A series of managers followed, while Terry enlarged the premises to include dining-out and function areas. In November 2006, Terry leased ‘The Thatchers’ to Mitch Adams, ably supported by parents, Janet and Tony. Mitch is only the tenth full licensee since 1869, and regularly features at Real Ale Festivals.

Ian Stratford, April 1992 updated May 2010.

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