John Oram's photos with the keyword: Closed Pub

This building stands on land adjacent to the Kassam Stadium on the outskirts of Oxford. The building in the background in the Hampton by Hilton hotel. Dating back in this form to about 1416, it was once part of the Littlemore Priory which was, in its time, mired in scandal. More recently it was a pub with the unusual name 'The Priory and ...?...' (sic). The pub closed in 2013. TZ70_P1020052CE

This building stands on land adjacent to the Kassam Stadium on the outskirts of Oxford. Part of the South Stand can just be seen (left). Dating back in this form to about 1416, it was once part of the Littlemore Priory which was, in its time, mired in scandal. More recently it was a pub with the unusual name 'The Priory and ...?...' (sic). The pub closed in 2013. TZ70_P1020054R

The former Horse and Groom public house, 30 St George's Place, Cheltenham, now Cheltenham Shopmobility. 200_3_P1120199E

The Magpie, 64-66 Fratton Road, Portsmouth. Reportedly closed in 2007, this former pub is situated on the corner of Fratton Road and Cornwall Road in Portsmouth. The building is pretty magnificent and is currently offered to let. 200_3_P1120069CE

The Swan Inn in Old Orchard, Poole has joined the long list of closed pubs. It is a beautiful building, especially as seen in the May sunshine, with its simple brick complementing the attractive green, glazed tiles. It appears that there was a dispute as long ago as 2006 about plans for its demolition and development of the site. An article from the Bournemouth Echo (below) quotes some controversial and, in my opinion, very wrong comments about the property. www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/851346.Opposition_grows_ov... There was more positive news in the same publication as recently as 4 April 2018. www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/16135770.Richard_Carr_reve... 200_3_P1050855CE

The Wiltshire Lamb at the junction of Privett Road and Anns Hill Road, Gosport closed several years ago and was converted into houses. The ground floor window central in this picture still bears the legend 'Blakes Stout'. 200_3_P1040014C

This imposing former public house in Brewer's Tudor style closed as long ago as 1981 before conversion into a hostel which role it appears to maintain today. Rather endearingly, it has retained its external decoration with the single, rather subdued entrance to the ten units being to the left in this photograph. The Talbot, 207 Goldsmith Avenue, Portsmouth (corner Talbot Road) was built in 1896. Although the Brickwoods brewery is defunct, a number of branded pubs survive around Portsmouth. Various versions of the branding can be seen including, simply, 'Brickwoods Brilliant Ales' in addition to the one seen here. I wonder how many people are aware of the meaning of the word 'Talbot' as it appears on many pubs. The Talbot was a breed of, usually white, hunting dog which disappeared after the end of the 18th century. 200_3_P1020962

Recently, and to my surprise, I discovered that the branch of The Co-operative Food at 163 Wych Lane, Bridgemary, Gosport which I photographed on 20 December 2015 , has closed. I had been under the impression that the Co-op was expanding as their distinctive, if not especially attractive, green colours are seen everywhere in the South. Nevertheless, the crumpled poster on the door states, unequivocally, 'This store is now closed'. This development contrasts starkly with the media release of a couple of days ago which announced the return of the 'clover leaf' logo from 1968. This photograph also shows the very faded sign for the Wych Way Inn which I completely failed to notice on my 2015 visit - although I did successfully research the previous identity of the building. 200_2_P1100634

The Swansea Jack pub (now closed) is on Oystermouth Road. Swansea Jack (1930 - October 1937) was a famous Welsh dog who rescued 27 people from the docks and riverbanks of Swansea. 200_2_P1060357

The Artillery Arms in Brockhurst Road, Gosport closed in 2006 and was subsequently converted into flats branded as Woodys Court. Although far from infallible, I am obsessive about detail so I find it rather annoying that the main search results on the internet refer to this as Woody Court (no 's') but the inset stone (visible left) clearly contradicts that. 200_2_P1040857

Quayside, Leisure World, Southampton is another closed pub having closed in 2011. 200_2_P1020676C

Quayside, Leisure World, Southampton is another closed pub having closed in 2011. 200_2_P1020673C

One of my key techniques in photography is patience. When I can visit a place several times, I am prepared to wait for weather, light, traffic and pedestrians. I have waited for a long time to photograph Quayside, yet another closed pub, at Leisure World, Southampton. This establishment closed in 2011. 200_2_P1020667C

Within sight of the Rainbow Theatre [qv] stands the sad ruin of the Sir George Robey, itself once a famous London music venue. My commentary on such matters accompanies the previous photograph. This beautiful architectural detail is just one small example of what we lose when we allow the past to slip away from us. 200_2_P1020576

Within sight of the Rainbow Theatre (previous picture) stands the sad ruin of the Sir George Robey, itself once a famous London music venue. It has stood disused since about 2004 and plans to develop it for residential use have stalled. It now reportedly faces demolition and, for the time being, the dangerous remains house some homeless people. Such scandals of planning and social failure blight our cities. They are physical and social scars on the places where we live. I believe that there should be strict limits on how long buildings can stand out of use especially if development has been proposed. 200_2_P1020575

The Barnham Bridge Inn (formerly the Barnham Hotel), opposite Barnham station, is another casualty of the country's countless pub closures. It is slated to be converted in to a convenience store and work was supposed to have commenced in July 2014 but there was no external evidence of that today. 200_2_P1020420

Whenever I go to London these days, which is infrequently, I am reminded that its size precludes me from recording everything I want to in every category which interests me. For that reason, I content myself with simply making my own small contribution to the wider world of photography. I can not or do not photograph as many closed pubs as I would like but the Hand & Racquet, only a short distance from the vibrant Leicester Square and Soho, was very striking in its desolation. In spite of the fate of the pub, this is a very busy crossroads for both vehicular and pedestrian traffic and it required patience to get this shot. 200_2_P1020236

Pleasant looking residential accommodation has replaced the abandoned White Swan pub in Gosport depicted in my photograph of 8 July 2012. Many mourn the loss of our public houses. I am neutral on the subject but am pleased when the buildings are put to new uses rather than left derelict or demolished and especially pleased when a motif remains, as here, to remind us of their former use. 200_2_P1000008