The Queens Head has been recorded as a public house since at least 1740. However, its origins are considerably older and this grade 2 listed building probably dates back to the early 15th century. What makes this building unique is its timber frame, called a Cruck construction which in this case is basically of similar appearance to a capital “A”. The long uprights are formed with a curved trunk split along its centre and coupled together at the top. The strong shape provided the framework onto which the roof was supported and alongside which the walls were built. The use of the Cruck frame has been identified as having a regional bias and Wokingham lies to the very edge of that area. There are only seven buildings with this form of construction known in Berkshire.
Because of its contribution to Wokingham’s heritage, the Queens Head is part of the Wokingham Society’s Blue Plaque Trail. A leaflet giving details of all of the buildings on the Trail can be obtained from the Wokingham Town Hall Information Centre and Wokingham Library. An electronic version is available from www.wokinghamsociety.org.uk The Trail is also available on a downloadable App called Wokingham Town History.
The records of the Wokingham licensing sessions for 1777 records the Queens Head. In the 1870s and ‘80s the pub was renamed the Welcome Home for reasons that have not been documented. In 1879 the Welcome Home was bought by Henry Hewetts and Co. of Waltham St. Lawrence, from whom it had been leased for some years.
About 1883 the pub regained its old name.
Morlands and Co. later acquired the pub when they bought Henry Hewetts and Co.
More recently the Queens Head has been distinguished by being voted the Campaign For Real Ale (CAMRA) Berkshire SE Branch Pub Of the Year for 2015, 2016 and 2017. But it could have been very different, as reported in the Reading Mercury on Saturday 4th January 1930.
“ Thrilling rescues were made at Wokingham early on Thursday morning by the police and firemen when a fire occurred at The Queen’s Head, an old inn situated on the Terrace, Reading Road, Wokingham. In the house were the landlord, Mr. Alfred Dyer, his wife, their four daughters, Hilda, Vera, Eileen and Edna, and Mrs. Dyer’s father, Mr. George Brooks, who is 87 years of age. The outbreak occurred in the tap room downstairs, a beam in the chimney taking fire and burning its way into a cupboard by the side of the fireplace. By this cupboard was the gas meter, and as the heat increased the pipes of the meter melted and the gas started to escape. Probably the beam had been smouldering for some time. When Mr. Dyer awoke he smelt smoke, and at once aroused the rest of the household. The smoke was now increasing in volume, and, together with the gas fumes, made it impossible to get down the stairs. The alarm was given from the window, and the police informed. They at once called the Wokingham Fire Brigade.
POLICEMAN’S PLUCK
P.C. Surman, a young member of the force, was one of the first on the scene, and seeing the people at the windows he rushed to their aid with a ladder. Taking one of the girls—all of whom were in their night attire—in his arms, he was bringing her down the ladder when, while about half-way to the ground, the ladder slipped, and he fell with the girl on top of him. Neither was injured, but although shaken the constable again used the ladder to rescue another girl. Other policemen also ran to the scene and gave assistance. Within three minutes of receiving the alarm the Wokingham Fire Brigade, under Second Officer F. Knight, were at the fire with their motor pump and escape. Bringing the escape into immediate action the firemen carried down the remaining womenfolk and Mr. Brooks. Mr. Dyer managed to get out by himself. One fireman dashed into the house and prevented the possibility of a gas explosion by turning off the gas at the main. Dr. F. Curl, who is the hon. surgeon to the brigade, attended the rescued people, but beyond shock and being dazed they were not hurt. When it was thought that everyone was saved the firemen were suddenly told that one girl was left inside. A fireman put on a smoke helmet and was about to enter the house when the girl appeared from among some neighbours.
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY AVERTED
A graphic account of the outbreak was given to the “Reading Mercury” by Second Officer Knight, who said: ”It was just a matter of minutes, or there would have been a terrible tragedy. As we got the people out the flames were just coming through the floor. The smoke was dense—in fact there was far more smoke than flames, but the chief danger was the gas. The people were hanging out of the windows in despair. In another few seconds they would have fallen back inside, and it would have been extraordinarily difficult to get to them. It was all over very quickly, but while it was going on there were some thrilling moments.”
Wokingham Town Museum Unique Identifier: WTH0305