The Star, East Ilsley.
Another Former Pub.
Back on the trail of closed pubs, this one was The Star, East Ilsley, Oxfordshire. Mentioned in an earlier blog of the former White Hart, on the opposite side of the road.
This particular building is a Grade II listed building. Like many others, it is now residential and, in fact, is currently available to let. This gives a good opportunity to see inside, as there are some wonderful photographs on the letting agent’s website.
What first attracted me to this building was the engraved stone plaque on it. Despite researching the name, I haven’t been able to find out any further information.
The building does appear to date back to the 15th Century, although there have been alterations over the years. The building was first listed on 25 October 1951, which suggests it is of particular architectural importance. At this time it appears to have been known as The Star Inn.
Click here for further listing information.
Photograph Details:
- Taken: 19 June 2017
- Camera: Olympus OM-D E-M10 MkIIA
- Lens: Olympus 14-42 1:3.5-5.6
- Focal Length 16mm
- F/5.6
- 1/200 Sec
- ISO 200
Subject: Historical Information: James Webb of The Star Inn, East Ilsley
I recently came across your page/records featuring the historic Grade II listed building of the former Star Inn on the High Street in East Ilsley, including the wonderful photograph of the exterior stone plaque reading “James Webb Dealer in Foreign Spirituous Liquors.”
As it happens, James Webb was my ancestor, and I wanted to share a few details about his life and family to help fill in the historical blanks regarding the person behind that engraving.
About James Webb & The Star Inn:
1851 Census: James Webb is officially recorded in the 1851 UK Census living and working at the premises as a licensed victualler, alongside his wife, Hannah Webb.The Household: At the time, the inn was a bustling hub, operating during the twilight years of East Ilsley’s historic great sheep fairs.Why the Family Left: The family’s time at The Star Inn came to an abrupt end when James Webb passed away in 1853 (registered in the local Wantage district). Because pub licenses and tenancies were tied directly to the individual, his death triggered the end of the family’s run at the inn.What Happened Next: Following his death, and coinciding with the economic decline of the village as the Great Western Railway bypassed the sheep fairs, Hannah Webb left East Ilsley. By the 1861 census, she was living as a widow in nearby town hubs like Newbury/Reading, and their children transitioned out of the publican trade entirely to find work in the new industrial era.
It is incredible to see that James’s business plaque has been preserved on the High Street for over 170 years. Please feel free to add these details to your archives or blog post so that visitors and local historians can know a bit more about the man who put it there.
Best regards
Tony Maxfield
Hi Tony –
Thank you so much for the additional information. I drove past this building regularly on the return from my morning school run with Newbury Buses.