chrismahon
Active member
- Messages
- 5,085
- Location
- Gascony, France
You were there the same time we were Icemaiden- when we arrived they were re-lining 'the pond' and hadn't started on the buildings. The pub at the lock was renamed the Barton Turns, but everyone used the original name of The Vine. Used to be a very busy place from 1840 to 1960 with four pubs, the gas works and a petrol station, with the A38 running past the pub front door. It all changed due to the loss of passing trade when the bypass was built behind the pub. At the time you were there the landlady was Angela and the barman Eddie? The road from the marina used to exit straight onto the new A38 bypass as a 'T' junction. I met a retired Policeman who attended 17 fatal accidents at that junction, which was eventually removed. Was a bit of a 'spit and sawdust' place, but was later upgraded with the first landlord 'doing a runner' with the Christmas and New Year cash takings, to Spain I heard.