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JW | all galleries >> 2004_to_2023 >> Galleries By Subject >> Places >> swindon > 20060106 The Rat Trap
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01-JAN-2006

20060106 The Rat Trap

Don't ask me! I've no idea what this is all about ......

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Chris08-Jan-2006 00:16
Excellent catch. Laine rules :)
Guest 07-Jan-2006 16:11
Lovely composition ... Sweet thing.
Guest 07-Jan-2006 15:51
Hi John - nice colours there - you even found some sunshine.
Where did that come from!!
By the way - I guess I'm your new PBASE neighbour.
Tim
Karen Leaf07-Jan-2006 05:35
That Laine is something else, isn't she..... Did you think you had us all stumped John?? I think a pint or 6 would be good about now :0
s_barbour07-Jan-2006 03:19
I love this sign John, nice use of DOF as well...good job!
joanteno06-Jan-2006 23:23
Thanks Laine for the story behind the picture. Nice Capture, John.
JW06-Jan-2006 22:49
OK, Laine, you win this week's 'clever dick' prize!!
Sharon Rogers06-Jan-2006 21:21
ooo I'll have to look out for that, very interesting.
laine8206-Jan-2006 21:12
Google it...arkells rat trap !!
laine8206-Jan-2006 21:11
Could this be it, John ? That lady sure looks like a Fanny Stroud to me :>)

Fanny Stroud, the landlady of the Speed the Plough pub in Highworth Road, had a foolproof method for ensuring her customers paid their accounts promptly. She simply locked her customers in the pub on pay day until they paid up!
Pretty soon the locals were calling the pub The Rat Trap and this nickname became so interchangable with its official name (usually shortened to The Plough) that even court records referred to both in 1875.

The first beerhouse here probably opened in the 1840s but by 1859 a new building had been erected by the owner, Thomas Stroud, and stayed in the family for exactly 40 years.

Arkell's bought the pub in 1899 and until 1974 it was still called The Plough.

Then, following refurbishment and the building of an extension, Arkell's decided to officially endorse the nickname that had stayed with the pub for so long. The Rat Trap won the day at last.

An unusual Pied Piper motif in the carpet of the lounge echoes the story.

The Rat Trap has always retained its popularity with Stratton residents and, standing on the main road to Highworth from Swindon and close to the Stratton by-pass that links Swindon and the M4 with Cirencester, it is also a handy place for travellers to break their journeys.

These days the landlord is under strict instructions to lock the doors only after the customers have left!
Guest 06-Jan-2006 18:35
Very interesting...!
Robin Reid06-Jan-2006 17:49
Looks a bit illegal to me. Maybe you ought to pause for a drink.