Richard Cadbury bought the Cross Keys a few years after he had previously bought the buildings next door and turned them into The Tudor Coffee House. He amalgamated the buildings into one large property which is now known as Tudor House.

While making the many renovations to Tudor House, Richard Cadbury was careful to preserve as much history of the original buildings as possible, which was quite an unusual practice at the time. He kept the Cross Keys emblem and other items he found in the building and put them on display.

The History of the Cross Keys Inn

The building was used as a Tavern from probably 1614 to 1909 and since as least 1763 it was called the Cross Keys. In 1654 a tavern was run on the site by William Welfare who was a clothier. In 1763 the Cross Keys was run by a George Bird who was a weaver by trade and ran the Tavern for additional income. He had 14 vessels of ale and beer in his cellar and a furnace in his brew house.


The Walker Family

The last licensees of the Cross Keys were the Walker Family. William Walker took over the pub and the Barbers shop next door in 1903. The property was sold by a Mrs Jones for £1050. It was described as "an inn which has always done good business." At the time the property comprised of: Entrance passage, Bar, Tap room, Sitting room, 3 Bedrooms, as well as a Spirit store, brew house, yard formerly a Bowling alley, 2 stables and shedding. Beer was brewed on site in large vats at the rear of the inn. Opening hours of the pub in 1900s were 6.00am - 11.00 pm. Beer cost 2 ½ d. A pint and on Sundays bread and cheese were put on the table for free.


Tragedy at the Cross Keys

Around 1908, a man called Digger who was drinking in the bar offered to help with the stirring of the large vats used to make the beer as the usual person was sick. Unfortunately he fell into a large Vat of boiling water and was drowned. Mr Walker offered the widow, who lived in Union Street, compensation of £1 per week for life, however, she wanted a lump sum and took him to court and was eventually awarded £600, this broke the family and the license was not renewed, the family left in 1909. The premises were then bought by Richard Cadbury who amalgamated it with his Tudor Coffee House.