The Old Post Office, Bath

New pub – OPEN NOW

Address: 2 York Buildings, Great George Street, Bath BA1 2EB, United Kingdom

On the front of 2 York Buildings is carved ‘The Old Post Office’. During 1854–1927, these premises housed Bath’s main post office, with Oldham T Barlow its postmaster for nearly 30 years (1863–90). Thomas Moore Musgrave was also a long-serving postmaster here. On 2 May 1840, Thomas famously posted ‘an item of mail’ from the Bath post office (then at 8 Broad Street) with the newly invented Penny Black postage stamp – this was the world’s first adhesive postage stamp’s earliest use..

The Chiltern, Beaconsfield

New pub and beer garden – OPEN NOW

Address: 12 Station Road, Beaconsfield, HP9 1NL, United Kingdom

The first film shown at the 500-seat Picture House was a silent war film – Mare Nostrum, soon after which ‘talkies’ were introduced. In the mid 1950s, the cinema’s capacity was reduced to accommodate a new wide screen. In 1961, it was purchased by the local council and ‘extensively modernised’ soon afterwards. It was also renamed The Chiltern. The cinema closed its doors on 29 September 1989 for the last time, with the site sold five years later.

Sigered, King of Essex, Basildon

New pub and beer garden OPEN NOW

Address: 8–10 East Walk, Basildon, SS14 1HG, United Kingdom

As a place name, Basildon’s origin is Saxon, meaning ‘Beorthel’s Hill’. During the 7th century, the area was part of the Kingdom of the East Saxons – now referred to as the Kingdom of Essex. It was then one of the seven Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England. During c604–616, it was ruled by Sebert, thought to have been buried at Great Burstead, now part of the Basildon district. The last King of Essex was Sigered, reigning during 798–825.

The Sir Alexander Fleming, Paddington

New pub and beer garden – OPEN NOW

Address: Unit 53, 5 Merchant Square, Paddington Basin, London, W2 1AS5, United Kingdom

Five minute’s walk from Paddington station.

Queen Mary’s Hospital, near Merchant Square is where the eminent physician Sir Alexander Fleming ‘discovered’ Penicillin. 5 Merchant Square rises high above Paddington Basin, which was built as the terminus of the Grand Junction Canal. The new waterway opened for traffic, in 1801, with the waving of flags, ringing of bells and the firing of canons. The canal brought goods in bulk from the industrial Midlands to what was then the edge of the capital, from where they were also exported.

The Dictum of Kenilworth, Kenilworth

New pub and beer garden – OPEN NOW

Address: 18–24 The Square, Kenilworth, CV8 1EB, United Kingdom

On 31 October 1266, a pronouncement was issued (Dictum de Kenilworth) to reconcile the rebels of the Second Barons’ War with the royal government of England. After the baronial victory at the Battle of Lewes (1264), Simon de Montfort had taken control of the royal government, but was later killed at the Battle of Evesham (1265), with Henry III restored to power. However, a group of rebels, whose resistance proved difficult to crush, held out in the stronghold of Kenilworth Castle.