Wait for the Bus, Lode, OS 1901

Wait for the Bus (Wagon) Inn, Lode

History of Wait for the Bus Inn

The pub is known to have been operating in 1868 and was originally called Wait for the Wagon. Transport could be seen approaching along the Swaffham Road.

1903 09 14
A blacksmith was summonsed for obtaining beer at the “Wait for the ‘Bus” public house, Bottisham by falsely representing himself as a traveller. The landlord said the man called for beer shortly after ten o’clock; asked whether he had come the necessary distance – three miles – the blacksmith said he had come from “just this side of Cambridge”. If he had not represented himself as a traveller he would not have been served. He was fined 10s and asked for time in which to pay. The magistrates said: “We never allow time here. When you come to court here you must expect to be fined and bring your money with you”.

14 February 1905

Magistrates heard that there were four public rooms in the fully-licensed ‘Wait For the Bus’ at Bottisham. There were four alehouses, four beerhouses and one grocer’s licence for a population of 624. It used to be a very good pub when the old omnibuses used to run to Cambridge but since the railways had been opened there was little or no traffic on the road to Burwell. The landlord, Samuel Marshman said the trade amounted to about three barrels a month but it also provided teas and luncheons. He did not want the licence to be extinguished. 05 02 14b — Mike Petty, Bottisham Scrapbook 1897 to 1990.

4 November 1905

Justices awarded compensation under the scheme for reducing the number of public houses. They included the Hoops pubs in Kneesworth, Melbourn and Steeple Morden, the Sir Harry Smith at Swavesey and the Ram’s Head at Swaffham Bulbeck. In Oakington The Windmill, King’s Head and Plough and Harrow were closed. But the closure of the ‘Wait for the Bus’ at Bottisham was contested; others Rams Head, Swaffham Bulbeck; Swaffham Prior: White Hart; Swavesey: Railroad, Bird in Hand; Cottenham: Windmill; Dry Drayton: Rose and Crown 05 11 04b-d — Mike Petty, Bottisham Scrapbook 1897 to 1990.

27 March 1906

When Cambridgeshire magistrates started the task of extinguishing licences of public houses thought to be superfluous the offers of compensation were accepted in all but three cases. These were the Wait for the Bus at Bottisham, the Sir Harry Smith at Swavesey and the King’s Head, Oakington, all owned by Hudson’s Brewery of Pampisford. Now the Inland Revenue Commissioners have awarded larger sums for two, but reduced the amount offered for the Wait for the ‘Bus from £355 down to £120. Now the brewery may appeal 06 03 27a — Mike Petty, Bottisham Scrapbook 1897 to 1990.