The Bear Hotel

THE BEAR HOTEL

14 DUNRAVEN PLACE

Bridgend

( Photo 1 ) The Bear Hotel, Dunraven Place Bridgend, the photo was taken around the turn of the 20th century, and had been running for at lest 70 years at this time.

There were two Bear public house’s in Bridgend, they did not exist at the same time, the first Bear inn was an old drinking establishment that shared the same building as the Wyndham Arms.

In 1830, the Bear inn’s tenants lease was terminated, so the then owner/landlord either built or took over a large building almost opposite the Wyndham Arms and called this new pub the Bear.

This tall imposing building was on the corner of Dunraven place and the lane that leads to the old stone bridge which was built in 1425.

The front of the (new) bear was used primarily as a public house, the rear of the building consisted of a large open hall/ballroom, which was later referred to as The Lambeth Hall, many local societies used this large space for their annual meetings and dinners, the societies included the Odd fellows of the Dunraven Lodge, the Imps Club amongst many others also The Ogmore Angling Association was formed in the Bear in 1891.

The original old Bear inn next to the Wyndham arms was well-known for holding annual events, and public meetings during the late 1700`s and it’s newer namesakes followed suit.

Sometime in mid 1800`s alteration were made to the Bear public house by the then landlord, a Mr Thomas Evans, and with it came a new title, the pub was now called the Bear Hotel.

This new title and job roll for this building was undoubtedly because of the building of a new railway station and passenger trains stopping at Bridgend, which would increase the visitors to Bridgend town.

The selected re-location for the pub was a good choice, for the ( new ) Bear was central to other public houses, that were close by the Wyndham arms, the Ship inn, the Leicester house, the Mackworth arms, the Red Lion and the Globe inn.

The Bear at its new location would take advantage of the market days that were held in the street around the old Town hall.

Before 1840 the provision and livestock markets were held in around the streets of the town, the butchers would actually slaughter the animals in the street, and all the gory remains that could not be sold were disposed of in the Ogmore river, which was at the time the main source of water for drinking and everyday domestic use for most the town, some lucky residents had the use of a private well in the garden or inside their house.

In 1837 the provision market was moved from beneath the old town hall and set up on the old tennis courts behind Caroline street, in 1906 the old red brick market Hall was built on the same site, this market was demolished in 1972, and the Rhiw Arcade built in its place, the cattle market moved to Market street, and then moved many years later across the river Ogmore between Quarella Road and Brewery lane where the Tesco’s super store now stands, in 1977 the livestock/cattle market closed in Bridgend and was transferred to Cowbridge town, Cowbridge market closed in late 2020 after more that 200 years.

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( Photo 2 ) . the Bear Hotel, 1906, the hotel is being used as the headquarters for a local M.P., at this time the hotel was no longer running as a public-house.

The Bear Hotel ran from 1830 and possibly later than 1906, in the many years that the hotel was open for business, not a lot had changed structurally, but over the following decades the hotel had been altered for all the different type of business that operated from the premises.

At the Brewster’s Sessions which were held at regular intervals in Bridgend to asses the possibility of granting or removing licences from local public houses, the 1906 session had a very negative view of the Bear hotel, the sessions were attended by the police and local magistrates.

Listed below are the minutes of one such a meeting in 1906, with the Bear Hotel being the topic of conversation.

The Glamorgan Gazette

16th March 1906

BEAR HOTEL, DUNRAVEN-PLACE.

ANTIQUATED AND COMPLICATED.

Mr. R. C. Griffiths appeared on behalf of the owner (Mr. Robert Evans), the licensee (Mr. Thomas Edmonds), and Mr. R. H. Stiles.

The trade was two barrels per week. He contended that the accommodation and disposition of the rooms were bad, and the sanitary arrangements defective. There was a window which opened to premises occupied by Mr. Thomas, draper, and a passage leading to two houses adjoining, which was undesirable.

The premises were difficult for police supervision, and he asked the Bench to say the house was unnecessary, having regard to the fact that there were four licensed houses nearby the Wyndham Arms. Red Lion. Star, and Ship; and the York was a little distance away. Supt. Davis gave evidence bearing out Alderman Hughes's statement. In reply to Mr. Griffiths, he said the Bear was a very old licensed house. Mr. Griffiths: And existed long before many of these modern palaces were thought of?—

Witness: A lot of the houses in Bridgend are old. The Star and the York are practically new houses?—Yes.

In further cross-examination. Supt. Davis said there had been no convictions since he had been in the district, and he only knew of two against it.

The house was used by people who did not live in the vicinity.

The sanitary arrangements were not satisfactory.

The Chairman: It does no credit to any sanitary officer at the present time. Mr. Griffiths: I hope you don't blame our Council, sir. We have two sanitary officers. Alderman Hughes: Mr. Griffiths is the vice-chairman of the Council. Dr. Wyndham Randall described the house as antiquated and extremely complicated. He enumerated rooms which were damp. In cross-examination, he said he would not go so far as to say the house was unfit for habitation. Mr. Griffiths said he was quite prepared, on behalf of the owner, to undertake to carry out such structural improvements as would meet with their worships' approval. The premises had been examined by Mr. P. J. Thomas, but at short notice, as it was not known that objection would be taken on these grounds.

The premises had been under a lease for 21 years, and only came back into the possession of the owner a short time ago. They were instructed by the Urban District Council to carry out sanitary alterations about two years ago, and the work was done in a fortnight.

The Chairman said certain of the magistrates, himself among the number, visited the house, and they were perfectly satisfied that nothing short of rebuilding would meet with their approval. If this were agreed to they would adjourn the case for a fortnight. Mr. Griffiths said it adjourned the case for a month and consented to allow the matter to stand over for a longer period if found possible.

A short list of some of the landlords and landladies of the Bear Hotel.

1842 Thomas Evans.

1858 Margret Evans.

1868 Samuel Evans.

1875 - 1880 Margaret Griffiths.

1900 T Edmonds.

1906 Thomas Edwards.

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( Photo 3 ) . The Bear Hotel on the right side, photo taken in 1906.

A legal situation arose between the landlady Mrs Evans and the Dowager countess of Dunraven in 1853.

The Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian Glamorgan Monmouth and Brecon Gazette

5th March 1853

THE BEAR, BRIDGEND

Much interest has been felt in this town lately respecting some litigation between Mrs. Evans, the owner and landlady of the Bear Inn, and the Dowager Countess of Dunraven.

We understand that, about twelve months ago, an old house, belonging to Lady Dunraven, and adjoining Mrs. Evans's house, was taken down, and that a new house was erected, and that Mrs. Evans complained that her property had been much injured by the reckless manner in which the old house had been taken down, and that some windows, which she claimed to be ancient lights, were obstructed by the erection of the new building; also that a side wall of the Bear Inn, and claimed by Mrs. Evans as her own sole property, had been built upon, and otherwise interfered with, in the erection of Lady Dunraven's new tenement. For the injuries done to Mrs. Evans's property, she brought two actions, one of trespass, for building upon the side wall; and the other on the case, for the injuries done to her house by the taking down of the old house in a reckless manner, whereby the wall which divided the two houses was much shaken and cracked, and for the obstruction of the windows; and Lady Dunraven brought an action of ejectment against Mrs. Evans for recovery of a piece of ground, upon which, it was alleged, a portion of the Bear had, been built about twenty years ago. There were, therefore, three actions pending between the parties, all of which were referred to R. C. Nicholl Carne, Esq., of Nash Manor, barrister-at-law.

The inquiry before Mr. Nicholl Carne was held at the Town-Hall, in Bridgend, on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 7th, 8th, and 21st of February. Mr. Tripp appeared as advocate for Mrs. Evans—attorneys, Messrs. Edmondes and Stockwood, of Cowbridge; and Mr. Lewis appeared for Lady Dunraven.

A great many witnesses were examined on each side, and the last day was almost entirely occupied with the addresses of Mr. Lewis and Mr. Tripp, which were delivered to a crowded Court. The learned arbitrator lost no time in determining the proceedings, for on Tuesday last the news arrived at Bridgend that Messrs. Edmondes and Stockwood had received the award, and that Mrs. Evans had succeeded in the actions on the case and the ejectment, and had been awarded £200 damages in the former action. The action of trespass was decided in favour of the defendant, Lady Dunraven.

£200 in 1853 is equivalent in purchasing power to about £25,539.70 today in 2021.

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When the landlord of the Bear Hotel rang the bell for the very last time, and the last pint of beer served over the bar, the hotel closed its doors forever, it was the end of the building's life as a Hotel, but not the end of the building, after the hotel had closed, other business made use of 14 Dunraven place.

What follows is a list of some of the businesses that have used the hotel in the last 100 years or so.

Cleopatra’s studios, 1906.

A campaign office for a local M.P. (William Brace) 1906.

Comleys Café 1930`s ( Bakers ).

A show room for the local electricity board.

Clays travel agency, 1958.

Boosters Diner (American themed restaurant) 1980.

Apollo stake house 1983.

La Strada ( Italian restaurant ) 2016.

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Today in 2021 the old Bear hotel is empty with its history hidden behind boarded up windows.

The Bear is one of 81 listed buildings in the Bridgend area.

History

Grade 2 listed building.

Early C19;

Exterior

Extensively altered. 3-storey, 2-window, scribed stucco pedimented front; moulded cornice continuous with Nos 16 and 18, plain entavlature, broad ebd pilaster strips and cill band. Slate roof and rubble chimney stack. Sash windows to 2nd floor

modern full width 1st floor window and modern shopfront.

Rough cast cross range to right.

At the front of the building the two original bay windows on the first floor were replaced with six separate windows that ran along the complete length of the first floor from wall to wall, and at a later date the windows were replace once again, with three separate windows which replaced the six windows, after 1906 the porch at the front entrance was removed and never replaced.

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( Photo 4 ) . The Bear Hotel .

( Photo 5 ) An advert for Clay Travel, showing how the Bear looked in the 1970`s-80`s, taken from the Glamorgan Gazette.

( Photo 6 ) . The Bear Hotel today in DEC 2021.