history
the five arrows hotel
Bought by Ferdinand de Rothschild in 1874 from the Duke of Marlborough as part of the Waddesdon Estate and at that point called the Marlborough Arms Inn it was described in the 1874 Sale Particulars as:
“comprising two attics, seven bedrooms, two parlours, large bar, tap room, Club room, kitchen, wash-house, dairy, larder, cellar and the following outbuildings – coach-house, stables fro four horses, three loose boxes and loft over, brew-house, granary, Gig-House, piggeries, yard, garden.” And including over twenty acres of grazing land. The tenants in 1874 were William Tomkins and W. Cooper who paid £94 rent per annum.
By 1877 the name had been changed to the Five Arrows and the Innkeeper is listed as George Cockerill, from Shadwell in Leicestershire, living there with his wife and niece. He is the landlord until at least 1883.
The current building was built in 1887 by W F Taylor of Bierton, in an Old English Domestic, half-timbered style that mimicked that of George Devey, architect of the Pavilion. At this point the landlord was Henry Turnham, son of an Aylesbury publican. Henry Turnham remains the landlord until about 1925.
In the 1887 Kelly’s Directory the following description is given: “The Five Arrows Hotel, now being rebuilt of local stone and red-brick with Monk’s Park Stone dressings, in the Old English Domestic style, will include concert and audit rooms, a dining room seating 100 persons, commercial and bath rooms, and 10 spacious bedrooms: there are two entrances with smoking balconies over each: the stables and yard buildings are in the same style as the house.”
Later a garage and inspection pit were added and in 1928 the Hotel is described as being an RAC appointed, first class family and commercial hotel with garage, tyre stockists, petrol pumps and repairs. The Hotel therefore fulfilled a wide role in the life of the village also providing a hire car and taxi service to meet the train from Aylesbury.