30 - Cuckoo Pub Inn, Leake Road

The present Cuckoo Bush was built in 1858 in the same place as an earlier one. It was originally run by the PRHA (Peoples Refreshment House Association). Of course its name and sign are synonymous with one of the Gotham Tales. In 1794 a Friendly Society used to meet there. In 1826, 339 valuable timber trees standing in Gotham Wood were sold there by the agent of Earl Howe who owned the wood.

Mrs Woolley, the landlady at the time was sometimes in trouble with the local magistrates over her licence. The Talbots were other early tenants and the road running alongside the pub to four houses at the rear has been called a variety of names including Talbot’s Lane, Yeoman’s Lane, Dabell’s Lane, etc dependent on who lived there at the time. It is still unadopted but called Orchard Street.