The
Wolf at Dedworth
(Latterly
The Maypole)
The Maypole pub in Dedworth Road, known
to the locals as The Wolf, was demolished by Nicholas King Homes
in early 2003. They illegally worked on Saturday afternoon and
Sunday.
There had been a pub on the site for at least 240
years. It had always been known as The Wolf apart from in
the last ten years when it was known first as The Dedworth Arms and
then The Maypole. It had been the identity of the village
of Dedworth.
Since then the developer has put in six applications
to build flats on the site. The first two applications were for
34 flats in a four-storey building which would have meant a huge
and unsightly block in the middle of Dedworth, higher than the
Church across the road and dwarfing the bungalows already on
the site.
The council failed to come to a decision on this
in the allotted time and so the developers have appealed to the
Deputy Prime Minister. His office has arranged a public enquiry
on 3rd and 4th February
at the Maidenhead Room, Guildhall, Windsor, from 10 am. Please turn up to support the villagers.
The council later produced a document with nine reasons
why they would have refused the application. The council is to
be congratulated on this, but it has not deterred the developers.
Subsequent applications have been put in for 31 and
26 flats. These would still produce a horrendous monstrosity
which would dominate the skyline of Dedworth and would be out
of keeping with the area. The site should not be used for more
than about a dozen flats and on two floors only.
But it was not a site where there was housing before.
It was there for leisure use. It was not just a pub. It was a
meeting place, a restaurant, and the Church held its Summer Fair
there. The Motorcycle Action Group met there. So why should there
be flats there at all?
Demolition begins
Demolition continues
The demolition
is completed
Our thanks are due to PM
for preparing this article and supplying the photographs.
Residents wishing to comment
on the development are invited to 'post' their views here on
the Windsor Forum, anonymously if you wish. Selected contributions
may be placed on these pages to form a permanent record.
We would welcome your memories
about The Wolf in years gone by.
Update 6th March 2004
The inspector turned down
the appeal and the developers will not be allowed to build 34
flats. However, they have now appealed on their other applications
for 31 flats and there will be another public enquiry at the Guildhall on 22nd June.
There was only one reason that it was turned down. The impact
of the building on the surrounding area. He thought that transport
was adequate. He doesn't live here!
The flats were eventually
completed in 2005.
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