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History Of Wendover
| People say they return to Rossinis for the surroundings in which
they enjoy such good food and service. When constructing this site we discovered
some interesting photos and facts so we thought a history page
might wet your appetite to visit us if Mike's Menus haven't done so already. | |
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There has been a settlement in Wendover
through the Neolithic and Bronze age eras and even the Romans got up
to some mischief in and around the surrounding countryside at the expense
of King Cymbeline. |
| The earliest mention of Wendover was in the will of Aelfheah
of Hampshire and Wiltshire who had lands in Waendofron (The bank of
the Winding Stream). By 1086 and the Doomsday Book Wendoure was a manor
of Royal demise held by Edward the Confessor who passed it onto William
the Conqueror and was listed as being 2880 acres with 26 ploughs, 2
Mills and sufficient Woodland to feed 2000 swine and was valued at £38. |
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Wendover has always been an established spot for enjoying
good food and ale and by the 12 th century records show that
1 in 8 of every Inn or Ale House in the entire country was in
Wendovere. By the 16 th century records indicated that throughout
the land there was one pub for every 400 people; in Wendover
that ratio was closer to 1 for every 50! |
| The first record we have of Rossini's is dated 1754.
William Dancer was landlord of the Two Brewers, it is
very likely that
the pub existed
50-100 years prior to this date
if you consider the ratio above which we know to be
correct. |
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| William died in 1774 but before he did a complete inventory
of the pub was made which gives a description and value of
the contents room by room. There was a separate brew house
containing copper bowls, wort tubs and boiler. In the cellar
were 7 hogs heads, 4 barrels and 2 puncheons (120 gallons)
giving a total storage of over 700 gallons. The value of contents
for the whole building was £72 for which beer accounted £20. |
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Williams wife
Elizabeth took over the Two Brewers but obviously found controlling 17 th
century drinkers to challenging and she sold the pub to Edward Mead in 1779.
In the 1960's The Two Brewers was knocked through to the Swan next door
and became The Swan and Brewers. |
Rossini occupied 20 High Street in 1999. During our first five
years we have restored most of the restaurant using, where possible, the same
materials used in the original construction.
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We feel proud to be the latest in a long line of tenants who use these four
walls to provide the people of Wendover with good food and drink and hope that
your memories become just as much a part of the building as the millions of
people who have passed through before you.
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