The History of The Odd Whim

No hard evidence has been found to date to indicate that John Wroe had the building now know as the Odd Whim public house built. It was not mentioned in the TV series about John Wroe as the production team also found no evidence of John Wroe being associated with the building. The building was Grade 2 listed late in 2003 allegedly without any contact being made to advise the present owner of the property of proposals to have the building listed. One should note that English Heritage have a check list for listing a building; none of the criteria on the check list appear to have met. As far as can be established one individual (who allegedly has never been inside the building) some how got the listing of the building rushed through. The building is of no historic value, none of the interior features remain and over the years the exterior of the building has been extensively modified; possibly only two walls of the building are original. If it can be proved that John Wroe had the building built the residents of Ashton surely will be proud of the fact that they have a building saved from demolition but who cares? (one needs to look into John Wroe's history and why he had to leave!? Ashton).

THE ALLEGED HISTORY OF THE ODD WHIM:
In the 1820s a Mr Wroe, founder of the Christian Israelite Church, made Ashton his headquarters and wanted to build a wall around the town, which he believed was the site of the New Jerusalem. Four gatehouses were planned, Mr Wroe's cult wanted the gatehouse near Ashton Barracks.
KNOWN HISTORY:
The building was sold to John Saxon in 1837, who turned it into a public house called the Odd Whim. The pub’s licensees were also its owners until Thomas Shaw‘s executors passed it on to Joseph Shaw in 1891. Six years later brewer I H Lees took over. Walker & Homfray’s purchased the Odd Whim in 1923, and they merged with Wilson’s Brewery in 1949. The pub was renamed the STAMFORD PARK HOTEL around 1880, and it remained as such until 1971, when the original name was reinstated. Today the Odd Whim is a Free House.

For more information on John Wroe his association with the Southcottians and possibly the Odd Whim and  Click Here   (Opens in a New Window, Close the Window to return to this Page).