OD Harris’ Memories of Northey Arms Alan Payne May 2024
The pub entrance from the A4 ionce caled Station Road (courtesy Box Parish Council)
Most Box people know the story of actress Maisie Gay running the Northey Arms public house between 1932 and 1935. Officially, it was tenanted by Maisie’s partner, Oscar Drewe Harris, her manager and financial partner, as well as living as her husband in Box. After Maisie’s death in 1945, Oscar stayed at Whirligig, Kingsdown, and in 1962 gave his memories of running the pub.[1] These extracts show a lot about life in the 1930s.
Distinguished Visitors
OD Harris was keen to name drop members of the nobility who drank in the Northey Arms:
“We never lacked interesting visitors thanks to Maisie’s barrier-breaking bonhomie. Our guests would have gladdened the heart of a gossip writer. There was Major-General Sir Edward Northey, formerly Governor of Kenya. He was a young and alert 70-year-old. Both the Major-General and Sir John Middleton (who married a Miss Northey)[2] could talk of the old Gaiety days and a West End uninvaded by motors and movies.
The late Lady Roper Wright of Bath[3] was introduced to us by Mrs Gilbert Laye, mother of our Evelyn known to us as Boo.[4] She came occasionally for a cocktail and thought it very naughty. Her Ladyship reproved me for referring to Maisie’s as a pub. She always spoke of it as an hostelry. The Hon Lady Lettice Cooper also popped in to see Maisie.[5] Her visits were a joy. Lady Edmondstone stayed with us more than once. Her husband had been Governor of Jamaica and it was he who signed my commission when I joined the British West Indies Regiment in World War One. Holland Hibbert, later Earl Knutsford, was a casual caller.
Other visitors included Captain the Hon Tim Brassey and his pretty wife, niece of the great sporting peer Lord Lonsdale. Mrs Brassey was a Churchill, sister of Peter Spencer, author of The Bus Rush, a 10-minute sketch in mime. Maisie played a role in it in a Cochran revue. There was only one word spoken in the entire scene. This was when Maisie, staggering underneath Christmas shopping, was jostled, elbowed and prevented from boarding by a disorderly crowd. She was weakly able to call “Taxi”. Strangely, Oscar did not mention the name of Noel Coward, who was possibly more friendly with Maisie.
Drinking Hours
Running a pub clearly brough Odee into contact with people keen to meet up with the world of theatre:
“At first there used to be a great deal of talking for effect and showing off in the lounge when time was called. But never was the house cleared in more orderly fashion and with better grace than by the boys in the public bar. A car would draw up as the house was emptying and in would dash a man, gasping as if he had just run a couple of miles. He would say, I’m only a couple of minutes late. I’ve driven 20 miles to get here. Can’t you let me have one? I was sympathetic but adamant. The fellow has yet to be born who could get a drink out of hours at Maisie Gay’s.“
Pilferages
Some of the people in the pub clearly wanted souvenirs of their time:
“Dealing with the best and worst of thirsty mortals develops a dry sense of humour. A publican needed to laugh off the petty pilfering that goes on. Ashtrays were looked upon as fair game. Electric light bulbs, brushes combs, towels etc were freely annexed by casual callers. If a fellow took a fancy to an ashtray, he might occasionally say “When you’ve got one to spare ..”. I was so pleased that a customer had asked and I generally found time to wrap it up for him. Once I looked in the mirror and saw a customer putting one of my ashtrays into his pocket. I took him a sheet of brown paper and said to him, “Do let me wrap it up for you. It’s so much nicer to take it home that way.” He downed his sherry in one and left hurriedly.
Far more serious was the wholesale stealing of glasses and tankards. I once stopped a car on its way out of the car park to ask for the tankards I knew to be inside. While the driver indignantly denied having anything to declare, his passengers heaved the mugs out of the window on the other side.”
OD Harris was keen to name drop members of the nobility who drank in the Northey Arms:
“We never lacked interesting visitors thanks to Maisie’s barrier-breaking bonhomie. Our guests would have gladdened the heart of a gossip writer. There was Major-General Sir Edward Northey, formerly Governor of Kenya. He was a young and alert 70-year-old. Both the Major-General and Sir John Middleton (who married a Miss Northey)[2] could talk of the old Gaiety days and a West End uninvaded by motors and movies.
The late Lady Roper Wright of Bath[3] was introduced to us by Mrs Gilbert Laye, mother of our Evelyn known to us as Boo.[4] She came occasionally for a cocktail and thought it very naughty. Her Ladyship reproved me for referring to Maisie’s as a pub. She always spoke of it as an hostelry. The Hon Lady Lettice Cooper also popped in to see Maisie.[5] Her visits were a joy. Lady Edmondstone stayed with us more than once. Her husband had been Governor of Jamaica and it was he who signed my commission when I joined the British West Indies Regiment in World War One. Holland Hibbert, later Earl Knutsford, was a casual caller.
Other visitors included Captain the Hon Tim Brassey and his pretty wife, niece of the great sporting peer Lord Lonsdale. Mrs Brassey was a Churchill, sister of Peter Spencer, author of The Bus Rush, a 10-minute sketch in mime. Maisie played a role in it in a Cochran revue. There was only one word spoken in the entire scene. This was when Maisie, staggering underneath Christmas shopping, was jostled, elbowed and prevented from boarding by a disorderly crowd. She was weakly able to call “Taxi”. Strangely, Oscar did not mention the name of Noel Coward, who was possibly more friendly with Maisie.
Drinking Hours
Running a pub clearly brough Odee into contact with people keen to meet up with the world of theatre:
“At first there used to be a great deal of talking for effect and showing off in the lounge when time was called. But never was the house cleared in more orderly fashion and with better grace than by the boys in the public bar. A car would draw up as the house was emptying and in would dash a man, gasping as if he had just run a couple of miles. He would say, I’m only a couple of minutes late. I’ve driven 20 miles to get here. Can’t you let me have one? I was sympathetic but adamant. The fellow has yet to be born who could get a drink out of hours at Maisie Gay’s.“
Pilferages
Some of the people in the pub clearly wanted souvenirs of their time:
“Dealing with the best and worst of thirsty mortals develops a dry sense of humour. A publican needed to laugh off the petty pilfering that goes on. Ashtrays were looked upon as fair game. Electric light bulbs, brushes combs, towels etc were freely annexed by casual callers. If a fellow took a fancy to an ashtray, he might occasionally say “When you’ve got one to spare ..”. I was so pleased that a customer had asked and I generally found time to wrap it up for him. Once I looked in the mirror and saw a customer putting one of my ashtrays into his pocket. I took him a sheet of brown paper and said to him, “Do let me wrap it up for you. It’s so much nicer to take it home that way.” He downed his sherry in one and left hurriedly.
Far more serious was the wholesale stealing of glasses and tankards. I once stopped a car on its way out of the car park to ask for the tankards I knew to be inside. While the driver indignantly denied having anything to declare, his passengers heaved the mugs out of the window on the other side.”
Kathleen Harris (no relation) remembered events at The Northey Arms in the 1930s. She recalled ”Mr and Mrs West who lived at Jefferies Cottage had a wireless set and on occasions neighbours would be invited to listen in. I remember going there to hear a broadcast from the Northey Arms at Box. The landlady, Maisie Gay, an ex-music-hall artiste, had gathered together some old friends including Eveline Laye, to make up a programme. The Box vicar, the Reverend George Foster, was Master of Ceremonies. Hearing his familiar voice and the songs and repartee of the stars gave the Old Jockey folk great pleasure. Oscar Drewe Harris lived locally until his death in 1975.
References
[1] Bath & Wilts Evening Chronicle, 2 February 1962
[2] Mabel Northey, daughter of George Wilbraham Northey of Ashley Manor
[3] Wife of Sir John Roper Wright, a steel manufacturer, created a baronet in 1920
[4] Maisie great friend Evelyn Laye, actress and singer
[5] Lady Lettice Ashley-Cooper was a 1920s socialite and airwoman, linked at times to marry Edward VIII
[1] Bath & Wilts Evening Chronicle, 2 February 1962
[2] Mabel Northey, daughter of George Wilbraham Northey of Ashley Manor
[3] Wife of Sir John Roper Wright, a steel manufacturer, created a baronet in 1920
[4] Maisie great friend Evelyn Laye, actress and singer
[5] Lady Lettice Ashley-Cooper was a 1920s socialite and airwoman, linked at times to marry Edward VIII