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By Bill Exley
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The Salutation (on the left) circa 1906
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The Salutation 2003
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The Salutation public house is a grand building situated just along High Street in the centre of Blunham village. The pub name outside is one of the oldest in England, its origin dating back to horsemen taking a stirrup - cup or Salutary drink in days of old. ( L. Salus, health or Salutare, to wish health to.) During my researches it was found that the original name was 'The Ragged Staff', changing to 'The Salutation' during 1768 for reasons unknown. Here follows a listing of Occupiers to date, derived from records researched at Bedford Archives and information supplied by Greene King, Brewers of fine Ales.
| Edmund Turner 1st known occupant of 'The Ragged Staff' | |
| Samuel and Anne Osbourne | 16th October 1646 |
| Anne Osbourne, widow later admitted | |
| Richard Orlebar | 1759 |
| Henry Dennis (Now The Salutation) | 20th July 1768 |
| Thom and Rachel. Bassett | 13th April 1802 |
| Rachel Bassett | 1822 |
| Thom. Clarkson | 1827 |
| Geo. Thomas Scruby | 22nd September 1836 |
| Thom. Nicholls | 15th August 1844 |
| Joseph Lovell | 25th June 1845 |
| Wm. Scruby | 7th May 1849 |
| W.J. Nash was the landlord at this time | |
| Sam. Mardlin | in 1854 |
| James, John Baker | 1869 |
| Jane, James | 1872 |
| Wm. Jeffries | 1873 |
| Chas. and Wm. Howard | 1874 |
| The first licence is granted to Wm. Howard | in 1877 |
| Chas. Penwright | 5th August 1881 |
| Newland now joins up with a Susan Nash as owners. | |
| Chas Henry Clarke | 1888 |
| Wm. Fuller | 1896 |
| Fredrick Geo. Howe | 1898 |
| Newlands and Nash still in control. | |
| Wm Hill | 1906 |
| Wm. Thom. Davey | 1910 |
| Mrs Davey, widow | 1933 |
| Wm. Hawkins, comes down from the 'White Horse' | 13th June 1934 |
| Wells and Winch take over in | 1938 |
| Harry Hawkins (son) | 29th March 1950 |
| Frank Payne | 11th May 1955 |
| Alec Taylor | 16th July 1958 |
| moves up to the White Horse | 11th January 1961 |
| Arthur Cammack, change over to Greene King here | 27th January 1961 |
| Dora, Beatrice Edwards | 17th August1961 |
| Tom and Margaret Curzon | 5th September 1962 |
| Barry, Magella Thompson | 4th April 1965 |
| Ed., Mavis Randall | 1st February 1967 |
| Jas. Collier | 1st November 1972 |
| Brian, Pauline Fox | 6th January 1982 |
| Robin, Beryl Cowley | 27th March 1985 |
| Roy and Susan Walsh, move from 'White Horse' | 11th November 1986 |
| 350 years of History this day | 2nd October 1996 |
| Geo. Mc.Arthur | 11th June 1998 |
| Mike, Lyn Jupp | 27th July 1999 |
| Bill & Andrea Smith | 26th February 2004 |
| Keith Graham & Louise Jackson | 10th August 2005 |
| Paul & Jamie Mead | 19th June 2007 |
| Brendan Clifford (manager) | 20th January 2008 |
| Michael and Victoria Crooks | 20th March 2008 |
The Salutation was 8 High Street at one time
Page last updated 27th April 2008 by Colin Hinson/Bill Exley.