Chelmsford’s Ghost Pubs - Bird in Hand
For this month’s episode of tavern time travel we’re heading back to the early 1970s. It’s a Monday evening and we’ve walked down Upper Bridge Road before turning right into New Writtle Street. Chelmsford City are playing at home this evening and we’re heading to the match. The glow of the floodlights intensifies the anticipation but with 45 minutes to spare we’ve got time to pop into the Bird in Hand to contemplate the match over a couple of pints. We’re served by former City player and manager, Peter Harburn who runs the pub with his wife Josie. After downing our pints we’ll head over the road to go through the turnstiles to enter the ground before turning left and making our way to our customary spot behind the goal on the Wolseley Road terrace.
Some twenty-five years later the Bird in Hand regularly hosted gigs and local favourites, The Warehouse Blues Band, entertained the local punters on many occasions. Lead guitarist Alec has relayed his memories of one particular evening in the late 90s. The scene includes a fella sitting on a stool at the bar, in walks another regular who duly punches the fella in the face knocking him to the floor. A brawl ensues, the band’s amp goes flying and is damaged, guitars are hastily unplugged and shoved into their cases. Calm is eventually restored and the pugilists dust themselves down then offer sincere apologies to the band for the fracas and damage.
On another occasion, Clive (keyboard and vocals) recalls a chap - a little worse for wear - heading outside through one door only to make an entrance a few minutes later via another door, minus his clothes – all of ‘em!
The band have many a fond memory of playing at the Bird and recall one particular night when the pub clientele’s sizeable Irish contingent started to insist, rather vociferously, they play some traditional Irish singalong standards. “Do you know any Irish jigs? Play one by the end or it’s the end of you.”
The scene conjures up images of The Blues Brothers behind the chicken wire at Bob’s Country Bunker. How they got out unscathed I don’t know because I’m certain they’d never previously attempted a rendition of The Wild Rover.
Sadly, the Bird in Hand’s last pint was pulled around 2020 and the premises have since been converted to residential use.