The Three 'Uns'

The were three public houses in Fairburn'. Locally these have been known as the 'three uns.' There is the ' Top', 'Middle' and 'Far' un. This indicates that the Top pub was the one at the top side of the village, with the Middle one been located in the centre of the village and the Far one being located at the far outer edge of the village.

The Wagon and Horses. (The Top un)

The Three Horse Shoes (The Middle Un)

From the title deeds it appears that the first record of a transaction affecting this property was dated the 4th January, 1785, being a conveyance from William Sharp to Richard Nicholson, at which time the property was referred to as a "dwellinghouse and shoemakers shop". A further conveyance took place on the 24th March, 1798, when the Property was sold to James Thompson, Edward Williamson and Thomas Jackson; the description being of two dwellinghouses, a blacksmith and outbuildings. The first reference to the property as a public house arises in 1868, when, on the 12th june of that year, the property was sold to Henry Roundell. It was aquired by John Smiths on the 16th June 1896. One room in the 'Middle 'un was christened "10 Downning Street" because some of the local business men congregated in there.

Ladies toilets were not built onto the 'Middle 'un until 1960. Up until then the women had to go through the living quarters and upstairs to the bathroom.

The bodies which had fallen into the river or who had committed suicide were brought up to the village and put in the stables in the pub yard to be washed down by Jackie Waitling who lived next door.

The Bay Horse. (The "Far Un")

This pub was originally located closer to the centre of the village. The is known as the Old Bay Horse and is now a residential address, but the metal bar that held the pubs sign can still be seen featured on the outside of the building. The Bay Horse has since been demololished and replaced by flats which now overlooks the recreation field and the ings

Before the first world war pubs used to open at six o'clock in the morning to enable pit men to "slack the dust" on their way home. The men would smoke and chew twist (tobacco) and so they had spittoons on the tap room floors filled with sawdust (dirty job cleaning them out). Table legs were black leaded, and customers were waited on at the tables. Just tapping the glass on the table was enough to let you know a refill was required. They would often be playing cards or dominoes, a gill of beer being the stake. Often women used to buy a jug of beer to take out, some hid the jugs under their harden aprons as women didn't go in pubs so much in the early 20th century but went in more when husbands and friends came home on leave. Pianos featured prominently and good old sing songs were enjoyed by all - especially on Sundays when the evening often ended singing favourite hymns. In the early days Saturday nights often ended with arguments and fights after too much drink, a night in the lock up soon cooled them down.

A gathering of Friends - from the Quieter Days

The Wagon & Horses Today

The Three Horse Shoes PH

The Old Bay

The Far 'Un'