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The Tumble Down Dick is a public house in Farnborough, Hampshire, UK. Parts of the building are believed to date back to the 16th Century, and it was listed by the County Council in the 1980s as a Hampshire treasure. It has been closed since 2008, and was sold to McDonalds in 2012

History of The Tumble Down Dick Pub
The Tumble Down Dick has been in operation as an Hotel, Public House and Posting House on the A325 Farnborough Road since the 16th century, and was the central focus of the town before its 19th century refocus toward North Camp and Farnborough town centre's 20th century development. Local traditions link the pub's name with various historical figures including Richard Cromwell, Richard III and Dick Turpin.

The current building reflects changes over this extended period and the main structure consists of several phases of which three can be readily identified :

16th Century (First Development Phase)
The Tumble Down Dick is believed to have been built prior to 1600 with a building being placed there in 1674 and a small portion of the front of the original building remaining at the rear of the pub

17th Century
It was used in the billeting of troops in transit from no later than 1696, continuing until at least 1756 which may very well be the first literary evidence for the amalgamation of the Army under Charles II. It shows that for the purposes of the Army there were five beds and stabling for five Horses and is the start of the continued relationship between the Army and the Tumble Down Dick.

18th Century (Second Development Phase)
The 18th century phase, as recorded by Thomas Rowlandson in his watercolour ‘the Posting House Tumble Down Dick’ circa 1782-4, can still be seen at the rear of the current property as indicated by the Council’s Heritage Assessment and still plays a significant part in the structural integrity of the current building.

It was during the 18th Century that The Tumble Down Dick was first used as a post house and was described at the time as a hub of the community with its surroundings (the small park of Squire Wilmot) and distinctive sign of a man falling off drunk from his chair being mentioned in 1782 by the Hon. John Byng (later the 5th Viscount of Torrington) in his book The Torrington Diaries.

It was visited and painted by Thomas Rowlandson in 1782.

The Tumble Down Dick in addition to Farnborough Place and St Peter’s Church are then recorded in 1759 on Taylor’s large scale map and on Milne’s map of 1791.

19th Century (Third Development Phase)
The Old Bailey Proceedings of December 1819 include reference to the Tumble Down Dick in a case of highway robbery against the driver of a post chaise. The indicted Peter Rainer, aged nineteen years, was sentenced to death.

It was against this backdrop in 1853 the then famous author Elizabeth Wormeley Latimer includes references to Farnborough in her book Anabel; A family history. Again in England in the nineteenth century she describes the locality and recalls: “Among the queer names of roadside inns that I have seen in that neighborhood was one called Tumble-Down Dick, in derision of Richard Cromwell .”

George (Bourne) Sturt recorded his father’s life and early memories in and around Farnborough, in his book A Farmer’s Life. in which he describes the Tumbledown Dick as a "Posting Inn" with Stagecoaches and road wagons (the predecessor of the locomotive train) all stopping there on their way between Southampton and London. He also recalls that in his childhood he dimly remembered the old sign showed a man in top-boots, with pipe and glass, falling under a table which was (at the request of the Army) changed after the Crimean war into a falling “Hussar”. He also tells us that this was the scene of a fish market for Farnborough and the neighbourhood.

There are some surviving records for the manorial courts for the Manor of Farnborough dating back to the 16th century. As late as 1862 the Tumble Down Dick was being used as the place were these Courts Baron and Customary Courts were held, George Morant Esquire being the Lord of Manor at this time. It is of interest to note it was not until some years after purchasing the estate that Morant became Lord of the Manor and to note the origin of his fortune

Aside from the paying of rents and Coroner’s inquests, the Tumble Down Dick was a place for local people and visitors to celebrate and be entertained from post-match meals for cricket teams to grand celebrations for Royal events. Court Alexandra, number 4151 of The Ancient Order of Foresters was formed in 1863 and held Courts at the Tumble Down Dick from 1871 to 1906, numbering some 297 local people.

Important land and property sales were both advertised and held at the Tumble Down Dick including the sale of Farnborough Place and Park and the Tumble Down itself in 1861

Of particular note in the sales particulars of the building in 1861 is the reference to the “soldiers’ room above”. It is apparent that the Military still used the Tumble Down Dick as a billet. Even with the Army now at Aldershot there was still a requirement for accommodations in Farnborough. The presence of Military personnel is recorded in censuses. As late as 1891 the census records two Corporals (one with his family) and a Private, serving at that time in the Mounted Military Police, in the Tumble Down cottage accommodation. This affiliated building (possibly the same one seen in the background of Thomas Rowlandson’s watercolour) indicates that there was still a minor base at the start of the turnpike at this late period.

20th & 21st Century
The 20th Century saw the Tumble Down Dick continue as a resource for the local population as a meeting place, a public house, an hotel, and place of entertainment.

From the 20th century and into the 21st The Tumbledown Dick was the focal place in Farnborough for musical expression and entertainment with many live bands starting their musical careers or touring the UK including, most notably, Mega City Four, Reuben , Hundred Reasons plus Paul Weller and The Jam.

Closure in 2008
On health and safety grounds the premises was subject to voluntary closure on 14th February 2008 by Punch Taverns with a view to a major refurbishment being undertaken. To date the business has remained closed.

Proposed demolition
The Tumbledown Dick and nearby Firgrove Parade were purchased by Bride Hall Investments and McDonald's on 7th August 2012 and are subject to pre-application planning consultations which propose the demolition of The Tumbledown Dick to be replaced by a McDonald's drive through restaurant. To date no formal planning application has been submitted to Rushmoor Borough Council.

Friends of The Tumble Down Dick
On 19 October 2012, a community group known as The Friends of the Tumbledown Dick was established to raise local awareness and to mount a legal challenge to the demolition of The Tumble Down Dick pub with the aim of eventually purchasing the property and re-opening it as a community run pub. Several protests have been mounted by the group with considerable interest from local and regional media outlets and thousands of local residents have signed a petition and have produced several protest songs.

The Turley Report
In December 2012, Rushmoor Borough Council published a report commissioned by Turley Associates to carry out research and an inspection of the building, to report their findings and to assess the building against the criteria used by English Heritage when considering if a building is worthy of listing and to be used as supporting information if the Council received a planning application. The report concluded against the listing The Tumbledown Dick.

The Friends of the Tumbledown Dick Heritage Report
In response to the Turley Report, The 'Friends of the Tumble Down Dick' have commissioned and published their own heritage report into the historical value of the pub. . Claiming the Turley report to be 'fundamentally flawed', their report has been produced with the aim of supplementing the Turley report for English Heritage's decision on whether to list the building, and to be used as supporting information for an objection if the Council receives a planning application.