About
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FROMEWAY
Built in the 1820s, The Fromeway is constructed from white lias stone that much of the local housing is made. A building typical of the area, The Fromeway has served the local mining community for years, Radstock being the centre of the now defunct Somerset coalfield. Our families have also been in the area for just as long, and it’s running a pub that we’re best at!
Now The Fromeway sees its sixth generation of the Denning family taking the reins, and although a lot’s changed, Emily and Andrew extend a warm welcome as the latest members of the family to offer hospitality at The Fromeway.
The Denning family has been associated with The Fromeway since about 1850. Emily Denning’s (current proprietor) great great great grandfather Solomon Ruddick is known to have lived here then and her great great grandmother Emily was also born here in 1853.
In 1872 the first Emily married a local coal miner, Thomas Denning who became the licensee and butcher. The premises in those days was primarily a butchers with slaughterhouse and a small bar to serve beer and cider to the local coal mining community of which Radstock was the centre. It was a tiny part of the premises and was known as the Huish Lane Beer Shop. On Thomas’ death in 1912, they traded as Denning Brothers, still the company name today. As late as 1974, the Dennings slaughtered their animals on the premises but with increased restrictions and legislation on small abattoirs this practice eventually became too unwieldy to continue.
Emily’s grandfather Jim Denning, took over the premises from his uncle Fred in 1939.
In his own words recorded many years ago :-
“I took a licensed House called The Fromeway Inn on 30th September 1939, a bachelor. At the age of 26 on the 25th January 1941, I was married at Radstock Parish church to Guillow Evelyn Porter, aged 22 years.
At September 1939, I sold 40 gals draught Cider, and 41/2 gals of draught bitter every week. My rent was £34 a year, paid to the Oakhill Brewery. The rates were £12 half year at that time. After a few alterations, I was licensed to sell wines and beers. Later I was granted a full license for wines, spirits and beers, then my rates and license was very much increased. I used to slaughter all of my animals for the butchers business and make sausages, faggots, tripe and chitterlings.”
John joined his parents in running the business in 1962, eventually taking over the licence in 1976 and buying the premises from Courage brewery and butchering (and slaughtering) with his father in the shop. Also in 1976, John met Hilary being introduced to each other by one of John’s customers, Terry Seal. They married in 1977 and continued the family business , bringing up two daughters, Hannah and Emily.
In 1990, the biggest change to the premises took place when the Butcher’s shop, much of the old and defunct slaughterhouse, cattle stalls and preparation area was demolished and in its place was built a restaurant, bar, kitchen, new, larger Butcher’s shop, and three en-suite guest bedrooms. A hard working ethos had to dominate The Fromeway with the busy times that came, and John & Hilary were successful in keeping afloat through hard economic times during which many other pubs did not survive.
In 2015, Emily decided she would like to take on The Fromeway and push it forward into the 21st century meaning there has been a Denning at The Fromeway for almost 170 years. John and Hilary are now retired.
