South Yorkshire Times November 29, 1969

The New Look Junction Inn

Completed aptly just in time for Christmas, the traditional pantomime season there is a touch of “Aladdin” about extensive renovations at Junction Inn, Brampton.

“New pub, for old might well be the cry, because from what was an almost derelict and old-fashioned house has emerged an ultra-modern hostelry fate for a fairy queen.

Not with any stretch of magnanimity could this place have been said previously to have had much traction. It was lacking in facilities, had an inconvenient little service bar, and was not the sort of place a man might choose to take the girl in his life. But now all that has changed.

Alteration work which has been in progress since Easter of this year has turned it into one of the nicest and pleasantest houses in the district, and is one of which the Barnsley Brewer’ Company can be proud. Net only has it been given a complete “face lift” outside, but it is almost unrecognisable inside.

Combining the best of both Worlds, the public house has, been given an “olde world exterior appearance (this not to be confused with its former guise of merely being old fashioned) and the interior has taken on a contemporary style.

Standing on the edge of a newly developed three Lane carriageway extending from West Melton, through Brampton to Wombwell, the house is a welcoming appearance to attract “passing” trade.

The new highway means that Junction In stands just back off the main thoroughfare, and is reached by a service road which all adds to safety from the road safety aspect.

White painted exterior walls and blue shuttered windows, and “Olde England” beckons daily. Though different in character, the inside is equally attractive. Reorganisation of existing accommodation has resulted in a superb arrangement difficult to reconcile with the previous set-up.

What was downstairs living accommodation has been included in the public rooms, and Tiring quarters have been converted from what was originally a large bathroom and four bedrooms on the first floor.

Two Into One

Previous alterations to the premises had allowed for two rooms to be knocked into one, making a “best'” for there has been an “all-change” in that what was the best room has been adapted as a public the former tap room bar is now a luxurious furnished lounge.

Tasteful decorations and fittings in the lounge are centred round a colour scheme of shades of tan. A modern patterned carpet blends with seats and and matching bar padding, and concealed lighting is complevented  subdued coloured wall lights. An attractive stone fireplace is topped by a copper canopy. A teak-fitted central bar serves both rooms.

Although the definite date of the erection of this house is not known, it is thought to have been built in the very early I800’s. It did not bear the name of Junction Inn until about 100 years ago.

Early patrons of the house could not have predicted progress in all spheres which would take place in much less than two centuries. Not only is this virtually a completely different building, but its whole concept and setting has changed. Even a field years ago, when motorists had to encounter a really bumpy passage over a railway crossing almost adjacent to the house, the newly-installed type of Continental crossing was barely envisaged.

The road on which it stands would also be unrecognisable to “exiles” returning to this area, a narrow road, which included Knollbeck Bridge, a canal bridge, an uneven railway crossing, and a bad hump back bridge, all within a short distance, being replaced with a three lane carriageway capable of taking the heavy volume of traffic encountered on today’s roads.

Some of that traffic—in addition to many “locals” who make the Junction Inn their favourite “stopping place”‘—will be unable to resist the call of this bright, tasteful, hostelry.

Licensee are Mr. Arthur Ogden, a bred-and-horn Bramptonian, and his wife, Kathleen. When they moved into the Junction Inn almost 12 months ago, they could not have foreseen that within such a short time they would he living in what might he described as ‘another world”.

In order that the work could be carried out Mr. and Mrs. Ogden have had to put up with it lot of inconvenience—not to mention the dirt—but they are both agreed that the “end product” makes in all worthwhile.