THE JOLLY FARMERS (GREAT FEN ROAD)

9 Great Fen Road, Soham, Cambridgeshire, CB7 5

In 1879 according to that year's Post Office directory, 'The Jolly Farmers' at Soham Fen was kept by Mr Clark Turner, and some four years later he is reported to have still held the license. In the early 1900s Mr Charles Collen held the license for some time, and he was followed by landlords Crisp, Pryke and Webb. Following these, Mr Robert Charles Collen took over and his relative Mr Edward (Ted) Collen was married while living at the pub to Miss May Wake.
The house is brick built and large, with 12 rooms including six bedrooms and a staircase used to lead up from the kitchen.
Mr Collen recalled that the pub was not just used by residents of Soham Fen but also by many people from the town who would consider the journey down to 'The Jolly Farmers' a worthwhile one.
There would be nights of singing and dancing which was accompanied on the piano-accordian by Mr Bob Laws from Isleham Fen, who was always kept supplied with so much beer for his musical talents by the regulars that he was on more than one occasion obliged to spend the night.
The pub, although it stood on a remote part was always packed out and very popular. Soham Fen itself might have been ill-lit but the gaiety of 'The Jolly Farmers' could dispel any dullness or dark mood.
The exact date of the pub's closure is not certain, but the house is now privately owned and very well maintained.