Sarah Pontin, Victorian Landlady of The George Hotel, Reading

A polished oak coffin is hoisted onto four men's shoulders and carried into the graveyard of St Laurence's Church in Reading. It is 14 October 1897, and a group of family and friends of the deceased solemnly accompany the coffin through the cemetery gates in the early autumn chill. A collection of wreaths and floral displays tremble as the coffin is carried, one of them from Reading Football Club. Residents, friends, family and tenants have come to mark the life of Sarah Pontin, landlady of The George Hotel on King Street in Reading. 

View towards the entrance of St Laurence's Churchyard opposite The Forbury, Reading

Sarah was born on 27 April 1825, and was married to George Pontin. Their children included Fred, Elms and Aggie; and George Edward, who died at the age of 20 at the George Hotel on 25 April 1871. The couple ran the hotel from August 1853 when they took over the running from retiring landlady Ms M. A. Mason. The couple seem to have come from Newbury to settle in Reading, and hosted travellers, town officials and auctioneers throughout the 1850s, 1860s and early 1870s. In 1874 Sarah was granted a new licence for the premises after her husband's death. George Pontin died on 1 January of that year. In March, she was named publicly as one of his executors and a notice in the Reading Mercury requested that any outstanding debts be settled with her so that she could carry out the terms of his will. 

The George Hotel, King Street

The George Hotel seems to have run itself over the next twenty or so years, the smooth transition a sure sign that Sarah was heavily involved in the running of the hotel while her husband lived, as well as after his death. She appears in a business directory of 1883 as proprietress of the hotel and there is very little trace of her in the local press during the next twenty years. The hotel continued to host auctions, meetings and official business but was also involved in a few local events. In June 1887 carnivalgoers dressed at The George in their costumes as clowns, harlequins and other characters before processing through the town. In 1896 Sarah advertised for a 'good plain cook' to work at the hotel, who should be aged 25-35. She died the following year, on 10 October 1897 at the age of 72. In 1898 The Reading Mercury announced that Messrs G and F Fielding had purchased The George - along with Sarah's 'extensive stock' of Old Vintage Ports, said to date from 1820.

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