The Shire Horse, Littlewick Green 1978

This authentic 1970s colour photograph, captured in 1978, features the exterior of The Shire Horse Inn and Restaurant located in Littlewick Green, near Maidenhead, Berkshire. The archival image documents a bustling social scene typical of the late 1970s, with numerous patrons enjoying the outdoor seating area. The pub’s red brick architecture is accented by white-trimmed sash windows with decorative black iron window boxes and a prominent blue sign identifying the establishment. A smaller brick extension to the right displays the “Courage” brewery branding. The foreground is notable for the extensive use of bright orange plastic bucket chairs, a design staple of the decade, arranged around small white tables on the paved patio. Various people in period fashion, including a man in a brown patterned suit walking across the frame and families with young children, add a rich layer of social history to the composition. The scene is framed by traditional beer barrel planters and large white rectangular troughs filled with flowers. This factual record preserves the mid-century atmosphere and community life of a popular Berkshire roadside inn during 1978.