Local residents in Binstead near Ryde are questioning whether a new pub sign for The Binstead Arms is historically accurate for the eponymous village.
The Binstead Arms has always been known as The Fleming Arms, allegedly since it opened in 1845. This name was chosen as it was built on land owned by the Fleming family.
However, Anthony and Samantha Rowthorn – who took over the pub in January – have decided on a fresh start with a new name.
The Fleming family had a long connection with the Isle of Wight. The estate of Binstead was purchased by Sir Thomas Fleming in 1609 and remained with the family until 1956. The family lived at the picturesque Binstead Cottage before it was destroyed by fire in 1851.
The Bensted family – whose coat of arms now grace the pub sign – emigrated to England following the Norman Conquest in 1066. However, this family lived at Binsted in Hampshire, rather than Binstead on the Isle of Wight.
It is their coat of arms that now graces the sign outside the pub.
The place name ‘Binstead’ means the place where beans are grown from Old English bean and stede. The beans in question were probably broad beans, which were an essential part of the poor man’s diet in the Middle Ages.
It’s only a sign if that’s all people of got to moan about then they are very sad, considering what else is going on in this world
Wonderful old photograph, and so lovely to see that vans back then still parked on pavements without the public fearing a line of Ambulances carting off squashed children to the over burdened hospital.
Anyone got any old photos of Great Preston Road? I bet there was a whole line of those vans.
Likely was, but we never had those complainers bullying a hard working family for daring to put a wheel on the pavement to ease the flow of traffic whilst unloading heavy tools or having their disabled daughter to visit.
All those with no work living on benefits have too much time on their hands, and some not even from the UK whinge the most.
Never had that here back then.
Council tenants looked out for one another, not backstabbing imms taking a home and then moaning about the local workers.
PS the pub owners should be ashamed to show their faces after what they have done imo.
How small minded and pathetic
People know there are several worse things going on in the World yet we can do nothing to stop that.
Yet that is no excuse to then let every other awful occurrence to go unchallenged.
We British put up with way too much without a murmur yet this is a step too far.
It’s all getting out of hand changing the names of Public Houses whatever next.
Sad sad sad sad saddo
Kev yours is a typical selfish reply suggesting that we all sit glued to the news of Ukraine, Global warming etc, and ignore real, serious local issues that WE can do something about.
Pol Pot likely started out with small ambitions as likely did Hitler, yet they being left to just do what they wished without being challenged by those who silently moaned, ended up being trouble to the world.
I suppose Putin is all you think we ought to get angry about? Well some of us CARE for our environment, history and Island. You clearly don’t. Selfish little man.
Two mentions of Hitler in the same comment thread. What ridiculous comments.
What’s it got to do with environment you sad moron!
Anthony and Samantha can call it what they want?!!
Up in arms!? Honestly, this island sometimes.
Of course ‘ant and sam’ can call it what they like, and WE can choose to boycott the place and have our right to object to our heritage being destroyed by those who have choose to do as they please without regard for local peoples feelings.
I guess you are not from here or are cold and ignorant to history.
I’m with Roadie. Who cares what a place is called? I judge a pub on it’s beer, it’s food, it’s prices and atmosphere. Couldn’t give a flying toss what the name is. Unless of course it was called something like ‘Hitler’s watering hole’ or something – that could be a tad over the top.
Re brians comment..I see after over 30 years, Godwins law is still accurate…
Godwin’s law, also known as Godwin’s rule of Hitler analogies, is a statement maintaining that if any online discussion continues long enough, someone will almost certainly compare someone else to Hitler.
Perhaps Sam and Ant could get a refund on the sign as clearly a stupid thing to have done and such will take generations to forgive this outrage.
I doubt very much if there is ever going to a quote from Godwin’s law mentioning Pol Pot, or Idi Amin as the personification of evil?
Odd how the Saville’s and Hindley’s and Sutcliffe’s are never forgotten either, yet anything more ‘dusky’ yet even more evil is ‘never mentioned’ and the gangs of child rapist of Muslim decent are unknown to all thanks to the media dropping the story as fast as could possibly be, yet IMAGINE if it had been the whites doing such to only black children. BBC would never let it drop.
Are you drunk?
Surely in need of an update.Brexit Arms anyone ?
Let me think… It is 2023…. who is Hitler ??
maybe call it Putin’s last pint !! lol…. I agree with Brian… but some of the history with that pub in last 20 years is not too good. name change might do it some good !!..
Don’t go there then and it’ll soon be called the Fleming flats
The Uppin Arms would be a great name for the pub!
“Up In Arms” sounds perfect Roadie
More dilution of our history by overners,
I blame William the conqueror LOL What a dumb comment
Unlikely, he died in 1087!
Some true local British people who have not ‘just arrived’ are rightly proud of our heritage, and the Government agenda aided by the media to make us feel ‘ashamed’ has not brainwashed us all into rolling over and accepting the will of outsiders here.
If our current and past Governments had followed the same tactics, then we wouldn’t be in such an awful mess of housing shortages, long waits and doctors, hospitals, dentists, and would be able to jail our own, as prisons less full of the world’s dross.
WE have rights too.
I’m astounded that you reached that conclusion based on a simple name change of a pub. Why not start a picket line? If you ‘have rights too’, then get some placards up and stand on the pavement outside the pub. It’ll be pointless, but might make you feel a bit better…
Ah, dentists.
When was the last time you saw a British one, eh?
Been to St Mary’s recently? at least a third of the staff are foreign and two thirds are not native islanders.
The UK issued over 8000 visas to foreign nurses in 2022, to come and work in the UK (to the detriment of their own countries) to help fill the gap in recruitment. That was out of the total of 1.2 million visas issued to foreign nationals coming to the UK to fill the vacuum of unfilled essential roles left by Brexit.
Since we formally left the EU in 2020, net migrations (those arriving minus those departing) has risen from around 70,000 to over 600,000. And 95% of those are here legally.
Always a problem when swivel-eyed bigotry meets cold hard facts, eh?
Yay! Brexit!!!! Here’s the left!
You moron. Most of the island is and always has been populated by ‘overners’ including queen Victoria.
fready – why do you insult everyone – you do realise that people will not listen to your point of view and dismiss you as a foaming at the mouth troll if all you do is insult people
Wow! First world problems at their best!
Seems a genuine mistake, that was meant with good intentions. An expensive one too. Getting offended or irrate about it doesn’t help anyone.
Locals need to boycott this place until the sign is altered.
Whilst they ‘may’ survive the holiday season now, come the Winter they will see that locals DO matter, especially in a huge cavernous lack of character building.
Too many overneer’s ruining the little history, traditions and quirks we do hold dear here.
Would you prefer another closed down pub then?
Phew. Extraordinary how unpopular me suggesting an innocent error was made, which means can be corrected. Yet, I’m assuming, mostly islanders, supporting boycotting a local business. Outstanding.
Wow. Really ?! Mistakes as such can be rectified, and no doubt will be, given that the new landlord’s won’t want to intentionally sabotage their own business. Boycotting a local business ?! Engage Your brain.
What a load of snowflakes. “I’m so offended because a pub changed it’s name”.
Fready, oh the irony, so offended that someone has a different opinion to him, how we love the left!
Should have called it ‘The Drop Inn’ and bugger any moaners. It’s a watering hole and a place for refreshments. Judge it by the prices and most importantly the standard of the food and cleanliness.
Disgusting to change the name of an old establishment for no reason other than personal vanity.
This is how it starts with those from elsewhere not content with how things are, and forcing change upon us all.
We see such with ISIS denying the past and destroying what does not fit into ‘their’ way of thinking.
What next, change the name of the Isle of Wight because some recent arrivals here may be offended?
Many would suggest if you don’t like it live elsewhere, and you ‘might’ be happier and we certainly would.
What a stupid comment to make. Comparing a pub name change to ISIS. If you don’t like it, buy the pub and change the name back.
Been over here for 47 years and love it here. What do you want to do when you grow up? And when you say ‘we certainly would ‘is that you,yourself and your inept ego ? Have a nice day.
All over the name change of a pub! Hilarious!! Absolutely hilarious..
I do love how the bigots can link immigration to changes to a pub sign. Such lazy arguments but I expect nothing less from the simpletons on this thread.
I’m going to push for library and road name changes next, sponsored by Wighlink! Now where’s my chum Bob when I need him?
The swivel-eyed bigots (and this site is infested with them) try to blame foreigners for everything. I think it has something to do with the inadequacy of their own lives and sub-standard education.
Far easier for the likes of Searle, One-hand and Maggot to blame “Johnny Foreigner” for their problems than their own stupidity and laziness.
These days you get arrested and thrown in gaol for saying you’re English don’t you?….. ..c sl
I’m all for it, my tab is owed to the Fleming, so my slate is clean! Bring on the beer!
I wonder if the landlords have consulted the Fleming estate about this
Do they need the Fleming Estate’s permission to change the name then?
When I needed to change anything on my property in Binstead you had to seek permission from the estate. Also the Fleming estate states the there can only be one pub on their estate
Well your property must be leasehold. Buy the freehold.
No freehold. But it’s on the Fleming estate and that’s part and parcel of owning a property on the estate. It’s there so people dont spoil the area. Having said that there are a few which I suspect have not gone through the process and when they come to sell will find they have to apply retroactively and then if it’s turned down will have to take remedial work.
You should be able to buy the freehold under the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002. Look at lease-advice.org for details of your rights.
Hardly worth fretting over. Pub names are changed very frequently. Just surprising that they picked such a pointless and dull change. Most people these days change pub names to daft or utterly pretentious ones. Be grateful for small mercies because the Fleming Arms could now be the Limp Parrot or Wonky Goat.
The landlords are not the owners. The pub is part of the Stonegate Pub Partners group and has nothing to do with what is left of the Fleming estate.
It’s still on the estate
If you look on Rightmove, it seems that all (that I can see) houses in this area of Bindstead are freehold. They must have bought the freeholds.
It is actually Binstead, If you comment at least please get the name right.
Is this 1782?
It can always be changed back, and I’m sure it will one day to great fanfare.
Night clubs, bars and restaurants are always changing name.
It’s the history and memories which are important.
The buses stop at the Fleming Arms. They’ll have to change their announcements and the names in their timetables and on the bus stop.
I don’t mind either way. Good luck to the pub, its a tough business to be in these days.
Who cares if the name of the pub has changed. The family is working hard. Stop being such communist haters
Amazing photo, must have been long before the Highway code !! People walking up the hill same side as traffic, in the road, oncoming car driving in middle of road !!
Shut up!! Get over yourselves for gods sake!
It’s a pub not a church! Or monument! Wish the new people well or is that not possible from lovely local island people?!
Why order people to shut up? It’s a comment page
Well, I think a free drink is in order for us ‘Fleming’s’ to commemorate the demise of the Fleming name!
It didn’t have a choice. A name change was the only way to erase its very bad name as the Fleming arms, what a dump
I hope the locals have short memories
Why do they need to change it. As bad as renaming The Clarendon in Chale the White Mouse especially as its original name was a memorial to a local ship wreck.
Love the comments, keep it up, im on 2nd bag of popcorn
Everyone knows it as the Fleming & will mainly use the old name. On the mainland pubs can have several name changes in a few years. It confuses the hell out of older pub goers. It mainly happens to a failing pub when the new owners desperately hope they’ll have better luck with a fresh start
I’ll almost guarantee that 99.9% of the sad cases moaning about the name change have not stepped foot in the place in the last 10 years.
I wish the couple that have taken this pub on all the luck in the world at making a good go at this.
They’re already succeeding at putting it back on the map.. look how many people are talking about The Binstead Arms.
Broad beans are an essential part of anyone’s diet, a superfood, and we should be growing them in Binstead and Binfield today