It is now 50 years ago that man first landed on the moon and the excitement caused by that great achievement is well documented.

It also resulted in Robert Alun Stephens, of South Newton, winning a competition set by the brewers Gibbs Mew, of Salisbury, who were looking for someone to name their newest licensed house on Woodside Road, Bemerton Heath. Mr Stephen’s suggestion of “The Conquered Moon” was an inspired one and as the American astronauts prepared to splash-down; the “Moon” (as it affectionately became known) was opened with people enjoying their first pints.

The Gibbs Mew house had two bars, “The Bemerton” and “The Heath Lounge” – along with a children’s playroom. It was opened on Thursday, July 24, 1969 by the Rev WR Rodda, the vicar of St Michael’s Church, who pulled the first pint.

However, Canon AJG Chard, Vicar of St Thomas’ Church had other ideas about the moon trip. Writing in the St Thomas’ parish magazine he asked: “What do you achieve by putting two men on the moon”? His answer: “All right, so they might bring back a barrow of moon muck and the scientists can then start sorting it out. But I agree with the Astronomer Royal and with those who, while acknowledging the wonderful achievement of sending men to the moon, think these vast sums of money could be put to better use.” He concluded: “And I think, too, that the discovery of anaesthetics, radium and penicillin has done more for mankind than the landing on 20 moons could ever do.”

As for The Conquered Moon public house, it joins that ever-growing band known as ‘The lost pubs of Salisbury’. Closed in 2004 it suffered terrible vandalism and was finally demolished in 2007.