Maldon town and district councillors unveiled a new plaque at Cups Corner on Saturday (October 14), to commemorate a popular pub which closed in 2014.

The Cups, originally known as 'Three Cups' was demolished in 2018, after sitting derelict for four years. Plans to turn it into a Tesco Express store were scrapped in 2015, following objection from residents.

Maldon District Councillor Flo Shaughnessy requested a new terrace on the site should be named 'Cups Cottages', but the council refused. Instead, Cllr Shaughnessy sought permission for a plaque, designed by resident Jon Yuill, to be installed. After she pursued it on and off for three years, the council accepted.

Cllr Shaughnessy told Nub News: "The Town Council then okayed the design with me, and it sort of snowballed, so I quickly had to gather these people together to dedicate it."

Former Maldon Mayor Mark Heard paid £370 for the plaque to be commissioned.

"When somebody comes to visit what they think is going to be the Three Cups and it isn't, at least there's a plaque to say where it once was," he told Nub News.

Alan Bell and brothers Galvin and Jon Yuill helped design and install the plaque on the wall of a terraced cottage now on the site. (Photo: Ben Shahrabi)

Local historian and former mayor Stephen Nunn says The Cups was one of several pubs that appeared in Maldon during the first half of the 19th century.

He said: "This pub served the community really well. It was a humble building, as many were.

"A number of them have now been closed and demolished, so it's really good that we've got a plaque to remember this one with."

The sign of the three cups represented the Salters company. Although it was not directly connected with the salters of Maldon, Mr Nunn says it is "an apt link" with Maldon Salt.

"The topography of a town or village tells the story of a place and its people," Mr Nunn added.

"Without plaques like this, the names are soon forgotten."

Current Mayor Councillor Andrew Lay, whose Maldon East district council ward includes Cups Corner, agrees Maldon's historic links should be preserved.

"As the town changes, it's important we remember places of significance, such as the Three Cups," he said.

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