Top Pub revealing its history

The grand old lady of Greytown pubs is slowly revealing more and more of her history as workmen peel away stucco cladding that has hidden her charms for over 50 years.
Greytown Hotel, or the Top Pub as she has always been known, is being stripped of stucco cladding plastered over her weatherboard exterior over 50 years ago, bringing day-by-day surprises to management and workmen alike as the pub of yesteryear makes a comeback.
In the past few days the stucco removal has revealed the name of proprietor Pat Spratt, a former jockey and horse trainer, who came to Greytown in the early 1950s, taking over the pub from Bob Crawford. Mr Spratt and his wife Oey were very popular Mine Hosts and even to this day older drinkers refer to the hotel as Pat Spratt's Pub. The hotel is now owned by Trust House, Masterton.
Joint manager Bruce Cairns said some of the old signs most likely would be removed, framed and put on display in the refurbished pub.
Greytown Hotel is the district's oldest surviving hotel, having been built in 1859 only a few years after Greytown, the oldest town in Wairarapa, was founded.
Over the decades it has survived many traumas and if the walls really do have ears many fascinating stories of goings-on at the Top Pub could be told.
In the late 1800s licensee John Quinn died in the pub, then in October 1902 the pub narrowly survived being destroyed when a chimney fire threatened it.
Jack Rowlands, who had the pub from 1941 to 1945, supplemented his income by being an illegal bookie and the racing theme carried over when Pat and Oey Spratt came to Greytown.
Mr Spratt had retired from a highly successful career as a jockey, being at one time associated with the mighty Kindergarten.
As an owner he had a half-share in Howsie, runner-up in the 1960 Centennial Melbourne Cup and Roodyvoo, another very handy galloper.
It was during Mr and Mrs Spratt's ownership of the pub that the stucco cladding was installed, ostensibly because the Spratts didn't want to take the dearer option of replacing the weatherboards.