A PUB that survived two world wars, witnessed the Industrial Revolution and has a longer history than the Bank of England could reopen.

The Crown and Thistle, on the corner of Old Road, Headington, and Titup Hall Drive, has been placed on the market to be leased for the first time since it was closed on New Year’s Day in 2012.

The 400-year-old building could reopen for trade after owners, identified by the Land Registry as Shinder Pal Singh, Surinder Jeet Kaur and Gurdeep Kaur, of Marston, placed it on a letting site to be leased at £22,500 per year.

Pete Bonney, of Nuffield Road, said he thought opening the pub, which had been managed by Greene King before it decided the pub was unviable, would be a good idea – if a new landlord could make it work.

The 76-year-old added: “If they are not going to do anything else with it and it’s going to stay empty then it’s good, especially for the community.

“If the Corner House, in Hollow Way, goes, which it may do, then there will be no pubs in the area. It would be nice to have one, if they could get someone in who could refurbish it and do the job properly.

“It’s been there for a long time and dates back hundreds of years.

“Something should be done with it and if it can be opened and benefit the community that would be great.”

Campaign for Real Ale spokesman Tony Goulding agreed it would be good to see the pub open, but warned it would take a lot of work. He thought the property was only being placed on the market as a tactic to “wear down” people campaigning to get it reopened as a pub.

He said: “If it was to open, a firm, but friendly landlord would be required.

“After nearly four years of closure the state of the site is such that a fair amount of money is required to bring the pub up to a basic standard.

“Our local branch found that the person who owns the pub is not interested in running the site as a pub.

“We believe this present situation is part of a cynical tactic to wear down the patience of all parties involved in trying to restore the pub to its rightful place in the community.”

An agent for the owners did not respond to requests for comment.

The pub was originally called Titup Hall, taking its name from the little known Headington hamlet of Titup.

It gained importance as a coaching inn as it was on the then main route between Oxford and London over Shotover Common.

Queen Elizabeth I is said to have been greeted there when she visited Oxford, as was King Charles I in 1624.