It was three cheers for historians after they managed to partly call time on a Strawberry Hill pub’s decision to change its name.

Young and Co’s Brewery announced it was to change the Pope’s Grotto – the pub and hotel in Cross Deep, opposite Radnor Gardens – to The Alexander when it reopened after a refurbishment today.

But after receiving a petition from Strawberry Hill Residents’ Association (SHRA) and complaints from Anthony Beckles Wilson – a historian and trustee of the Twickenham Museum who said Young’s was “abusing the history” of the pub – the firm changed its mind.

A Young’s spokesman confirmed this week it was now going to call the pub The Alexander Pope – in reference to the 18th century poet who owned a home on the banks of the Thames opposite where the pub now stands and built the grotto after which it was named.

She said the reaction from residents and the suggestion of the new name had been responsible for the change.

Bruce Duff, co-chairman of SHRA, said The Alexander Pope was put forward as a possible name by him in a letter to Young’s protesting the proposed change and he was told by the firm’s area manager last Saturday, the new name had been agreed.

He said: “It is at least going halfway to correcting the wrong, the association is now re-established with the name Alexander Pope.

“They have agreed to increase the amount of information about Alexander Pope and Pope’s Grotto inside the pub.

“It has cost them a lot of money but they have done the right thing.

“From SHRAs point of view we are agreed that it is acceptable.”