Commonwealth of England to them, as part of what is now referred to as the Third English Civil War. In 1653, after the forcible dissolution of the Rump Parliament, the Army Council adopted the Instrument of Government which made Oliver Cromwell Lord Protector of a united "Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland", inaugurating the period now usually known as the Protectorate. After Cromwell's death, and following a brief period of rule under his son, Richard Cromwell, the Protectorate Parliament was dissolved in 1659 and the Rump Parliament recalled, the start of a process that led to the restoration of the monarchy in 1660.
The Tumbledown Dick Courts at the Tumbledown Dick from 1871 to 1906, numbering some 297 local people. From the 20th century onwards the pub was the focal place in Farnborough for musical expression and entertainment. A number of bands started their musical careers by performing at the venue, or performed there while on tour. Notable bands to perform at the venue include Mega City Four, Reuben, Hundred Reasons, and Paul Weller and The Jam. In February 2008, Punch Taverns, the pub's owners, closed it on health and safety grounds, with a view to a major refurbishment being undertaken. They did not re-open the