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Public Houses in Barnstaple 1837-1897
By Jonathan Frayne
Note that until 1869 only fully licensed premises needed a license from the magistrates. Beerhouses were not required to be licensed until then having hitherto only paid a fee to the excise department and automatically received the license they needed. Beerhouses were often shortlived and were commonly known as "tiddlywink shops". At the annual fair time there was a widely exercised "right" for anyone to sell liquor. All they had to do was to display "bush" outside their front door to let everyone know they were open for business.
In 1837 there were 81 fully licensed premises according to the Magistrates' Clerk office:
Name | Landlord | Address (as of 1847) |
Admiral Vernon | W. Hill | Maiden Street |
Angel Inn | Mary Vicary | Quay |
Antelope | J. Pulman | |
Bakers' Hotel | W. Arnold | Green Lane |
Barley Mow | J. Herring | Boutport Street |
Bear Inn | J. Symons | Green Lane |
Bell Inn | Eliza Green | Quay |
Black Horse | G. Bobbett | |
Braunton Inn | R. Frayne | High Street |
Brickmakers' Inn | G. May | Back Lane |
Britannia Inn | J. Ley | |
Bull Inn | Robert Seldon | Boutport Street |
Castle Inn | J. Stribling | High Street |
Chichester Arms | H. Sloley | Pilton |
Commercial Inn | J. Waldron | Boutport Street |
Crown and Anchor Inn | Maria Hill | Litchdon Street |
Ebberley arms | J. Dowling | Bear Street |
Elephant Inn | J. Parminter | Elephant Lane |
Exeter Inn | James Tinson | Litchdon Street |
Falcon | J. Gliddon | Joy Street |
Fortescue Arms | J. A. Pearce | Well Street |
George and Shakespeare | Mary Beer | Boutport Street |
Golden Anchor | R. Chapple | Castle Street |
Golden Lion | John Marsh | Square |
Green Dragon | W. Warren | Boutport Street |
Greyhound Inn | A. Stanbury | |
Hearts of Oak | Mary Davy | Boutport Street |
Horse and Groom | R. Pengelly | Boutport Street |
Ilfracombe Inn | James Priscott | High Street |
King's Arms | W. Pugsley | High Street |
Lamb Inn | Peter Camp | Boutport Street |
London Inn | W. Vickery | Litchdon Street |
Malsters' Inn | H. Street | |
Mariners' Inn | W. H. Leworthy | Back Lane |
Masons' Arms | R. Oatway | Hardaway Head |
Nag's Head Tavern | R. Blackwell | Anchor Lane |
New Inn | R. Westacott | Back Lane |
Newington Inn | W. Seldon | Derby |
Newport Inn | E. Jones | Newport |
North Country Inn | J. Randall | Boutport Street |
North Devon Inn | G. Kelly | |
Northmolton (sic) Inn | W. Burgess | Bear Street |
Public Rooms | J. Martin | |
Red Lion | R. Blackmore | Quay |
Reform Inn | J. Rice | |
Ring of Bells | R. Holland | Anchor Lane |
Ring of Bells | W. Harris | Pilton |
Rising Sun | T. Stevens | Boutport Street |
Rolle Arms | Edward Crabb | Bear Street |
Rose and Crown | T. Pedlar | Newport |
Royal Ash | J. Pugsley | |
Royal Exchange | Thomas King | Joy Street |
Salutation Inn | W. B. Lee | Castle Street |
Seven Stars | James Ford | Anchor Lane |
Shakespeare Tavern | R. Bastin | |
Sheepmarket Inn | John Curtis | Castle Street |
Ship Inn | T. Chapple | Quay |
Shipwright's Arms | T. King | Square |
Smiths' Arms | J. Terry | Holland Street |
Star Inn | G. Tyte | |
Sun Inn | G. Gould | Newport |
Swan Inn | J. Oatway | Holland Street |
Theatre Inn | R. Vicary | |
Three Tuns | James Easton | High Street |
Unicorn Inn | J. Knill | Pilton |
White Hart | Mary Bealy | Joy Street |
White Horse | S. White | Boutport Street |
White Lion | J. Shobrooke | Silver Street |
White Lion | W. M. Shapcott | Castle Street |
Wine and Spirit Cellars | J. Knill Cotton | |
Wine and Spirit Cellars | O. V. Pengelly | |
Wine and Spirit Cellars | S. Linnington | |
Wine and Spirit Cellars | H. Simons and M. Snell | |
Wine and Spirit Cellars | Hannah Wilkinson | |
Wine and Spirit Cellars | E. Harris and Co. | |
Wine and Spirit Cellars | Samuel Ware | |
Wine and Spirit Cellars | J. Trive | |
Wine and Spirit Cellars | J. Dickery | |
Wine and Spirit Cellars | R. T. Partridge |
Additionally in 1847 are listed:
Name | Landlord |
Railway Hotel | Boutport Street |
Victoria Inn | High Street |
Crown and Sceptre | Tuly Street |
Steer | Quay |
Carpenters' Arms | Vicarage Street |
Albion Inn | Back Lane |
Mermaid Inn | Boutport Street |
Royal Oak | Holland Street |
Town Arms | Anchor Lane |
Rising Sun | Newport |
It seems reasonable to assume that most of these premises are listed above, but have changed their names. The Railway Hotel and Victoria Inn clearly couldn't have had those names in 1837.
For comparison here are the inns listed in White's Directory of 1850, there are 59 of them I believe, but the beerhouses and Wine and Spirit Cellars are separately listed:
Name | Landlord | Address | |
Admiral Vernon | Charlotte | Hill | Maiden street |
Angel | Thomas | Avery | Quay |
Barley Mow | John | Jenkins | Boutport street |
Bear | John | Bate | Green lane |
Beehive | James | Smith | Green lane |
Bell | John | Geen | Quay |
Braunton Inn | Richard | Frayne | High street |
Bull | Charles | Widden | Boutport street |
Castle | William | Britton | High street |
Chichester Arms | Thomas | Hancock | Pilton |
Commercial Inn | John | Waldron | Boutport street |
Crown & Anchor | James | Hunt | Litchdon steet |
Ebberly Arms | John | Cole | Bear street |
Exeter Inn | Maria | Tinson | Litchdon street |
Falcon | Elizabeth | Gliddon | Joy street |
Fortescue Arms (& posting) | William | Cory | Boutport street |
George & Shakespeare | Benjamin | Skinner | Boutport street |
Golden Anchor | Mary | Chapple | Holland street |
Golden Fleece | John | Otway | Tuly lane |
Golden Lion (& posting) | John | Marsh | Boutport street |
Green Dragon | Philip | Pyke | 130 Boutport street |
Heart of Oak | John | Delve | Boutport street |
Horse & Groom | William | Seldon | Boutport street |
Ilfracombe Inn | James | Priscott | High street |
King's Arms | Frederick | Jefferey | 30 High street |
Lamb | John | Hartnoll | 31 Boutport street |
London Inn | William | Sluman | Litchdon street |
Mermaid | John | Baker | Boutport street |
Nag's Head | Thomas | Hill | Anchor lane |
Newport Inn | Joseph | Perrien | |
North Country Inn | Sally | Robins | Boutport street |
North Molton Inn | Joanna | Irwin | Bear street |
Railway Inn | George | Blight | Boutport street |
Red Lion | Edward | Hooper | Quay |
Ring of Bells | Henry | Knill | Pilton |
Ring of Bells | David | Thorne | Anchor lane |
Rising Sun | John | Berry | Boutport street |
Rising Sun | William | Squire | Newport |
Rolle Arms | Michael | Burgess | Bear street |
Rolle's Quay Inn | Samuel | Rawle | |
Rose & Crown | William | Baker | Newport |
Royal Exchange | Thomas | King | Joy street |
Royal Oak | John | Easton | Holland street |
Salutation | Peter | Camp | Castle street |
Seven Stars | Richard | Beer | Anchor lane |
Sheep Market | Humphrey | Britton | Holland street |
Ship | Thomas | Bailey | Quay |
Shipwrights' Arms | Thomas | King | Square |
Smiths' Arms | John | Snell | Diamond street |
Star (fishmonger) | George Henry | Paterson | Quay |
Swan | William | Slocombe | Holland street |
Tap | James | Parkin | Well street |
Three Tuns | James | Easton | High street |
Town Arms | Henry | Geyton | Anchor lane |
Unicorn | William | Copp | Pilton |
White Hart | William | Parkin | Joy street |
White Horse | William | White | 29 Boutport street |
White Lion | Richard | Rumson | Castle street |
Beerhouses (26 of them):
Name | Address | |
John | Bennett | Derby |
John | Bowden | Salem street |
Robert | Budd | Silver street |
John | Edwards | Newport |
Robert | Essery | Boutport street |
William | Featherstone | Newport |
William | Gaydon | Silver street |
John | Greenslade | Anchor lane |
Mary | Grigg | Pilton |
Thomas | Hancock | Pilton |
Charles | Jones | Derby |
Mary | Mountjoy | Silver street |
William | Laramy | Pilton |
Thomas | Norman | Salem street |
John | Parminter | Page's lane |
Thomas | Oliver | Back lane |
John | Petherick | Back lane |
John | Oatway | Hartway head |
Elizabeth | Richards | Bear street |
William | Robins | Quay |
Thomas | Seldon | Salem street |
Robert | Seldon | Derby |
Charles | Snow | North walk |
John | Stoyle | Derby |
John | Taylor | Cross street |
Mary | Ward | Newport |
Wine and Spirit Merchants (8 of them):
Name | Address | |
John | Bowden | 41 High street |
J. K. & son | Cotton | Cross street |
Fisher & Joce | High street | |
Oliver V. | Pengelly | High street |
Michael | Snell | Queen Anne's place |
Samuel | Ware | Boutport street |
John | Wilkinson | Joy street |
William | Yeo | Quay place |
In 1855 the number of licensed premises fell to 73, but again there were new names:
Name | Address |
Turf Tavern | Diamond Street |
Beehive | Green Lane |
Stafford arms | Trinity Street |
Golden Fleece | Tuly Street |
In 1867 there were 84 fully-licensed houses. The new names include:
Name | Address |
Curriers' Arms | Derby |
Locomotive | Holland street |
Globe | Queen Street |
Millers' arms | Boutport Street |
Albert Inn | Diamond street |
Prince of Wales | Newport |
Fraser's arms | Pilton |
Traveller's Inn | Belle Meadow |
Windsor Hotel | Bradiford |
Farmers' Inn | Holland Street |
Reform Inn | Pilton |
Note that the Farmers' Inn in Holland Street was formerly the Royal Oak.
By 1875 the 'new' licensing system had bedded down and the beerhouses had become licensed premises. In that year there were 89 licenses granted. The new names included Castle Hotel, Park Hotel, Devon and Somerset Hotel (formerly Mariners' Arms) and Poltimore Arms (formerly Bull Inn).
In 1887 the Braunton Inn is licensed under the name of the Clarence Hotel.
Here are the names and addresses of all 67 fully licensed houses in Barnstaple in 1897:
Name | Address |
Wine and Spirit Vaults | Boutport Street |
Wine and Spirit Vaults | High Street |
Masons' Arms | Hardaway Head |
Rose and Crown | Newport |
Golden Fleece | Tuly Street |
Reform Inn | Pilton |
Three Tuns | High Street |
Taw Vale Tavern | Taw Vale Parade |
New Inn | Silver Street |
Wine and Spirit Vaults | Cross Street |
Horse and Groom | Boutport Street |
Exeter Inn | Litchdon Street |
Rising Sun Inn | Newport |
Barnstaple Inn | Trinity Street |
Great Western Hotel | Trinity Street |
Globe Inn | Queen Street |
White Lion | Silver Street |
New Inn | Silver Street |
Albert Inn | Diamond Street |
Lion Tap | The Square |
Bell Hotel | Strand |
White horse | Boutport Street |
Angel Inn | Strand |
Farmers' Inn | Holland Street |
Wine and Spirit Vaults | Strand |
Red Cow | Holland street |
Castle Hotel | Castle Street |
Swan Inn | Holland Street |
"Dening's" | High Street |
Wine and Spirit Vaults | High Street |
Mermaid Inn | High Street |
Green Dragon | Boutport Street |
North Country Inn | Boutport Street |
Poltimore Arms | Boutport Street |
Wine and Spirit Vaults | Joy Street |
Royal Exchange | Joy Street |
Nag's Head | Anchor Lane |
King's Arms Hotel | High Street |
Devon and Somerset Refreshment Rooms | Victoria Road |
London Hotel | Litchdon Street |
Admiral Vernon | Diamond Street |
Clarence Hotel | High Street |
Golden Anchor | Holland Street |
Ilfracombe Inn | High Street |
Wine and Spirit Vaults | Boutport Street |
Wine and Spirit Vaults | Boutport Street |
Wine and Spirit Vaults | Strand |
Barley Mow | Boutport street |
Lamb Hotel | Boutport Street |
Ebberly Arms | Bear Street |
Rolle Arms | Bear Street |
Stag's Head | Bear Street |
Commercial Inn | Boutport Street |
Rising Sun | Boutport Street |
Queen's Head | Boutport Street |
Golden Lion Hotel | Boutport Street |
Fortescue Hotel | Boutport Street |
Fortescue Tapp | Well Street |
New Inn | Pilton |
Reform Inn | Pilton |
Chichester Arms | Pilton |
Bear Inn | Green Lane |
Union Inn | Derby |
Curriers' Arms | Derby |
Carpenters' Arms | Derby |
Windsor Hotel | Bradiford |
The Great Western Hotel was formerly the Devon and Somerset Inn and that in its turn was formerly the Mariners' Arms. Over the 60 years the following licensed premises closed by 1897. The list is not intended to be exclusive :
Shipwrights' Arms, Square
Greyhound, Square
Black Horse, Square
The Coach and Horses, Maiden Street
Hollow Tree, Newport
Prince of Wales, Newport
Ebrington Arms, Newport
Newport Inn, Newport
The Bristol Inn, Litchdon Street
Dolphin, opposite Brannams Pottery
Malt Scoop, Ship, Britannia (all where Bridge Buildings now stand)
Red Lion (opposite the Black Horse)
Star Inn (demolished when the fish shambles were removed)
White Lion, Castle Street
Bremridge's Arms, Tuly Street
Miller's Arms, Boutport Street
Unicorn, Pilton
Ring of Bells, Pilton
Priory Arms, Priory, Pilton
Ilfracombe Inn, Littabourne
Fountain Inn, Holland Street
Elephant Inn, Elephant Lane
Sailors' Home, Cross Street
Theatre Inn, High Street,
Boot, High Street
Jolly Butcher, High Street
Boar's Head, High Street (both these latter removed in 1826 but once stood on either side of the Guildhall)
Wellington Arms, High Street
Castle, High Street
Falcon, Joy Street
Greyhound,
Malt Scoop, Anchor Lane
Fox and Goose, Anchor Lane
Butchers' Arms, Anchor Lane
Seven Stars, Anchor Lane
Town Arms, Anchor Lane
Ring of Bells, Anchor Lane
Beehive (formerly Bakers' Inn), Green Lane
Malsters' Inn, Boutport Street
Railway Hotel, Boutport Street
Golden Shakespeare, Boutport Street
Victoria (formerly the Golden Ball), Boutport Street
Fullers' Arms (later Turf Tavern), Boutport street
Albion Tap, Trinity Street
Brickmakers' Inn, Trinity Street
White Ball, Trinity Street
Northmolton Inn, Bear Street
Newington Inn, Derby
Dolphin, Higher Maudlin Street
Victoria, High Maudlin Street
King William, Higher Maudlin Street
Half Moon, Higher Maudlin Street
North Star, Lower Maudlin Street
Masons' Arms, Gaydon Street
Recruiting Sergeant, North Walk
From these latter addresses it is likely that many of the addresses of the premises not found in 1837/47 could now be identified.
The foregoing is drawn from W. F. Gardner, "Barnstaple 1837-1897", Barnstaple (1897). Additional material has been taken from White's Trade Directory 1850.