Genealogy Chat

LONGWINDED, BUT PERHAPS HELPFUL. From 1552 onwards, anyone who wanted to sell ale had to apply for a licence at the Quarter Sessions or the Petty Sessions. In addition alehouse keepers had to declare that they would not keep a 'disorderly house' and prohibit games of bowls, dice, football and tennis. These declarations were called recognizances or bonds. Although the requirements have changed over the years, landlords still have to get a licence, renewed yearly, and which can be revoked if the magistrates, meeting in the annual brewster session, feel that the individual has been running a disorderly pub. In 1617 the requirement for licences was extended to inns. In addition between 1570 and 1792 licences could be obtained directly from the Crown (from 1757 the Stamp Office) rather than from local magistrates, although few records now survive of these licences. The system was overhauled in 1828 with a new Alehouses Act that provided a framework for granting licences to sell beer, wine and spirits and for regulating inns. Records of these licences can generally be found in Quarter and Petty Session records at local record offices. Quarter sessions were originally meetings of magistrates (JPs) who met together four times a year to dispense justice and discuss the administrative needs of the county, hence the term. Petty sessions were summary meetings of two or more magistrates to deal with less important matters. You should look out for registers of recognizances and licences granted to licensed victuallers. Few records however survive from the seventeenth century, but an act of 1753 enforced the keeping of such registers, so most counties have some material from the late-eighteenth century. Again the system fell into abeyance, particularly after 1828, but detailed registers have been kept since 1871. The most detailed registers give the name of the licensee, the parish in which he lived, the inn sign (i.e. name of the pub), and the names of occupations of two guarantors who vouched for the applicant's probity. However, you are more likely to find just the name of names of individuals and possibly the parish they came from, with no indication of which pub he ran. Within the records there may also be correspondence, copies of bonds and notes that might contain other information. The most useful introduction to these records is Jeremy Gibson and Judith Hunter, Victuallers' Licences (Federation of Family History Societies, 1997). The Access to Archives project is making indexes to all these records, including those relating to licensed victuallers, available on the internet. For more click here. Records of breweries From the late eighteenth century breweries increasingly bought pubs which would then only sell their beer. These pubs were known as tied houses, those which remained free of any tie were free houses. By the 1980s, about 90% of public houses were tied to one brewery or another. The recent turbulent changes in the brewing industry can make it difficult to track down which brewery originally owned the pub. If you don't know have this information, it is worth trying to track down an old photograph of it which may include signs indicating who owned it. Local studies libraries (see below).often have large, and well indexed, collections of local photos. If the pub is still trading the locals may be able to help. Once you have tracked down the right brewery, their records may tell you from whom the pub was bought or when the land it was built on was acquired. Estate records are usually held in alphabetical order by premises, and may include title deeds, mortgages, maps and plans, pub lists and books containing lease and conveyance details, In addition there may also be records of beer sold (known as barrelage in the trade) by the pub, although here too the records are arranged by property rather than by the publican Some breweries keep their own records, but many have been deposited at local record offices. Because of the great changes taking place in the brewing industry at present it is not always clear where the records of the larger brewers are. The Brewery History Society (see below) is keeping an eye on the situation to ensure the brewery archives are maintained by their new owners or transferred to the appropriate archival repository. The National Register of Archives (also see below) should be able to advise you where these records are at present. Another useful source is Lesley Richmond and Alison Turton, The Brewing Industry: a Guide to the Historical Records (Manchester University Press, 1990). A few breweries have published histories, which often describe their pubs. Unfortunately these books can be hard to track down. The best place to start is probably the local history library. Taken from: sfowler(*)force9(*)co(*)uk/page_27(*)htm Replace the (*) with . Cheers Kate

Hi,, Yes Jess it is The Hero! Found my relation who had the pub between 1933-37< my mum knows I am researching the family tree, and only gave me this info tonight!!! Arrgh. Anyway couldnt find the family on the 1901 census record but from the entry on Hero Pub Landlord Entry family name sjown as Bangham, Bingo looked up this name on 1901 census and there they all are at the correct address under the name of Bangham (addrss is shown on 1902 marriage certifcate of my g grandmother so know it is correct) Strange dont you think there may have been 2 mis transcriptions on theis name on 2 different documents in 2 different parts of the country, its either Baughan or Bangham!!! The mystery and intrigue of all this family stuff is fascinating. I wonder what else my mother has forgotten to tell me?! Jayne

Could that be 'The Hero'? Guess who holidays at Wells-next-the-sea.... jess x

Jayne, If you don't have any luck, try the local archives office. Many of them keep records of pubs and landlords. Maggy

Hi, great, then the address is: http://www(.)norfolkpubs(.)co(.)uk/ I hope you find him. They are very helpful people, so you can always mail them for any other info.

Lucky you, such a small place that there hopefully wont be to many pubs to work out which is the right one Try googling 'old Pubs' Jess

HI HEATHER, THE ONE I AM LOOKING FOR IS IN NORFOLK IN BURNHAM OVERY STAITHE SO WILL GO ANY HAVE A LOOK NOW. THANKS JAYNE

Hi, dont know what area you are looking in but certainly the Norfolk Pub Site gives landlords of every pub in Norfolk going back hundreds of years. If you google for Pub Society or something I am sure you will bring up a National or local one for your area. Also, records offices should keep records of licensees - they had to apply for the licence to sell liquor! I just googled for you and there are dozens of sites, but this one seems good, has links for ancestors who worked in pubs: http://www(.)sfowler(.)force9(.)co(.)uk/page_12.htm Remember to remove the brackets when you enter the address

Hi Jayne, I ran Pubs for 22yrs. The only way i can see is to get in touch with the licensing office for the area the pub was in. They should have records of who was the licensee at the time, If not they should know where to find out. Good luck,Wendy

IS THERE SOMEHOW ON THE WEB I CAN FIND OUT WHO WERE THE PARTICULAR LANDLORDS OF A PARTICULAR PUB IN THE 1940'S? MANY THANKS AGAIN IN ADVANCE. JAYNE