Owners
By 1869 : Alfred Beckett, landlord until
    the end of 1873, who had obtained
    the first full licence for this pub (1869).
1878 : John Amies of the Black Horse, St. Giles
Later : Morgan's???
1887 : Bullard's

Licence removed 21.8.1888 to a new house
built adjoining and situate at the
corner of St. Margaret's Plain.

The Norfolk Chronicle of 31.8.1901 reported that at the
Licensing Sessions an application had been made for
continuance of the 5.00 a.m. early opening licence.
This being for the benefit of employees of the
'Daily Press' and those of the
Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway.

Objections were raised that the house was some distance
from both sites mentioned and many other (licensed)
houses were closer.

Continued . . .

Mr. Geoffrey Barnard observed that the early opening
privilege had been held for many years and that
the house was well known.
The Chairman noted that other houses had not applied
for the extension, and so the application was granted.

At the 1908 Sessions Inspector Windsor advised the
Bench that there were 15 other public houses within
200 yards, and the licence was not required.

The house consisted of a large bar
with club room above.
The main objection was the enclosed yard behind the
premises into which the back doors of adjoining houses
opened.

The pub was accordingly closed, under the
Compensation Act, on 1st September 1908.

Thomas Massey is shown as landlord in the
Alehouse Recognizances for 1806 in the parish of
St. Margaret's.

The only other record for Three Vats, in the
Westwick Street area, is for Robert Woodhouse
(1822); but in St. Lawrence parish.

It is not the last time that Woodhouse appears in the
'wrong' parish; but, in this instance, it may well be
a blunder by the Trades Directory - unforgiveably
mixing their Turks with their Vats, merely
because of the prefix Three.

In fact there is no record for Turks, singular or plural,
in 1822.
Hence see Three Turks, Westwick Street.

Abiezer Coppe flourished during the Interregnum
in Britain (1640-1660) - a time of turmoil and
revolution. His wildness was notable among the
prophets of the Ranter Sect.

Around that time, one could become a Behmenist,
a Bidellian, a Coppinist, a Salmonist, a Dipper,
a Traskite, a Tryonist, a Philadelphian,
a Christadelphian, or a Seventh Day Baptist,
just as one pleased.

Coppe was born in Warwick in 1619, and made his way
to Oxford University, where his behaviour was infamous.
Anthony Wood recalled : "It was then notoriously
known that he would several times entertain for one
night, or more, a wanton huswife in his chamber;
to whom carrying several times meat, at the hour of
refection, he would make answer, when being asked
by the way what he would do with it, that
it was a bit for his cat".

Unlike students today, those in 17th century Oxford
were expected to live semi-monastic lives.

At the beginning of the Civil War, Coppe left Oxford
and began preaching through the countryside,
baptizing thousands of people, and pleading -
"for Community, and against Propriety."

Continued . . .

In 1649, he published a pamphlet and,
shortly thereafter, he was jailed for it.
In Newgate, where he was confined, Coppe seems to
have feigned insanity, and was finally released in 1651.

He changed his name to Dr. Higham, and continued to
preach in small conventicles.  Anthony Wood,
already quoted, relates that -
"At length, being brought low by certain infirmities
which he had contracted in his rambles by drinking
and whoring, died in the month of August in 1672."

The proprietor of this pub, recorded only in the 1806
Alehouse Recognisances, must have had good
knowledge of Mr. Coppe, and no doubt admired the
whoring and - particularly - the drinking of his hero.

By 1836 it may well be that the pub became the
Coopers' Arms, when the historical influences had
waned, or been completely misunderstood/rejected.