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Britons Arms : 9 Elm Hill

Research :
It may be that the pub was originally called the King's Arms.
If so, it was before the first records in the
Alehouse Recognizances, which show Britton's Arms
in 1760 and 1763.

The building dates fron the early 14th Century,
and was the only one in the street to survive intact
from the Great Fire of 1507.

Patteson's Brewery acquired the pub between 1807 and 1814.

Crown : 29 Elm Hill
Research :

Unusually, Crown Court is opposite the ex-pub,
on the North side of Elm Hill at nos. 20 - 22.
Stranger still, it is currently called "Crown Court Yard".

Two families held the pub for long periods.
Roger Kerrison was landlord by 1822;
followed by John by 1830.

By 1842 Henry had taken over, but had left by 1845.

 

Thomas Clarke was landlord from July 1871;
and his widow, Adelaide, from November 1894
to April 1903.

The pub closed, under the Compensation Act,
on 30th September 1927.

A photographic record of 1929 can be found in :
FRITH, Francis : Norwich : Pictorial Memories, page 14.

Masonic Tavern : 24 Elm Hill
Research :

Located between Crown Court Yard
and Towler's Court.

The earliest ownership was recorded simply as 'Andrews'.

S. & P. supplied the 'hired' house sometime between
1837 and 1851 (and probably much later).

The 1845 Official List shows S. & P. ownership.
1872 : S. & P. Brewery (presumably the freehold)
1880 : Walter L'Estrange, Duke Street
1891 : Bullard's Brewery
circa 1902 : YCY Brewery

 

The Chief Constable objected to licence renewal
at the February 1906 Sessions.

Inspector Windsor reported that this was a very
old fashioned house, with about one room for the public.
It was in very bad repair, tumbling to pieces.
The tenant was employed in the shoe trade and
away from the premises for much of the day.
There were 12 other licensed houses within 200 yards.

The pub was accordingly closed, under the
Compensation Act, on 23rd August 1907.

Fleece : 34/36 Elm Hill
Research :

This pub is shown on King's Map of 1766
as the Fleece Inn.
The exact position shown is the archway
leading to the riverboat-station.

This entrance lies between nos. 34 and 36.
It is not clear whether the pub occupied one
(or which) or both of these still existing premises.

 

The mere fact that King noted the Inn, on his map,
indicates a house of considerable importance.

With a yard for accommodating horses and wagons,
leading all the way down to the River Wensum,
this inn must have been strong competition for the Maid's Head, only a few yards away.

A picture can be found on page 120 of :
KENT & STEPHENSON : Norwich Inheritance.

Hand : Elm Hill

Research :
This pub was in the same parish as the Masonic Tavern -
St. Peter Hungate. Its recorded dates are such
that it could have adopted the other name.

Various (formerly) secret handshakes are associated with
Masonic ritual.

It is also true that the parish is extremely small, and
could not have contained very many pubs at any one time.

On the other hand (!) the pub of that name in
St. Benedict's became the Beehive - which does not help.

Coopers' Arms : Church Street

Research :

Rump & Dozen : Elm Hill

Research :
Young suggests that the name represents
a rump of beef and a dozen bottles of claret.
An alternative suggestion is a dozen oysters.

Either way, the fare on offer does not seem to
have gone down particularly well!!

It is just possible that the landlady, Elizabeth Neal,
was one of the less successful members of a wine-merchants
family including : James F. Neale at the nearby
Festival House and - even earlier -
Thomas Neale at the Wine Vaults at Fye Bridge.

White Lion : Elm Hill

Research :

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