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Quayside Stars   (1 to 6)

2. With Garter : 3. Jolly Waterman   5. Stars Collide : 6. One Down

1. : The End Game

The last pub to function in Quayside was the New Star.
This was a well-known building. Sadly, however, it was
also a poorly patronised pub; which closed as early
as 29th May 1957.

Many years later it was the subject of much public
debate prior to its shameful demolition. It had been
a listed building for some long time, and the
Norwich Society had offered money for its restoration.

However, a firm of wholesale chemists and medical
suppliers was given permission to demolish and
re-build as offices.
The licence was surrendered in 1964.

The part of the building nearest Pig Lane was a
separate "drag station", with facilities for reclaiming
bodies from the river; probably also used as a
temporary mortuary.
The landlord in 1890 was also a coal mechant.

2. : With Garter

The story begins in the Alehouse Recognizances, with a
pub called the Star & Garter - listed in 1760 and 1763.
Again listed in 1806, the landlord was J. Lane,
who was still in charge in 1822.

The 1822 Directory located the pub in Quayside,
instead of the generality of St. Simon's Parish.
A small step of faith is therefore required,
i.e. that the pub name was truncated by 1830;
perhaps by the then landlord Henry Short.

Perhaps, also, he objected to the Royal connections :
the highest order of Knighthood, and the
Most Noble Order instituted by Edward III c. 1348.

The prefix 'Old' was added by 1839 (for clarification!).

3. : Jolly Waterman

Quayside is a short street, with the river on one side,
and has never had many pubs.
There is no certainty, but every likelihood, therefore,
that this pub was the forerunner of the New Star.

The last Directory entry for the Jolly Waterman
was in 1830; not long before the first listing of the
New Star in 1836.

The original listing in the Alehouse Recognizances
for 1806 has the pub called the Boatman.

 

4. : Two Stars

In the 1845 Official List, the Old Star was a
Bullard's house; while the New Star was S. & P.
If this was the case in 1836, it would go a long way
to explain the level of competition between the
two 'Star' pubs.

Of course, in 1836, the Old Star was still plain 'Star'.
So, in that year, we had the Star being run by
Robert Bygrave;and also S.G. Read running the
re-named New Star.

Unsurprisingly, Pigot's Directory of 1839 gives
Bygrave's pub the prefix 'Old', to differentiate it
from its blatant competitor.

5. : Stars Collide

So far, so good; except that the other 1839 Directory
(Robson's) tells a different and confusing story.
However, it should be pointed-out that Pigot is
less than helpful, in not listing the New Star at all !

Robson goes to the other extreme and lists
Bygrave and Read both at the New Star.
By 1842 Bygrave was indeed at the New Star and
John London was at the Old Star.

Clearly, Bygrave swapped pubs, probably at some
point prior to 1839; with the implication that Read
soon gave up the struggle.
Bygrave no doubt saw the New Star as a better
long-term bet; and probably preferred working
for S. & P. rather than Bullards.

6. : One Down

Robert Bygrave's instinct proved sound,
when the Old Star was the first to close;
its last listing being in 1859.
He was not 'around' to see it, as both pubs
had changed hands in the meantime.

Indeed - by 1845 - his son, Samuel Robert,
had already taken over 'his' pub.

Again the 1859 Directory disappoints,
in failing to mention the New Star.
In 1890 the landlord of the New Star was
also listed as a coal merchant.

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