See Young's book, page 78, for an account of
a serious fire in October 1751.
This enables a date to be given to the pub. It also
explains the name : as a "wild boy" (named Peter)
was indeed set free from his House of Correction,
when it was under grave threat from the flames.

That building was the nearby Bridewell, now a museum.

Legend has it that Peter was a missing ward of
King George I, from his days in Germany.
The boy was found living wild in a German forest.
He was brought to England around the age of 12;
but was most likely a man by 1751.

The freehold was held by the City Council by 1867.

Morgan's Brewery had taken over the lease from
the original brewers, Messrs. Tompson, in 1845.

They continued leasing the pub from the Council
until 1953, or somewhat earlier.

Another City Council connection is the short-term
licence held in 1952 by the City Engineer,
Horace Cuthbert Rowley, from 5th April to 10th June.

On 1st November 1902 the pub was granted a
special licence - from 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. - for the benefit
of night shift workers at the Post Office, Gas Works
and Newspaper Industry.

A photographic record can be found in :
Harrap Books Ltd. 1991 : English City Companion : Norwich.
Photo by Michael Adcock, page 118.
This was in the Tolly era.

Bizarrely, the pub was officially re-named the Fleece
in October 1867, although the publicly-known name
had been such since about 1830.

At the February 1906 licensing sessions
Police Inspector Windsor objected to renewal.

The pub was accordingly closed, under the
Compensation Act, on 23rd August 1907,
i.e. after some 18 months.