1. : The Stores
This is a story mainly about a
Wine etc. Merchant's premises.
The first published record of the Sun & Anchor
was in 1802.
The address is given as 19 Pottergate Street,
but this was before Exchange Street existed.
In the 1811 Directory the address is given as
Lobster Lane, in the parish of St. John Maddermarket.
The original building is thought to have been off
present-day Bedford Street, some way down
School Lane; and was demolished for the
construction of Exchange Street (1828 - 1832).
Vide Bolingbroke in Norfolk Archaeology.
Young (page 26) describes, at some length, the
boxing career of Ned Painter : landlord of the
Sun & Anchor Tavern around 1820 - 1823.
The Norfolk Chronicle on 1st January 1820 provides
the evidence : advising that Painter had taken the
Sun & Anchor, Lobster Lane.
As well as selling the best Ales, London Porter, Spirits,
Wine etc., he would be giving private lessons in
sparring, in the most scientific style.
Thompson, page 50 onwards also refers.
The next available record is as late as 1839. It is,
of course, hard to say whether the Sun & Anchor
was a 'normal' pub or not, in the period 1802 - 1839;
aside from its move and re-building.
2. : Isaac Wiseman
This is the key name for the whole of the period
1839 to 1859/1864.
In 1839 he was listed as a Wine Merchant at
13 Exchange Street, under the name "Corn Exchange"
- which is either a location or part of a name !
It should not be confused with the
New Corn Exchange pub
in nearby Little London Street.
By 1842 the premises had been re-numbered as
1, Post Office Street, and were listed under
'Wines, Spirits & Porter merchants'. It was the 1845 Official List which showed the
connection between Wiseman's business and
the old Sun & Anchor.
| |
3. : Barwell's
The well-known firm of Barwell's were in possession
by 1864; although the 1868 Directory was behind
the times in showing I. Wiseman & Co.
Barwell's stay at No. 1 was short-lived; although they
seem to have been responsible for changing the name
to Corn Exchange Vaults.
4. : Morley
By February 1869 Robert J. Morley was running
the business, and became the owner from 1873.
In January of the following year he handed over
the licence to William Abraham Taylor.
The 1879 Directory shows a further name change
to Post Office Stores, which was most unhelpful
in respect of the nearby Post Office Tavern.
Taylor was in charge until October 1882, when
Ann Mary Taylor took over; the presumption
being that Taylor himself had died.
This makes the 1883 Directory entry
exceedingly strange;
viz. W. A. Taylor at the Corn Exchange Vaults "Haymarket".
There is no other evidence of the same business-name
in that alternative location; even assuming that
the Taylors had had an acrimonious divorce.
Ann handed over to Frank Thorns (the ironmonger
across the road) after just a couple of months.
Thorns lasted until April 1885.
5. : Chamberlin & Smith
Were the proprietors of a rival business
just across the street. They were involved,
in one capacity or another, from June 1885,
(Morley having "filled-in", after Thorns,
for two months) until 1889; when they
surrendered the licence.
Surely a case of liquidating the opposition !
They were owners from 1887, and Alfred Smith
was licensee from February until closure.
In January 1932 the premises of the said rival business
(and probably these premises too) were purchased by
the well-known Back's Ltd.
This was convenient later, when bomb damage in 1942
forced the firm to take refuge - for some time -
in the old Corn Exchange Vaults.
Today the premises are occupied by
Jarrold's Commercial Dept.
Of course, the original premises were destroyed
when Exchange Street was built.
|