The oldest house in Norwich dated 1087-1100.
It was built by a wealthy Jew called Moses.
Sir Walter Raleigh stayed here 1615-1618 whilst
recruiting for his Spanish American expedition.

Before becoming a public house it was the residence of
Sir Robert Coke, until 1634. The (pub) name derives
from the Norwich Waits, a group of 5 musicians;
constituted in the reign of Elizabeth I,
who donated their instruments.

Musical and theatrical performances
continued into the 20th Century.

N.B. Music House Lane is on the
        other side of King Street.

The pub closed, under the Compensation Act,
on 12th November 1932.

Continued . . .

There is a photo dated 1937 on page 58 of
YCY Brewery : Coronation Souvenir; around
which time the brewery were using the building
for their architectural offices.

Sometime after the brewery closure (1958) Norfolk
County Council bought up the site. The Music House
itself, plus some attached/surrounding buildings,
were subsequently used as an Adult Education Centre.

Given the term 'adult', it was not long before a bar -
for the students - was set up in the Norman undercroft.

It seems that the casual drinker can pop-in, these days,
although a membership scheme is still operating.

The landlord in 1806 was described as a Publican
(i.e. full-timer); which was fairly unusual,
and denotes a rather important house.

The pub yard, Rainbow Yard, was actually across
the street : between nos. 186 and 188.
See page facing No. 1 in PLUNKETT, George :
Rambles in Old Norwich.

The original owner appears to have been
William Leifchild. In August 1839
he sold the pub to Tompson's Brewery.

A large metal ring was attached internally at
one corner, said to be for restraint of a
performing bear in the late 1800's.

Although licensed only as a beerhouse, wines and
spirits are reported to have been on sale after 1920.

It is further reported that the house was fined
several times for breaking the terms of the licence.

This house was a merchant's dwelling from 1351/2.
It possesses Elizabethan cellars, and is Listed.
Later it became the residence of Thomas Codde,
Mayor of Norwich at the time of Kett's Rebellion (1549).

It then passed to a fisherman, and later
the Sheriff of Norwich.
Brewers and innkeepers were in charge into the
19th Century, but the pub was not named until 1817.
The pub was first listed in 1822, as the Steam Packet.
Also see notes on steam packets.

The original (1822) landlord was William Thompson;
who appeared to run the pub for at least 61 years.
Probably an identically-named son
took over at some point.
The latter may well have been "Schemer" Thompson,
who had the idea of providing a ferry service;
which eventually resulted in the pub's change of name.
Sometime after 1845 the pub also operated
Pleasure Boats.

William John Shingles Thompson took over the
licence on 28th December 1883. His successor,
William John Aldous, was in charge from March 1887.

The 1890 Directory decribes Aldous as a boat-builder;
who also had interests in glass, china, earthenware,
and was a general dealer, at No. 206 King Street.
He seems to have been a worthy successor
to "Schemer" Thompson !!
His son, Albert John, served from June 1895
to June 1907.

The above activities may explain why, by 1890 at the
latest, the ferry seemed to operate independently until 1937.
  ^Back^

The 20th Century
Landlord Harry James Browne served
from June 1907 to July 1928.
It seems to have been his decision
to rename the pub in 1925.
Widow, Agnes Bertha, served for only 4 months.

The brewery had closed the pub by September 1940
for the duration of WWII. It re-opened, on
5th June 1945, acquiring one of the City's
most famous licensees,
Victoria May ("Mottie") Warminger.

She ruled with what Young (p. 79) called 'queenly grace'
until 11th May 1975. The next licensee (the brewery
'rep.') was in place for just a month, prior to Watney's
closure and disposal of the premises.

Continued . . .

When re-opened as a freehouse on 10th February 1976,
complete with a revised pubname, the entrance hall
and room to the left were combined into one room,
which incorporated the original bar area on the right.

A stuffed cat guarded the chimney breast
at the left hand end.
Re-instatement of the handpumps took a few months.

A huge, third bar was also created in (ex-boat) sheds
to the rear, and at a much lower level; subsequently
used as a popular music venue - known, reasonably,
as the Boathouse Bar. Nevertheless, a waterside
garden still exists, with free moorings.
  ^Back^

The 21st Century
This large and valuable facility was now under threat
from representations, by newly-installed residents
on the other side of the river, regarding noise from
the lower bar-room.
This was one of the factors mentioned by landlord
(from c. 2004), Alan Thorpe, when the pub closed
on 29th May 2006.

Ever since, the promise of a "trendy" new bar
has been held out by Greene King.
A sale, to a property developer, is thought to have
occurred in March 2007; for the sum of £1,500,000.
However, it was the brewery who gained Town Planning
approval in March 2008, but have not acted upon it;
instead, putting it on the market in August 2009.

See Details re the plans of the new, private, owners
(by 2010) which may eventuate in 2011.

Casting a shadow over the old pub, recently (2007-8),
has been the conviction for multiple murder
- in Ipswich - of Steve Wright. However, Wright
was landlord for only 4 months, from May 1988.

A photograph of the rear of the pub (then Steam Packet),
from across the river, appears in CLUER & SHAW :
Former Norwich, page 37. There is also
a photo of the Ferry sign, in King Street, on page 43.
  ^Back^

See notes on ship types in Norwich.

The landlord in 1806 was described as a Publican
(i.e. full-timer); which was fairly unusual,
and denotes a rather important house.

The Butcher family was almost the last to run the pub.
Ernest Jesse Butcher was landlord from October 1926.
His widow, Kate Rebecca, took over in
December 1946, and served until April 1962,
less than two years before closure.

The licence was in the hands of the brewery 'rep.'
by 10th April 1962. But the pub allegedly
continued in business until 31st January 1964.

This is probably explained by the freehold
belonging to the City Council, who were -
around that time - arranging for the
construction of Rouen Road across the pubsite.

A photographic record can be found in :
YOUNG, John Riddington :
The Inns & Taverns of Old Norwich, page 80.

Half Moon Yard was on the opposite side of
King Street : between nos. 237 and 239.

St. Martin's brewery offered the pub for sale,
by auction, in October 1794 and July 1797.
However it appears that the property
remained with George Morse.

The Executors of John Morse conveyed the lease
to J. & J. Colman in 1881; the residual term
being 132 years.

Licence transferred to Cricketers' Arms,
Lindley Street 29.3.1887