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King Street Ships   (1 to 4)

  3. Neglected : 4. Footnotes
Apart from the names of several specific types[1] of vessel,
the maritime area around King Street boasted three pubs called the Ship.

1. : Dreadnought

The above is not strictly true of the one at the bottom
(Southgate) end of the street, just outside the City Walls.
This had the original (1806) - then alternative - title of
Dreadnought or Dreadnaught i.e. a specific ship !

In that year, the landlord was described as a Publican
(i.e. full-timer); which was fairly unusual, and denotes
a rather important house.
The Alehouse Recognizances of 1806 refer.

This pub is listed as the Ship from 1811,
and only as Dreadnaught again in 1842 and 1856.
It disappeared from the listings after 1868,
but may have continued as a beerhouse until
about 1893.

It was a very near neighbour of the Cinder Ovens,
also listed in 1811. This was another case of relegation
to a beerhouse after 1870 until its closure in 1894.

 

2. : Famous

Probably the best-known Ship was at
No. 168 King Street; opposite the Music House.
This building still exists, complete with its misleading
"Princes Inn" lintel [2]

An old photo, showing the pub's hanging sign
is on page 10 of REED, Brenda :
The Courts & Yards of Norwich.

Frederick John Scragg was landlord from June 1955.
His widow, Florence Margaret, served
from January 1964 until closure.

It closed in 1969, which makes it - by far -
the longest-running of the three. Hence its fame.
It was listed in the Alehouse Recognizances for 1760.

Even this famous pub was relegated
to a beerhouse in 1879 and 1883.

3. : Neglected

The Ship nearest the City Centre was in Thorn Lane,
and also figures in the 1760 Alehouse Recognizances.

Subsequently, this pub was often unlisted; and does
not seem to have been considered at all "important".
Its final listing was in 1864; but it may have
continued for another year or so.

The advent of S. & P. Brewery was sometime during
the year November 1838 to November 1839.
The pub is presumed to have been free of tie until then.

4. : Footnotes

[1] See Barge, Keel, Wherry, Steam Packet etc. - under Norwich Port
[2] This item was removed from a pub of that name in
      Prince's Street, when the Paston family moved house !.
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