Although Cann & Clarke of Wymondham established
this beerhouse in 1879, S. & P. had taken over by 1887.
It was the latter brewery which applied for a
full licence in August 1887, but were refused.
They had been prepared to transfer licences from
The Shuttles, Heigham Street and White Hart, St. Miles.

It seems that this refusal persuaded S. & P. to
abandon the pub to Morgan's on 11th May 1894.
Bizarrely, they regained the pub after the takeover of
Morgan's in 1961. However, in the interim
(18th July 1939) the pub had finally obtained a full
licence : by transfer from the Ostrich, Kett's Hill.

Arthur "Ginger" Sadd became licensee on
20th July 1937; and again - under a full licence -
on 29th August 1939.
A relative, Benjamin, took over on 11th February 1941;
possibly because Arthur was called-up to the armed forces.
Benjamin served until January 1950
and Arthur did not return to the pub.

Continued . . .

Ginger Sadd was a famous boxer of his time,
born 26th March 1914.
Although he lost to Jock McAvoy circa 1938, he
went on to beat Freddie Mills over 10 rounds on
14th June 1939.
In the return match, on 10th April 1940, very early
in WWII, he lost to Mills over the same number of rounds.
Sadd died on 10th April 1992.

Also see West End Retreat re his daughter's pub.

Another notable family was called Norton.
William was landlord from January 1888, but
- regardless of his age - seems to have been
called-up for fighting in WWI.
His wife Emma held the licence from February 1915,
and William resumed in April 1919.
In August 1920 Emma was back in charge,
probably widowed. She presided until July 1929.

The pub closed on 30th October 1969.

Carnser is the local Norfolk dialect word for causeway.
At some earlier time there would have been
an actual causeway in this low-lying area.

1541 to 1587 : House built by ex-Sheriff
        Richard Browne (Brunne); whose initials
        are over the door.
1615 : Jacobean bays added.
        This date is inscribed over the door.
1643 : Bishop Hall took up residence,
        after de-thronement by Puritans.
1665 : Bishop Hall died, aged 82.

Tavern usage dates from 1715.
In 1752 the landlord, Joseph Burton,
        probably brewed his own ale.
11.10.1794 : Short leasehold for sale by
        St. Martin's Brewery
Possibly re-offered in July 1797,
        but apparently not sold.

The landlord in 1806 was described as a Publican
(i.e. full-timer); which was fairly unusual, and
denotes a rather important house.
1818 : John Morse, brewer, in occupation.

In 1845 the description was also 'bath house and ferry'.

Licensee from October 1879 was
Francis Frederick Rant.
He was also described, in 1890, as the proprietor of the
North Heigham Ferry and Dolphin pleasure gardens
and swimming baths.

Continued . . .

In the same year (1890) James Carey was listed
as a pleasure-boat owner and boat builder,
in Little Buck Yard, Oak Street.
His son, also James, was a pleasure-boat owner
in Hawkes Yard, Oak Street.

It was presumably the father who became landlord
of the Dolphin in November 1891. This was clearly
an ideal career-move for James, who stayed for
exactly 20 years.

War damage April 1942 closed the pub until
12th June 1944, after which a temporary
structure, nicknamed The Hut, was put to use
for 11 years. (Authorised by the Licensing Justices
later on 11th July !)

May 1955 to October 1960 :
    Licence held by brewery 'rep.' until re-building done.
The architect responsible for the
excellent restoration was J. Fletcher-Watson.

1999 : Closure as a pub.
January 2000 : Offered for sale as a private dwelling.
Fire (by arson) in April 2001, prior to conversion
to a dwelling.

Also see YOUNG, John Riddington :
The Inns & Taverns of Old Norwich,
pages 45/46; which also has a photograph
(1959) of the bombed building.
For many other photographs, see Details.

This pub has a particularly attractive riverside setting,
and a large garden area - as the name implies.

The building began with the South side in 1470,
the North side in 1550, and the central part in 1600.
The pubname dates from 1704, when Gibraltar was
captured by Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell of Norfolk.

Also see Young's book, pages 44/45.

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

The original tie was to Tompson's brewery,
taken over by Morgan's in 1845.

Continued . . .

Early on, only a small bar and a separate lounge
were in use.
By the 1980s almost all the ground floor rooms
had been incorporated into a single large open space
(as was the fashion).

A photographic record c. 1890 can be found in :
YOUNG, John Riddington :
The Inns & Taverns of Old Norwich, page 45.
This was taken from across the River Wensum.

The name refers to the Allies in the
Crimean War (1854 - 1856)

There is no brewery record for this pub,
which may have been a Free House.

On the other hand, it was not a Bullard's house;
which is why the licensees, listed in various
Directories, do not appear in Bullard's own records
- over the period from 1858.

The Post Office Directory of 1858 lists
Henry Thompson; and the
Trades Directory of 1859 lists John Bennett.

White's Directory of 1864 lists Robert Thompson
- presumably Henry's son -
and there are no further records available.

Confusingly, the 1864 entry mentions Bedford Street*;
but other names are found in the Licensing Records
for the second pub of that name, in that year.

Also see the Bedford Street pub in South Heigham.

* The earlier name of Ampthill Street.