Norwich Pubs

St. Andrew's Hall

1. : Multiple Uses

It is well-known that this complex of buildings was
occupied, prior(!) to the Dissolution of the Monasteries,
by the blackfriars.
It has been in the City's possession,
by Royal Charter, since 1540.

Among the many uses made of it over
the following centuries are :-

CAMRA Beer Festival : since 1978
Norwich & Norfolk Music Festival
(formerly Triennial) : since 1824
Corn Exchange : earlier still, but superseded in 1828

The musical aspect pre-dates the N. & N. Festival;
as a pub called the Concert Hall is listed in the
Alehouse Recognizances for 1760 and 1763 -
in the parish of St. Andrew.

The Corn Exchange has given its name to two pubs :
one in St. George's Bridge Street, and one in St. Andrew's Hill.

The Festival House pub (now Delaney's) has a much
more recent connection, having adopted this name in 1898.

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2. : Other Pubs

A pub called, simply but rather oddly, the
St. Andrew's Hall appears in the Directory of 1830.
This may, with a deal of speculation, be considered
the forerunner of a beerhouse, listed as such during
the period 1859 to 1868, and as the
St. Andrew's Hall Stores from 1869.

The pub closed, under the Compensation Act,
on 29th January 1910.

Of course, the pub nearest the Hall throughout
(i.e. since 1806, as Lion) is the Red Lion,
now the Doghouse.

3. : Parishes

The Blackfriars' Tavern (more usually called the
Cellar House) was adjacent to the River Wensum,
but on its North side.
This places it in the parish of St. George (Colegate).

Given that the blackfriars had their first house
in that very parish, no complaint can be made.
Indeed, for a period, the pub was called the
St. George's Wine Vaults.

The Corn Exchange Tavern, already mentioned,
was also in St. George's Bridge Street.

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4. : Problems

Problems arose spasmodically in the 19th Century
about the street names on either side of the river.
By the early 20th C. the problems had been "solved" by
making St. Andrew's Bridge Street (South of the river)
yet another part of St. George's Street.

Plenty of confusions remain, in the earlier published
documents, especially when the vague description
Bridge Street is used !!

The St. Andrew's Hall Stores was indeed
within the Bridge Street of that name.

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