1. : Beginnings
In 1830, in St. John's (Maddermarket), was trading
the partnership of William Ward and James Fisher.
This partnership was again listed in 1839.
By 1842 Fisher had been replaced by Robert Seaman,
and there seems little doubt that they operated from -
what has since become - the Ironmongers' Arms.
Only three years later Ward drops out of the picture,
and Robert Seaman is trading alone, in wines and
spirits; but from a base in St. Andrew's (Broad) Street.
He was also described as an importer and sole agent for
Truman, Hanbury & Buxton's London stout and porter.
Here again, the subsequent history points to his
operating from premises at the bottom corner of
St. John's Street (later the Shrub House);
whereas the
Ironmongers' sits at the top corner.
Hence, address entries after 1845 oscillate
between St. John's and St. Andrew's.
As early as 1845 (see the Official List) Seaman
actually owned 22 pubs - apart from the "headquarters".
Subsequently, the firm mopped-up several free houses,
especially outside the Walls.
2. : Getting Grimmer
In 1859 the firm's name is given as
Seaman, Grimmer & Co.
The licence of the Shrub House moved to Samuel
and Frederick Grimmer in 1867; then Samuel alone
in 1874.
In 1890 Ernest Butcher Grimmer took over,
until the end of 1896 (see 3. below). Ernest was
living at 4 Chester Place, Earlham Road, in 1890.
The Grimmers' steady rise to pre-eminence is confirmed
in the 1879 listing viz. : Grimmer, Seaman & Co. and
also by the fact that the Licensing Registers were altered
for all the Seaman pubs around 1872.
Continued . . .
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2. (Contd.)
Grimmer's are listed in 18?? as having ?? pubs "tied"
to his firm; although this was no normal brewery-tie,
but an arrangement similar to the modern concept of a
"pub chain".
In Grimmer's case it seems that the third-party
supplying the beer was mainly, or exclusively,
St. Margaret's Brewery.
The alleyway between nos. 4 & 6 St. Andrew's Street
was termed Grimmer's Court by 18??
By 1883 Samuel Grimmer & Co. are said also to be
in business in Mill Yard, St. Martin's at Oak.
By 1890 they are listed at 2 and 4 St. Andrew's,
and at Duke's Palace and Great Yarmouth.
3. : Lacon's Takeover
On 29th December 1896 various members of the
Lacon family are named as licensees at the
Shrub House; so this would appear to be the date that
Lacon's absorbed the Grimmer empire of tied-houses.
Of course, a large number of Seaman's original
22 houses had either closed or been sold-off.
Only 11 - plus the HQ - found their way
into Lacon's hands.
However, no less than 29 other Grimmer pubs
were transferred (see detailed lists).
In 1903, following Lacon's takeover of
St. Margaret's Brewery, all the 'Grimmer'
tied properties were undeniably tied
to that Brewery; so were subsequently
held by Lacon's of Great Yarmouth.
A (single) new licensee was in place from July 1903.
See details for the Shrub House
- a Whitbread's
pub from 1966, until its closure in 1979.
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