Pubs, inns and hotels

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1713: Robert Lowndes, Winslow, to Viscount Fermanagh, 20 Dec
CBS, M11/55 image 446
Mr White who has been a considerable time an Officer of Excise in Winslow, and has behaved himself so well, that if Certificates would be serviceable they would not be wanting But he is discharged from his Office, for not duely taking a Survey of a brewing in a paultry Ale House in Great Horwood Woods, where the Family was infected with the Small pox for w(hi)ch Crime, if his own Fear of Infection be no excuse, yet the Inconvenience that might happen to sev(era)ll Families he is obliged to visit by his Office, I believe Your Lordship will think will make the Fault pardonable. If it lies in your Lordships power by writing to the Comm(issioner)s or otherwise to get Mr White restored I believe I shall not be the only one of Your Lordships Ser(van)ts that will return  Your Lordshipp thanks

Oxford Journal, 12 June 1779
And on Monday the 7th Inst. another lnquisition was taken at Winslow, in the County of Bucks, before the said Mr. Burnham, on View of the Body of John Higgons, a Labouring Man, who having drank about a Pint and a Half of Gin, soon afterwards fell down in the publick Street, and continued speechless for about six Hours, and then died, notwithstanding all possible Means used for his Recovery. – The Jury returned their Verdict, that he died by excessive Drinking.

Leighton Buzzard Observer, 30 June 1874
PETTY SESSIONS.-WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24TH.
(Before E.W. Selby Lowndes, Esq., chairman, and J. W. S. Selby Lowndes, Esq).
CHAPMAN’S PIG MONEY
  William Johnson, who said he came from Oxford, and was a cabinet maker, was brought up in custody, charged with having, on the 17th of June, at Winslow, feloniously stolen 5s., the moneys of James Chapman.
  James Chapman, the prosecutor, said: I am a labourer, and live at Botolph Claydon, in the parish of East Claydon.  On Wednesday, the 17th of June, I attended Winslow market, and sold two pigs to Mrs. Marshall, for £1 each.  She paid me in silver for them, and put it on the table before me.  A man like the prisoner pulled the money towards him, and I told him to put it back again, I could count it myself.  He pushed it on the table, and when I counted it there were 5s. short.  Mrs. Marshall came in and counted the money, and it was 5s. short.  I believe the prisoner is the man who was there.
  Cross-examined by the Prisoner: There was only one lot of money, and not three or four.  I did not know two-shilling pieces from half-crowns.
  Emma Clark said: I am a niece of Mrs. Marshall’s, who keeps the Crooked Billet public-house in Winslow, and I reside with her there.  I remember last Wednesday, the 17th of June.  I saw the prosecutor in the taproom; the prisoner was also there.  When I went into the taproom there was money on the table before the prosecutor.  It was all silver, and there were half-crowns amongst it.  I saw the prisoner pick the money up in his hand, and drop some of it into Chapman’s hand.  He kept two large coins back in his hand, and they looked like half-crowns.  I called my aunt, and she came and told Chapman to count his money.  The prisoner then left, and directly after he was gone it was found the money was 5s. short.  I am certain the prisoner is the man I saw with the money in his hand.  It was between four and five in the afternoon.
  William Folland said: I am a police-constable stationed at Winslow.  From information I received I apprehended the prisoner on the 17th inst., at the New Inn, at Padbury.  I charged him with stealing two half-crowns from the Crooked Billet public-house, at Winslow.  He said, “You have got the wrong man.”  I said, “You must go with me.”  I brought him to the lock-up, and found on him one half-crown, one shilling, one sixpence, and seven pence in coppers.
  Saul Saull said: I keep the Swan Inn at Winslow.  Last Wednesday afternoon I saw the prisoner.  I believe about two or three o’clock.  He called for a pint of ale, and he paid for it with half-a-crown.  I am not sure about the time.
  Thomas Oliver: I keep the Windmill public-house in Winslow.  The prisoner called at my house a week to day.  He had half-a-pint of four-penny beer and paid a penny, as that was all the money he had, and Mr. Matthews gave it to him. I saw no more money.  He wanted me to put a penny to it. It was one o’clock, and he stopped till two.
  Prisoner made a long statement, in which he addressed the prosecutor as his “friend,” and admitted that he was in the public-house and saw the money on the table; but had no remembrance of Miss Clarke, who, he seemed to think, must have made a mistake.  He declined, however, to cross-examine her.
  Prisoner was sent to gaol for six weeks, with hard labour, the chairman remarking that he was afraid it was not the first of his offences.

A poem in favour of Sunday opening, printed in 1884 as a penny leaflet, with handwritten comments by the author (apparently Dr Newham, as there is a copy in a scrapbook which he kept (CBS, D-X/58)). The printer who omitted some lines must have been E.J. French. The Liberal government oversaw an act for Sunday closing in Wales in 1881, and was closely associated with the Temperance movement in England.

The Teetotallers’ Campaign against the Publicans.
When fierce fanatics in our Town appear,
The Publicans how dog’d from year to year.
Old maids with bitter words condemn the sot,
Quite right (I wish they’d each a husband got)
But they alas! Must suffer grief and pain,
Where fate decrees, ‘tis useless to complain.

[The following lines were added by hand in the left margin with the comment "the above lines were suppressed by the printer"]
"Better to marry than to burn", we read;
And Paul no doubt knew what the ladies need.
Therefore he said "there is but one sure plan
To quench the flame, united with a man".
[In the right margin was added:]
How squeamish must a printer be,
They are most blind who will not see.

But while I’d damn the social glass abuse,
Let no intolerance forbid its use.
How hard some strive to gain a little praise,
And would a mole-hill to a mountain raise,
The Public House on Sundays is their theme,
To close the bar and tap-room is their scheme,
If they succeed the Public House to close
To private houses then the liquor goes.
There jolly coves would meet to have their spree
And each might have a doxy on his knee,
There they’d carouse without Police inspection,
Indulge their varied tastes without detection,
The founder of our faith, if he were here,
Would I believe, allow the poor their beer
Spite of the rabid, gaunt, teetotal crew,
All through the week, and on the Sundays too,
He showed he could the social circle join,
When at the Marriage Feast he brewed the wine.
And like enough a toast he did propose,
Genial and well attun’d we may suppose.
And Paul, whose high authority we take,
Prescribed the grape for Timmy’s stomach’s sake.
Noah, we’re told got in a pretty plight,
Planted a vine and then got jolly tight,
And yet he show’d himself a skilful hand,
When the great ship he safely brought to land.
Some strain at gnats, yet would a camel take,
Damn grog and beer, yet eat three pounds of steak.
When fish are stinking, very fresh they cry,
There’s nothing wrong to pass a trading lie
For number one they well know how to play
Six days for mammon, saints on Sabbath day.
We would not advocate the drunkard’s cause
Who would infringe and break his country’s laws.
But yet oppose the party who would plan,
A course to stop the liberty of man.
I’ll now conclude, by this advice abide,
Be wise, let moderation be your guide,
Then let Teetotal braggarts silent pass,
With proud impunity you’ll take your glass.
“These feelings wide let truth and sense unclue.
We give the palm where reason points ‘tis due”.
Winslow, 1884. PRICE ONE PENNY.

Copyright 30 December, 2023