The Punch House

This building is now 13 Market Square (currently Antiques & Lifestyle). It is a 2-bay 3-storey building, partly rebuilt c.1860. Originally it was part of the Old Crown next door (q.v. for the layout of the original building); the huge chimney shown in the 1843 plan was part of the central chimney which survives in the Old Crown. It was separated from it in the 17th century, probably by one of the William Gyleses. There was originally a free-standing kitchen at the rear which would have served the combined building. The Punch House was primarily a wine and spirit merchant's until it was sold in 1829. After that it was only intermittently a public house, and after 1860 it became a private dwelling closely associated with the draper's next door (15 Market Square). We don't know what the original building looked like at the front, although some early features survive inside. The photo above, from the 1960s, shows the Victorian house, painted white.

The following entries probably refer to the Punch House, but as the Halls owned several properties it isn't certain:

1702: Manor court
Samuel Norman acquired from William Gyles in 1702: 2 messuages in Winslowe: one in the occupation of Charles King sr called the Crown; the other late in the occupation of William Firth. To the use of Samuel Norman of Winslowe Grocer on this special trust: he should from the rent and profits pay to Mary Gyles sr for her life an annuity of £12 in quarterly instalments … After Mary's decease, on further trust, Samuel is to pay an annuity of £12 as above to Mary Gyles jr, daughter of William. Rent 1s, fine 10s

1718: William Norman’s marriage settlement included
two messuages in Winslowe, one known by the name and sign of The Crown and now in the occupation of William Goodman, and the other in the occupation of John Godwin, with outhouses and stables

1719 26 June Sun Insurance 11936/9/326/14431
William Norman as before for his two houses and malthouse and outhouses adjoining to the above Inn [Crown] in the tenure of Samuel Norman and John Godwin

1759: Manor court
Samuel Norman (of Henley upon Thames) surrendered a messuage in Winslow now in the occupation of John Spratley with Barn and Stable. To the use of James Hall of Winslow Gentleman. Fine 5s.

1776-78: Manor court
This property is referred to as "the messuage of John Hall in the occupation of John Dudley".

1781: Manor court
James Hall late of Winslow [blank], who held by rent of [blank] messuage in Winslow formerly in the occupation of John Spratley now of John Hall with barn and stable, died since the last court. John Hall of Winslow [blank] is his only son and heir and desires to be admitted. Fine [blank]

1781: Fire insurance
John Hall of Winslow bricklayer
On his now dwelling house stable and barn adjoining £100

1782: Manor court
Conditional surrender for £50 by John Hall of Winslow Bricklayer on 27 Oct 1781 to Thomas Ludgate of Swanbourne Dairyman
Messuage in Winslow late in the occupation of James Hall now of John Hall with the Barn and Stable.

1788, 20 & 21 October, Manor court rolls (Centre for Bucks Studies D 82/2/168)
Surrender: John Hall of Winslow bricklayer
Admission: Richard Seaton of Winslow brandy merchant
All that copyhold Messuage or Tenement situate standing and being in Winslow aforesaid formerly in the occupation of Samuel Norman afterwards of B enjamin Dudley now of Richard Seaton brandy merchant

1790-1805: Alehouse recognizances
No sign: Richard Seaton

1807: Northampton Mercury, 29 Aug

To Be L E T T,
And entered upon immediately,
An old-established and well-accustomed HOUSE, in the above Trade, known by the Name of the PUNCH-HOUSE, eligibly situated in the Centre of the MARKET-PLACE, in WINSLOW, Bucks.

The above is a very desirable Situation, being in full Trade; is now, and has been for about twenty Years last past, in the Occupation of Mr. Richard Seaton, the Proprietor, who is now desirous of retiring from Business, having acquired a Competency for that Purpose by the above Trade.
To take to the Stock, &c, (which is expected) will require about £500.
For further Particulars, and to treat for the same, apply to Mr. SEATON, on the Premises; or Mr. CHARLES WILLIS, Solicitor, Winslow,
Winslow, 20 August, 1807.

1808-10: Alehouse recognizances
Punch House: William Walker

1811: Northampton Mercury, 2 Feb

Wine and Liquor Trade
Punch-House, Winslow, Bucks

William Walker returns his most grateful thanks to the inhabitants of the Town of Winslow and its Vicinity, and others, for the very liberal Support be experienced in the said Trade , during his occupying the above House, and begs leave to inform them, he has now disposed of his Business to Mr William Jones, whom he humbly recommends to all his late Customers and the Public.

All Persons who have any Demand on the said William Walker, are requested to send the Particulars thereof to him, that the same may be immediately discharged; and all persons indebted to the said William Walker, are required to pay the Amount of their respective Debts to him or Messrs Wyatt & Willis, Solicitors, Winslow, who are duly authorized to receive the same.

William Jones avails himself of this of this opportunity respectfully to Inform the Customers of his Predecessors, Mr Richard Seaton and Mr William Walker, and the Public in general, of his having recently purchased and entered upon the above old established House, where he intends carrying on the Wine and Liquor Trade, Wholesale and Retail, and humbly requests a Continuance of the Favours so liberally bestowed on them, to merit which he is determined to use his utmost Endeavours, and to furnish them with Wines and Liquors of superior Qualities, and on the most reasonable Terms.

Prime London Porter now on Sale in any Quantity.

1810 (proved 1812): Will of William Walker

1811, 28 Oct: Manor court rolls (CBS D 82/3/397)

Surrender: Richard Seaton gent and Elizabeth his wife
Admission: William Jones of Winslow Brandy Merchant

Consideration £320

Alehouse recognizances
1811-15: Punch House: William Jones

1816: manor court

The lord of the manor on 9 Nov 1815 granted licence to William Jones of the Market Place liquor merchant to let on lease to Susannah Hill of Corporation Row, St James Clerkenwell, widow, a messuage in the Market Place then in the occupation of Jones or his tenants, for 21 years from 25 Dec then next ensuing.

Alehouse recognizances
1816-28: Punch House: Susan/Susannah Hill widow

1824: Trade directory
J. Hill, wine merchant, Market Place

1829, 26 Oct: Manor court rolls (CBS D 82/4/500)

Surrender: William Jones of Winslow brandy merchant
Admission: David Thomas Willis of Winslow gentleman

Consideration £160

All that Messuage or Tenement situate standing and being in the Market Square of Winslow aforesaid for some years last past called or known by the Name of the Punch House formerly occupied bv Benjamin Dudley since by Richard Seaton and William Walker respectively afterwards of the said William Jones late by Susannah Hill widow and now unoccupied to which premises the said William Jones was admitted 28 October 1811 on the surrender of Richard Seaton and Elizabeth his wife.

1829, 29 Oct: Manor court rolls (CBS D 82/4/501)

Surrender: David Thomas Willis
Admission: James Field of Ashley Green Chesham farmer

Consideration £250 [James Field actually owned the Tring Brewery]

Around this time a history of the church choir refers to William Tattam as landlord of "the Punch-bowl".

1839: Robson's Directory
Jennings, Henry Punch Bowl

1841: Census
Market Square
Henry Jenings, painter, aged 30, and family

1842-4: Pigot's Directory
Inns and Public Houses
Punch Bowl: Henry Jennings, Market Square

The name "Punch Bowl" was also used on the 1843 plan (see below), but everywhere else it was called "Punch House"..

1844, 28 Oct: Manor court rolls (CBS D 82/5/483)

Admission of John Brown of Tring Herts brewer and Frank John Moore of Northchurch Herts Esq (Trustees of James Field of Berkhamsted St Peter, gentleman, deceased)

[admitted to The Plough] And also all that Messuage or Tenement situate and being in the Market Square of Winslow aforesaid for some years last past called or known by the name of the Punch House formerly in the occupation of Benjamin Dudley since by Richard Seaton and William Walker respectively afterwards by William Jones late by Susannah Hill widow and now of the said James Field admitted 26 October 1829 on the surrender of David Thomas Willis.

The will of James Field (National Archives PROB 11/1976/191) shows that he was owner of the Tring Brewery, of which John Brown was the tenant. All its assets (including The George, Quainton and the White Lion, Waddesdon) were to be held in trust for his son or reputed son John Field, born of his late wife Maria before their marriage, and John’s children. The will apparently led to extensive litigation (see below).

1851: Census
Market Square

Thomas	Lomath	Head	married	64	Shoe Maker	b. Winslow
Mary	d^o	Wife	married	64	Shoe Maker's wife	b. Ottery St Mary, Devon
Thomas	Dickens	Grandson		10	Scholar	b. Winslow
Rosetta	d^o	Grandson		7	Scholar	b. Winslow
Robert	Dingley	Lodger	married	26	Plate Layer	b. Berkswell, Warws
Sarah	d^o	Lodger	married	29	Plate Layer's wife	b. Berkswell, Warws

1852: Bucks Advertiser and Aylesbury News, 24 April
NEAT AND USEFUL HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE, CHINA, GLASS, EARTHENWRE, KITCHEN REQUISITES,
Pony Chaise, 4-Wheel Ditto, Light Tilted Cart, a neat Bay Cob (rising 4), AND A VARIETY OF OTHER EFFECTS,
TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION, BY Dudley and Son, On THURSDAY, the 29th of APRIL, 1852,
On the premises of Mr. Thomas Lomath, Market-square, Winslow.
THE FURNITURE comprises mahogany 4-post, tent, and French bedsteads, in morine and cotton hangings; stump ditto; 3 straw palliasses, in bordered tick; 7 feather and flock beds, bolsters and pillows; 3 pair of blankets, six counterpanes, 6 pair of linen sheets, wash-stands and dressing tables, deal linen chest, Windsor and chamber chairs, elbow ditto, mahogany and oak folding pembroke and round tables, walnut-tree bureaus, 30-hour clock, in painted case; Dutch clock, chimney and pier glasses, oil paintings and several prints, 2 pair of plated candlesticks, 2 plated quart and 2 pint mugs; set of cruets and stand, with silver tops; quantity of glass, china, earthenware; various books, mahogany tea-caddy, single barrel gun and pistol, japan tea-trays and waiters, fenders and fire-irons, brass candlesticks, quantity of matting and carpeting, kitchen utensils, deal dough-trough, carpenter’s bench, quantity of carpenter’s tools, set of pair-horse harness, brass mounted; set of gig, ditto; saddles, bridles, pair of carriage lamps, pair of leather horse covers and gig apron, double corn-bin, bean mill, painted garden-chair, 3 iron-bound hogshead ale casks, washing-trays and tubs, a large glazed window frame and sash, and a variety of articles too numerous to mention. Also a light tilted cart, a pony chaise (nearly new) under duty, 4 wheel chaise in good preservation, a handsome cob (rising 4) quiet in harness.
The Sale will commence at 11 o’Clock. The whole will be sold without reserve.

1860: 7 Jan, Bucks Herald
Sale advert
THE PUNCH-HOUSE, in the Market Square, let to Mr Thomas Lorkin, and the PLOUGH Public-House, with out-offices attached, at the western entrance to the town, let to Mr. William Roads. The property is Copyhold of the Manor of Winslow, subject to trifling fines and quit rents. Early possession may be had if required.

The plan on the right shows the layout of the building in 1843. George Cross, draper at 15 Market Square, bought the Punch House in 1860 and made it into a private house for his business partner (see below). Although his will implies that he completely rebuilt it, it seems that he retained some of the original structure, and reused other materials from it. The stone-lined cellar clearly belongs to the earlier building. He probably filled in a gap between the Punch House and no.15 and created first-floor access between the two. After George Cross died, his daughters moved to no.13 and John Hathaway went to no.15.

1860, 28 May: Manor court
Surrender: John Brown of Tring Herts brewer and Frank John Moore of Northchurch Herts Esq, devisees in trust of James Field of Berkhampstead St Peter gentleman
Admission: George Cross of Winslow draper
For £265 paid to the trustees and executors of John Joseph Field's will proved 1859 who by a decree of Chancery dated 13 Jan 1855 in the causes Field v Brown, Brown v Brown, Brown v Field, Field v Moore and Smith v Brown was declared to be absolutely entitled to the holdings vested in Moore and Brown, and in Kinsey v Moore 27 June 1859
All that Messuage or Tenement situate and being in the Market Square of Winslow aforesaid now or lately called or known by the name of the Punch House some time since in the occupation of Susannah Hill widow and now of Thomas Lorkin. Rent 4d, fine 5s.

Will of George Cross, 1862 (proved 1864): I devise unto my said Wife [Charlotte] and the said James Hughes ... all that my Copyhold messuage or tenement on the Market Square in Winslow aforesaid in the occupation of John Hathaway and lately erected by me upon the site of a messuage or tenement which was surrendered to me by the Trustees under the Will of the late James Field deceased ... To hold the same unto my said Wife and the said James Hughes their heirs and assigns Upon trust during the life of my said Wife and after her death while any one or more of my three children Mary, Charlotte and Walter Essex shall be under the age of twenty five years to let the same from year to year ... And to stand possessed of the said respective hereditaments and premises lastly hereinbefore devised (subject to the estate and interest therein of my said Wife during her life and to the preceding trust) Upon trust for my said children ... in equal shares and proportions ...

1861 Census
Market Square

John	Hathaway	Head	married	45	Draper	b. Bourton on the Hill, Gloucs
Ann M.	d^o	Wife	married	40	Draper's wife	b. Marylebone
Mary	Hemmings	Mother in law	widow	70	Scholar	b. Berkshire
Alfred J.	Hathaway	Son		3	Scholar	b. Charlbury, Oxon
Walter H.	d^o	Son		2	d^o	d^o
Ann	Williams	Servant	unm	22	General servant	b. Berkswell, Warws

1871 Census
Market Square

Ann	Cross	Head	unm	45	Landowner	b. Winslow
Mary	d^o	Sister	d^o	22	d^o	d^o
Charlotte	d^o	d^o	d^o	21	d^o	d^o
Ann E.	Moore	Servant	d^o	14	General servant (domestic)	b. Ludgershall, Bucks

1874: Bucks Herald, 7 Nov

By Messrs. DUDLEY & SON.
MARKET SQUARE, WINSLOW.
MODERN DINING & DRAWING ROOM FURNITURE, the Contents of Four Bed Rooms, Kitchen Requisites, Wicker Four-Wheel, &c., &c., late the property of Miss Ann Cross, deceased,
TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION, BY DUDLEY & SON,
On WEDNESDAY, the 11th of NOVEMBER, 1874,
ON THE PREMISES, MARKET SQUARE, WINSLOW.
On view the Morning of Sale, which will commence at Eleven o’Clock.
Catalogues may be had at the Inns in the Neighbourhood; and of Messrs Dudley and Son, Auctioneer and Land Agents, Winslow.

1876: sale of "a newly built house facing the Market Square" by George Cross's executors

1881 Census
Market Square

James C.	Hawley	Head	married	30	Grocer (master partner) [see 6 High St]	b. Winslow
Emily	d^o	Wife	d^o	23	d^o wife	b. Moreton in Marsh, Gloucs
Winifred M.	d^o	Daughter	unm	11 m		b. Winslow
Harriett	White	Servant	d^o	20	General servant (domestic)	b. Gawcott
Selina	Edwin	d^o	d^o	14	Nurse (domestic)	b. Winslow

1881, 31 Oct: Manor court rolls (CBS D 82/8/8)

Surrender: James Hughes of Oxford gent, Mary Cross of Mursley spinster, Charlotte Cross of Mursley spinster
Admission: William Henry French

All that Messuage or Tenement situate and being in the Market Square of Winslow aforesaid late in the occupation of John Hathaway since of Ann Cross now unoccupied and sometime since erected by George Cross upon the site of a messuage or tenement which was surrendered to him by the Trustees under the will of the late James Field deceased

James Hughes Mary Cross and Charlotte Cross admitted 28 Oct 1864 as devisees of George Cross.

1885, 9 Nov: Manor court rolls (CBS D 82/8/202)

Surrender: William Henry French
Admission: George James Starkey of Winslow gent

Consideration: £335

All that Messuage or Tenement situate and being in the Market Square of Winslow aforesaid late in the occupation of John Hathaway since of Ann Cross and then of the Rev John Riordan

1886 (proved 1887): will of George James Starkey

I devise the freehold messuage or dwellinghouse in which I now reside situate in the Market Place in Winslow aforesaid to my dear Wife for her life she keeping the same insured against loss by fire in the sum of Three hundred pounds And after her decease I devise the same house with the appurtenances unto my Nephew Augustin George Stevens his heirs and assigns absolutely.

1887, 7 Nov: Manor court rolls (CBS D 82/8/272)

Admission of Mrs Sarah Starkey widow of George James Starkey late of Winslow gent deceased

All that Messuage or Tenement situate and being in the Market Square of Winslow aforesaid late in the occupation of John Hathaway since of Ann Cross and the Rev John Riordan afterwards of the said George James Starkey and now of the said Sarah Starkey his widow.

George and Sarah Starkey were the uncle and aunt of Augustine Stevens of no.15, with whom they were living in 1881.

1891 Census
Market Square

Sarah	Starkey	Head	Widow	72	Living on own means	b. Marston St Lawrence, Northants
George	Baldwin	Lodger	Single	50	Retired Draper	b. Winslow
Mary	Adkins	Servant	d^o	17	General Servant	d^o

Sarah and George were the children of Richard Baldwin (d.1861).

1898: put up for sale with 15 Market Square. Click here for the sales particulars. It is described as being "mainly of modern erection".

1901 Census
Market Square

Sarah	Starkey	Head	Widow	82	Living on own means	b. Greatworth, Northants
George	Baldwin	Brother	Single	59	d^o	b. Winslow
Florence Mary	Stevens	Niece	Single	41	Hosiery & Vest Knitter on own account	b. Water Stratford
Ann	Turney	Servant	Single	49	General Servant (domestic)	b. Hollingdon, Bucks

1905: will of George Baldwin proved

1911 Census
Market Square, 7 rooms

Sarah	Starkey	Head	Widow	92	Private means	b. Greatworth, Northants
Augustine George	Stevens	Nephew	Married	53	Commercial traveller, silk neckwear	b. Water Stratford
Annie Gallard	Stevens	Niece	Married 25 years, 2 children	53		b. Winslow

1914: Assessment (TNA, IR 58/2348 no.261)
Situation              Market Square
[red] Sarah Starkey decd 18.8.14
Description         House
Gross Value: Buildings   £17
Rateable Value: Buildings             £13 - 10
Occupier              Mrs Sarah Starkey
Owner                  Augustine George Stevens
Interest of Owner            Trustee for Mrs Starkey   Freehold
Estimated Rent                 £17
Who pays (a) Rates and Taxes (b) Insurance       }
Who is liable for repairs                                        }              Owner
Charges, Easements and Restrictions affecting Market Value of Fee Simple
Private right of way to one house only near door
31/10/14
Particulars, description and note made on inspection
Brick & Tile House
Sitting room, kitchen scullery larder & Coalhouse & W.C.
4 bedrooms
No garden
1040 sq feet
Charges, Easements and Restrictions affecting Market Value of Fee Simple
[red] V19583
[red] VC 29706 Annie G. Stevens to Geo. A. Stevens 17/2/20
Valuation – Market Value of Fee Simple in possession of whole property in its present condition   £340
Deduct Market Value of Site under similar circumstances, but if divested of structures, timber, fruit trees, and other things growing on the land   16’ front x 65 = 1040 sq feet   £40
Difference Balance, being portion of market value attributable to structures, timber &c.                £300
GROSS VALUE                                                                                                                          £340

1921 Census
Market Square, 6 rooms

Augustine George	Stevens	Head	Married	63y 6m	Commercial traveller, drapery (employed by wholesale drapers, Pett Hamwell & Co, Birmingham)	b. Water Stratford
Annie Gallard	Stevens	Wife	Married	63y 8m	Home duties	b. Winslow