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THE LAMB

Here he tackles a beerhouse - the Lamb -which operated at the east end of Brentford High Street for around 55 years and under one landlord, Edmund Welsh, for two thirds of its life. The newspaper accounts cover some familiar themes - drunkenness, short measures, passing of counterfeit coins - and, more surprisingly, the theft of a bunch of flowers from the landlord. Towards the end is a detailed account of the accommodation, room by room, in sufficient detail to construct a floor plan or even a 3D model, should you wish.

A summary of licensees is at Appendix 1, but read on to get the full history.

409 HIGH STREET, OLD BRENTFORD

The so called "Beer House" Act of 1830 allowed any ratepayer to open his house to sell beer or cider, but not wine or spirits. These new houses were licensed by the Customs and Excise, and it appears that few questions were asked, you paid your two guineas and opened up your house to sell beer. Between 1830 and 1869, a large number of these new beerhouses were opened. By 1870, over 40 were trading in Brentford, which also had 37 fully licensed houses.

John Sawyer - c. 1855

The Lamb was one of these "new Beerhouses", opening it doors about 1854/5, the first reference is in the Ealing Rate book for 1 November 1855: --page 72, number 764 - John Sawyer (licensee), Sich & Co. (Proprietor), Beer House - Rateable value £15.

The name of the new house was no doubt chosen by the proprietor, John Sich, of the Lamb Brewery, Chiswick.

A John Sawyer had previously been the landlord of a beer house in Brook Lane, Brentford, this may be the same man. His tenancy was brief as the Ealing Rate Book for May 1856, has this entry --

Page. 72, number 778, Joseph Sawyer, (licensee), Sich & Co., (Proprietor), Beer House,

Joseph Sawyer - c. 1855/6

Again it appears the tenancy was very short as the entry for the second rate assessment in October 1856, is the same, with the addition of the name "Welch" written on the line of the entry.

This presumably was Edmund Welch who had taken over the house in the interim before the next rate assessment in April 1857, where he is recorded as the landlord.

(In transcribing the various documents, the two variant spellings of the surname Welch/Welsh are found, they have been transcribed from the various documents as they are spelt there. In the reporting of events at the house in the newspapers, sometimes the landlord is wrongly referred to as Edward Welch, again this has not been corrected.)

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Edmund Welch - c. 1855/6 - to June 1892

According to the statement made in August 1892, following the death of her husband, Ellen Welch stated that she had been at the house for 37 years, which places them at the house about 1855. This fits with the following case reported at the Brentford Petty Sessions in 1856, when there was a case of passing counterfeit coins in Brentford concerning Edward (Edmund) Welch, who is recorded as the landlord of a beerhouse in Brentford, later known as the Lamb.

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The new tenants soon had to deal with one of the many hazards of the trade, the passing of counterfeit coins.

Brentford Petty Sessions - November 15

John Ferns, James Bishop and Joseph Cann, were charged with passing counterfeit coin, in Brentford, on Wednesday evening, the 12th inst. The following are particulars.

Ellen Welch stated : I am the wife of Edward Welch. We keep a beer house in Brentford (The Lamb) on Wednesday last, Cann came into our house and had some beer. He gave me 1s. I gave him change, and put the shilling into my pocket. He afterwards gave me another 1s. to change, which I put on one side. I put it in my pocket afterwards, but I know the one produced to be the same, because I had only 2s. more in my pocket.

Sarah Monk, of the Fox and Hounds, Old Brentford, deposed to having taken a bad shilling of one of the prisoners, who were all three in company at the time.

John Smith, police constable, said, from information he had received, on Wednesday evening, he went in search of the prisoners, and found them all in the tap room of the Drum. He took Cann and Bishop into custody. Upon searching Cann, he found 8s. 3d. in small silver, such as sixpences, four penny and three penny pieces; he also had one bad shilling, an envelope, and a sheet of note paper. He found nothing on Bishop.

Edward Fielder, police constable, said he accompanied Smith to the Drum, and took Ferns into custody. Upon searching him, he found 9s. 7d.in sixpences and smaller coins, all in good money, also 6s. 10d.in copper, and a memorandum to lodgings in Windsor, a pocket book, eye-glass, and an umbrella. He said he knew nothing of the other prisoners. Mrs. Monk gave him a bad shilling, which she had taken from men answering the description of the prisoners. He also received 2s. of Mrs. Welch, which were also bad.

Cann said : In coming through London, a Jew asked me to sell our great coats, and we did so, for 12s. We afterwards found 5s. bad amongst them.

The prisoners were then committed for trial.

Joseph Cann, aged 18, and James Bishop, aged 19, were tried at the Old Bailey on the 24 November 1856, both pleaded guilty and were sentenced to six months imprisonment.

(West London Observer 22 November 1856.)

After this introduction of the realities of running at public house in Victorian Britain, things were quiet for the next seventeen year.

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1861 Census - (The Lamb), High Street, Old Brentford

Edmund Welsh, Head, Married, aged 40, Market Gardener, born Ireland
Ellen Welsh, Wife, Marrried, aged 39, born Ireland
Plus 2 boarders.

(Ref. - RG 9 / 778, fo. 122, p. 25, sch. 134)

At this time it was quite common for landlords running beer houses to have another job, leaving his wife to run the house during the day.

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In 1869 the licensing of beerhouses was transferred from the Customs and Excise, to the Licensing Magistrates at Brentford. Whereas the Customs and Excise control of the houses was very lax, under the control of the magistrates, it was very different. At the first licensing sessions after they took control, the Brentford Magistrates immediately closed four of the worst run houses, where the licensee had been convicted of serious offences. The Lamb appears to have been well run, there are no reported cases of any serious offence committed by the licensee.

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1871 Census - The Lamb, High Street, Old Brentford

Edmund Welsh, Head, Married, aged 47, A Publican, born Ireland
Ellen Welsh, Wife, Married, aged 46, born Ireland
Plus 2 lodgers

(Ref. - RG 10 / 1319, fo. 94, p. 47, sch. 250)

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After seventeen years of comparative quiet, or at least no incidents have been found for the interim, there were six in the next eight years.

Brentford Petty Sessions - Saturday 8 March 1873.

DRUNKENNESS

Arthur Head, James Armitage and Joseph Angel were charged with disorderly conduct in the Lamb beerhouse, at Old Brentford on the 1st inst.

Edmund Welsh, of the Lamb beerhouse, Old Brentford, said on the 1st inst. he went out for a few minutes, when he heard a scream in the taproom. He ran in and saw a woman on the floor. Armitage said she was his wife and he must do the best he could to save her. The other two men were fighting. Witness went out for the police, and requested that his house might be cleared. They refused to go; but went to the back and washed themselves at the pump.

Police constable, 259 T, said he went to the house and saw two of the men covered with blood. They were ordered out, but they would not go. Armitage was looking after his wife, and was not fighting. They were the worse for liquor.

The prisoner did not deny there was a disturbance, but said it was caused by a stranger, who made a dispute about a pot of beer.

The Bench discharged Armitage, and fined the others 17s. each, including costs.

(Middlesex Chronicle 15 March 1873)

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Next the Lamb had some windows broken, a not unusual event at pubic houses, and, no doubt, good business for the glaziers of Brentford.

Brentford Petty Sessions, Saturday 12 May.

WILFUL DAMAGE TO A BEERHOUSE

Thomas Williams and John Cushing were summoned for wilfully damaging four panes of glass, valued at 9s., the property of Edward Wills, landlord of the Lamb beerhouse, Old Brentford.

The defendant Cushing did not appear.

The prosecutor stated that on the day in question the defendants came to his house and called for a pot of beer, with which Mrs. Wells would not serve them as they had been drinking. They went into the tap room and commenced fighting and using bad language, and witness went into the room and ordered them out, telling them to go and get their beer somewhere else.

The Chairman : Were they drunk.

Witness : I don't known, sir. They pretended to be so if they were not.

The Chairman : But answer my question, because a publican has no right to choose his customers, and therefore if those men were not drunk you were bound to serve them.

Witness : Well, they were drunk, your worships. Finding I could not turn the prisoners out I told Mrs. Wells to go behind the bar, and went to the police station. When I returned I found four squares of glass had been broken, and they will cost 9s. to repair. The glass was in the window of the street entrance door and the tap room.

Cross-examined by Mr. Williams : Mrs. Wells refused to serve the beer because you were drunk. I told you to leave the house but you would not do so.

Albert Wicks was then called by the prosecutor, but he stated he never saw Williams break the window; it was the other man who knocked his fist through the glass.

The Chairman : Was he drunk or sober ?

Witness : Well, I didn't take much notice of this man (Williams), I know the other was drunk.

The Chairman : Was he drunk or sober ? Certainly you can answer that question.

The Chairman (to defendant) : This witness says he did not see you break the windows, and as there is no evidence against you, and you are discharged.

The magistrates then granted a warrant for the apprehension of the man Cushing.

(Middlesex Chronicle 19 May 1877)

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AN EXPENSIVE BUNCH OF FLOWERS - WATERMEN IN TROUBLE

Henry Thomas, waterman, of Rotherhithe, was charged with stealing a bunch of flowers, value 4d., the property of John Bailey, landlord of The Lamb beershop, Brentford, and with assaulting the police; and James Thomas, his brother, a waterman, of Mortlake, was charged with attempting to rescue his brother from custody.

P. C. 462 T stated that on Sunday evening he was on duty in High Street, Old Brentford, when he was called by Bailey who charged the prisoner Henry with stealing flowers. Henry upon hearing the charge struck Bailey violently in the face, whereupon he took him into custody. On the way to the station prisoner became very violent, and the other prisoner came up, saying he would not allow his brother to be taken into custody, took hold of him, and attempted to release him. Henry kicked violently all the way to the station.

P. C. 406 T stated he saw Bailey struck in the face by the prisoner Henry. He went into the beershop and helped to take Henry into custody. The prisoner on the way to the station kicked him violently on the shin. James came up using abusive language and attempted to rescue his brother. Before the prisoner was allowed to be taken to the station James got his brother some beer, saying, "You shall have some beer before you go in," and gave it to his brother in defiance on witness's interference. After drinking some Henry spat it over witness's clothes.

Bailey said he did not wish to press the charge, and was sorry he had charged at all.

Mr. Hogarth commented severely on the conduct of Bailey in charging a person and then withdrawing from the prosecution. Had it not been for Bailey charging the prisoner for undoubtedly larking with a few paltry flowers, the police would not have been assaulted. People should consider before they prefer charges.

Inspector Tarling stated that at the time of the disturbance there were upwards of three hundred persons round the spot, and it took four constables to take prisoners into custody.

Prisoners were fine 40s. each, or a month's hard labour.

(The John Bailey mentioned above, was not the landlord of the Lamb, he was most likely a barman or possible a customer.)

(Middlesex Mercury - 25 August 1877)

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ASSAULT AT THE LAMB

Brentford Police Court, Tuesday, 2 April 1878

John Pinney was charged with assaulting Charles Gardener, at Old Brentford.

Complainant said he went into the tap room of the Lamb Inn, Old Brentford, about seven o'clock on the previous evening, and had five or six pints of beer, when defendant came in, and he (complainant) told him he was not a licensed waterman, whereupon prisoner pushed him and pulled him about, and struck him in the face six or seven times when he was sitting down.

William Childs corroborated, and in answer to prisoner, said he did not back complainant to fight prisoner for £5.

James Roule, for prisoner, said complainant aggravated the prisoner by calling his father names, and bringing up family affairs.

The Chairman said prisoner had acted very cowardly by striking a man much smaller than himself when he was sitting down, and sentenced him to one month's hard labour.

(Buckinghamshire Advertiser - 6 April 1878)

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A VIOLENT DRUNKARD

Jeremiah Cocklin, an Irish labourer, was charged with wilfully breaking a square of glass at the house No. 410 High Street, Old Brentford, and also with being drunk and disorderly and assaulting the police. According to the evidence of Mrs. Ryce, living at the Water Works Lodge, on the previous Friday afternoon she saw prisoner wilfully smash a pane of glass in the shop window of Mrs. Weeden, greengrocer, High Street. On Mrs. Weeden running out and taxing him with it, he used very bad language to her.

Mrs. Weeden said it was not only the window smashed, but some of the bottles which held sweets. The value of the glass was 9s.

Police constable Holland said about 1.15 on Friday afternoon he was called to the Lamb, Old Brentford, to eject the prisoner, who was drunk and behaving in a very disorderly manner. The landlord had refused to serve him, had he refused to leave, and made use of very bad language. When he saw witness he became furious, and asked if he was the man who was going to take him. Witness did not know anything of the of the broken window then, and told him he was going to eject him from the house. Prisoner then kicked him in the stomach, and witness closed with him and threw him. For a quarter of an hour he was very violent, and it was not until another constable came up that he was taken into custody.

Prisoner pleaded guilty; but said he had been teetotaller for nine months, and on the morning in question had drunk some whiskey which made him mad.

The Chairman said the first charge was for breaking a window, and there was no doubt about the offence having been committed. The prisoner would have to pay 9s. the damage, and a fine of 10s., or go to prisoner for 14 days. For the second offence, the unprovoked assault on the constable, he would have one month's imprisonment with hard labour.

(Middlesex Chronicle 1 January 1881)

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1881 Census - (The Lamb Beer House ), 409 High Street, Old Brentford

Edward Walsh, Head, Married, age 55, Publican, born Ireland
Ellen Walsh, Wife, Married, age 53, born Ireland
Ellen Crotty, Niece, Single, age 30, Servant, born Ireland
Johanna Crotty, Niece, Single, aged 19, Dressmaker, born Ireland

(Ref. - RG 11 / 1348, fo. 84, p. 13, sch 15))

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THE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ACT

Edward Welch, landlord of the Lamb Beerhouse, Old Brentford, was summoned by Mr. James Gregg, Inspector of Weights and Measures for the district, for having three unjust measures in his possession.

Defendant admitted the offence, but said he did not know the pots were incorrect until they were seized by the Inspector, and he put in an account from his pewterer (Mr. Rich) in order to show that his measures and pots had been examined.

The Bench imposed a fine of 40s.

(This was another common offence committed by publicans.)

(Buckinghamshire Advertiser 25 June 1881)

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1891 Census - (The Lamb, Beer House, 409 High Street, Old Brentford)

Edwd. Welch, Head, Marrried, age 68, Beer House Keeper, born Ireland
Ellen Welch, Wife, Marrried, age 65, born Ireland
Ellen Crottey, Niece, Single, age 38, Servant, born Ireland

(Ref. - RG 12 / 1031, fo. 51, p. 13, sch. 79)

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DEATH OF THE LANDLORD

Edmund Welch died 13 June 1892.

Probate Records - Edmund Welch of the Lamb beerhouse, 409 High Street, Brentford, 409 High Street, Brentford, died 13 June 1892. Probate London 30 June to Alexander McNae, Licensed Victualler. - Effects £130 8s.

After probate had been granted, the house was then transferred to the widow.

The Lamb, Brentford, Edmund Welch (deceased) to Alexander McNae (Trustee). Alexander McNae was a fellow publican, he ran the North Star beerhouse in the North Road. Also several members of the McNae had previously lived in close proximity to the Lamb.

Mr. T. Woodbridge applied that the licence of the Lamb might be transferred to Ellen Welch, the widow, who had, with her husband, kept the house for thirty seven years. - Granted.

(West London Observer - Saturday, 13 August 1892)

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Ellen Welch - June 1892 to November 1893

Brentford Petty Sessions, Saturday June 3

SERVING DURING PROHIBITED HOURS

Ellen Welsh was summoned for allowing the door of her public house to be opened during prohibited hours and serving customers.

Mr. T. Woodbridge appeared for the defendant.

Police constable Stone said he was on duty at 3.50 on Sunday, and looking through the window saw the barmaid drawing beer, and hand it to a Mrs. Martin, who told witness she had been out all day selling watercress and thought it no harm to have half a pint of beer.

Mr. Woodbridge said Mrs. Welsh and her husband had carried on the house for 38 years, and no complaint had been made against them. She had given instruction to her niece not to serve drink, but she had done so on that occasion.

The defendant was fined 10s.

Mary Martin was summoned for being on the premises during prohibited hours, and was ordered to pay the costs.

(Middlesex Chronicle 10 June 1893)

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Less than six months later the Ellen Welch transferred the house on : --

Brentford Petty Sessions - Saturday, November 25.

TRANSFER OF LICENCE - Lamb, High Street, Brentford, Ellen Welch to Thomas J. Hall.

(Middlesex Chronicle 2 December 1893)

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Thomas J. Hall - November 1893 to c. 1894/5

A brief tenancy with no details found.

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William Thomas Broadfoot - c. 1894/5 to 15 October 1898

In the Brentford Directory of 1888, William T. Broadfoot was recorded as a grocer at 410 High Street, next door to Edmund Welch. In 1896 he is recorded as a running the two properties, nos. 410 & 409 High Street. It appears that William Broadfoot had expanded the scope of the business.

Wm. Thos. Broadfoot married Emily Helms, 9 April 1882, St. John the Evangelist, Kensal Green, Westminster, he was aged 22 and Emily Helms also aged 22.

After about three years in the house, William Broadfoot died, as these details for the entry in the probate register shows :--

"William Thomas Broadfoot of the "Lamb" beerhouse, High Street, Old Brentford, Middlesex, beerhouse keeper, died 15 October 1898. Probate London 24 November to Emily Broadfoot, widow. Effects £151."

William Thomas Broadfoot was buried 20 October 1898 at the Ealing and Old Brentford Cemetery. He was aged 39

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Emily Broadfoot - 15 October 1898 to c. 1900/1

As was customary his widow took over the business. She was listed at the house at the 1900 licensing sessions in March that year, but by the time of the 1901 census, she was living with her brother in law, Percy Bayliss and his wife Jane, at 3 Hamilton Road, Brentford.

Emily Broadfoot remarried in early 1903 to John Philip O'Dwyer. She continued to live in Brentford until her death in 1939. She was buried alongside her first husband.

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Thomas Reynolds - c. 1900/1 to November 1901

1901 Census - The Lamb,

Thomas Reynolds, Head, Widr.aged 44, Beer House Keeper - own account - at Home, born Chiswick, Middlesex
Emma M. Reynolds, Daughter, Single, age 14, born Brentford, Middlesex
Mary Stevens, Servant, Single, aged 13, Servant Domestic, born Taventon, Devon
Emma Haward, Visitor, Single, age 21, born Lambeth, London

(Ref. - RG 13 / 1194, fo. 58v., p. 11, sch. 75)

The brief tenancy of Thomas William Reynolds is explained in the following court case :

DISPUTE BETWEEN PUBLICANS

At the Brentford County Court, yesterday, before his Honor Judge Short, K. C., William Reynolds, of the Lamb Beerhouse, Brentford, sued Mrs. Emily Broadfoot, of the Indian Queen, Strand-on-the-Green, Chiswick, for £50 damages for breach of contract.

Mr. C. Robinson was for the plaintiff, and Mr. J. C. Earle for the defendant.

The former said that the defendant sold the business of a public house in Brentford to the plaintiff, and under the agreement she contracted that she would not be "interested in or concerned in any licensed premises" within a mile of plaintiff’s house. If she did she was to pay £50. It came to the knowledge of the plaintiff that the defendant had, to all purposes, taken the Indian Queen, though the licence was not in her name. She ordered the goods, she had her own furniture there, and many of his customers were being drawn to the house, where the defendant served in the bar.

Plaintiff in bearing out this statement, said he in consequence of defendants actions he had had to sell his house. He had visited the Indian Queen, and saw the defendant serving in the bar.

Mr. Earle urged that plaintiff had sold his house, but he had not lost on the transaction, and had suffered no damage. The Court could not be bound by the words of the contract only, but must take all the circumstances into consideration. He argued that the words of the contract implied that the defendant must not be concerned in the profits of another house. The defendant had no direct or pecuniary interest in the business; all she did was to serve in the bar.

His Honor said that if she let the business down she might lose her place, and she had therefore a pecuniary interest in pushing the business. But the point was very fine, and he would take time to consider his judgement.

(Richmond & Twickenham Times - 23 November 1901)

(The judgement in the case has yet to be found.)

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Brentford Petty Sessions - Thursday, 21 November - The Lamb, Brentford, from Thomas William Reynolds to Frederick Thomas Savage.

(Middlesex Chronicle 23 November 1901)

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Frederick Thomas Savage - November 1901 to 1903/4

Again a brief tenancy, with no details found.

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George Hayter - 1903/4 to May 1906

The only evidence of his tenancy found if the following transfer after about two years at the house :--

Brentford Petty Sessions - Tuesday, The Lamb, Brentford, from George Hayter to J. H. Snowball.

(Middlesex Chronicle 12 May 1906)

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James Harrison Snowball - May 1906 to April 1907

Brentford Petty Sessions Tuesday 23 October 1906

The new landlord soon had an incident to deal with, that led to him being brought before the magistrates himself.

DRUNK ON LICENCE PREMISES

William Kennedy (38), labourer, of 1 Lamb Passage, Brentford, was charged with being drunk on licensed premises, viz., the Lamb public house, High Street, Brentford.

He said he was drunk but not on licensed premises.

P. S. 34 T said that acting on information he went to the Lamb, and landlord asked him to put the prisoner out. Prisoner was in the house, and was very drunk. The landlord said he had not served him, and he had been looking for a policeman to put him out.

Prisoner said he went out when he was told, and was not arrested on the premises.

Witness said he was drunk on the premises.

P. C. 73 T deposed to seeing the prisoner in the bar staggering. When witness went in the landlord said he wanted the prisoner put outside. He added that the man had been in the house over an hour, but had not been served.

Nothing was known against the prisoner, and he was fined 10s., plus the doctor‘s fee.

(Middlesex Chronicle 27 October 1906)

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This was not the end of the story, the landlord was then charged with serving William Kennedy with beer.

PERMITTING DRUNKENNESS

James Harrison Snowball, landlord of the Lamb, Brentford, was summoned for permitting drunkenness in his licensed premises.

Police Sergeant Pleyall 34 T, said he visited the Lamb, Brentford and was asked by the landlord to put a man out as he was drunk. The man was then taken to the station, and then information was given witness that the man had been in the house for over an hour.

He saw defendant, who admitted the man had been in the house over an hour, but that he had not been served. The man was drunk, and was fined 10s. and costs at that Court.

To Mr. C. Robinson (who defended) : Witness understood defendant to mean that the man had been in and out of the house during the hour, and not that he was there the whole time. Two other men in the house stated that the man was not served, but they refused to give their names as they did not want to be mixed up in it.

P. C. 737 T. said that as he passed the house, he saw the man leaning against the bar drunk. Just after the defendant called the first witness to eject him.

Addressing the Bench, Mr. Robinson said that the defendant had to use some discretion in getting rid of the man, and he did not do anything consistent with permitting drunkenness.

Giving evidence defendant said directly he noticed the man in his house, he immediately ordered him out, but he stood arguing. Witness went to look for the police, but could not see one, and eventually the man went out, but subsequently came back and asked for beer. Witness refused to serve him, and induced him to go out. Some time afterwards he came back again, and again witness ordered him out. He refused to go and before witness could get him out the police arrived. He was not in his house on the last occasion more than three minutes. The first time he was in the house about ten minutes and the second time not quite so long.

Mr. Robinson said it was natural for the police to summons the landlord in the case where a drunken man was found on licensed premises, but in this case he contended that the landlord had done his best to get rid of him.

The Chairman said the Bench believed the defendant did do his best to get rid of the man, and the case would be dismissed.

(Middlesex Chronicle and Richmond and Twickenham Times - 10 November 1906)

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THE CLOSURE OF THE LAMB

There had for a long time been concerns that there were to many public houses in Brentford, in 1870 there were no less than 80 public houses in the town, 37 fully licensed and 43 beerhouses. In the thirty years to 1900, several houses had closed, and others transferred to newly developing areas around Ealing, Norwood, Southall and Greenford. Still Brentford was thought to be oversupplied with drinking facilities, and in 1904 a Government Bill was enacted which allowed for the closure of public houses, with compensation, if it was thought the house was unnecessary. This was to be the fate of the Lamb.

At the Annual Licensing Day held 4 February 1908, the renewal of four Brentford beerhouses were being considered for closure under the Act that allowed the closure of Licensed with compensation, if it was shown the house was not necessary in that district. Four Brentford beerhouses were selected that year for closure, they were :--

The Harp, Albany Road, Brentford;
The Jolly Gardeners, Windmill Road, Brentford;
The Lamb, High Street, Brentford;
The Barleycorn, High Street, Brentford.

The four houses were adjourned for consideration to the 19 February.

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THE ADJOURNED LICENSING DAY

THE BARLEYCORN and THE LAMB, BRENTFORD

Mr. Maitland applied that the Barleycorn, Brentford, and the Lamb, Brentford, should be postponed to the adjourned sessions, these being houses which had been offered as surrenders, and with regard to which negotiations were still in abeyance. - This was agreed to

(Middlesex Chronicle 23 Feb. 1908)

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THE LAMB, High-street, Brentford

At the adjourned session, consideration of the Lamb public house, High-street, Brentford, was taken. Mr. Forrest Fulton and Mr. R.O.B. Lane, on behalf of the tenant and copyholder, offered no objection to the premises being sent up for consideration for compensation. Mr. H. Pittard, Mr. Sydney Barnes, surveyor, and Inspector Eyres, gave the necessary evidence as to the scale of the premises, the character of the locality, the needs of the neighbourhood, and the structural defects. The Bench ordered the house to be sent up as redundant.

(Middlesex Chronicle 7 March 1908)

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In the middle of the negotiations there was a change of landlord.

The licence was transferred on at the Brentford Sessions, 11 April 1907 - James Harrison Snowball to William Edward Deacon

(Brentford Licensing Records, Chiswick Library.)

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William Edward Deacon - April 1907 to December 1908

The case for the closure of the Lamb was now in the hands of the Middlesex Licensing Committee, the first meeting was held in May was to select from the 10 houses referred that year, those to be closed with compensation. Three of the houses referred from Brentford were not proceeded with as they were to be surrendered to allow the building of new houses across the division.

Preliminary Meeting of the Middlesex Licensing Committee - 29 May 1908.

THE LICENSING ACT 1904

List of Licences referred by the Local Authority Licensing District of Brentford

To the Compensation Authority for the area comprising the above District.

At the Adjourned General Annual Licensing Meeting, holden at the Town Hall, Brentford, on the 19th day of February 1908, for the above mentioned licensing district, we, being the Renewal Authority for the said district, decided to refer to you, under Section 1 of the Licensing Act, 1904, the question of the renewal of the licences held in respect of the premises specified below:--

The "Lamb" B. H., High Street, Brentford, Beer House On

Licensee - William Edward Deacon-

Leaseholder - Sich & Co., Lamb Brewery, Chiswick.

Freeholder - Mary Elizabeth Wren, Joy House Twickenham Road, Isleworth.

THE LAMB (BEERHOUSE)

KEW BRIDGE ROAD, OLD BRENTFORD

REPORT No. 4

In connection with the question so referred, we report as follows : --

The renewal of the licence was formally applied for.

Evidence was given on oath by Alfred Henry Pittard.

The population of Old Brentford, 13,900; estimated public house population, 11,095; acreage 874.

Licences in Old Brentford - 22 Ale; 18 Beer on; 2 Beer off; 3 Grocers; Total 45; Clubs 2.

This is a beerhouse, the licence of which was transferred to the present licensee, William Edward Deacon, on 11th April 1907. The house is tied to Messers. Sich and Co., Brewers, of Chiswick.

Eight persons have held the licence since 1872, from which date no conviction has been recorded.

The net assessment to the Poor Law, £32.

The two nearest licensed houses are the Royal Tar Beerhouse, 30 yards away, and the Salutation Public House, 50 yards away.

Sidney Walter John Barnes, Surveyor. This house is situate on the north side of Kew Bridge Road, near to the filters and pumping station of the Metropolitan Water Board at Kew Bridge. It has a frontage to the road of 20 ft. 6in., and there is a cartway 11 ft. 0 in. in width on the east side, which affords access to the rear of the house.

Public Bar. --- 11 ft. 3 in. x 5 ft. 0 in. and 6 ft. 8 in. x 6 ft. 1 in., and 2 ft. 4 in. x 3 ft. 6 in. x 9 ft. 0 in. high. Door from Kew Bridge Road 6 ft. 4 in. x 3 ft. 8 in., glazed with embossed glass and ventilating grate over. Matched and varnished dado, east wall with paper over. Ceiling papered and varnished. Grained and varnished partition between bar and club room full height of bar, with door to club room. Fixed seats around bar. Length of serving counter, 14 ft. 0 in. Door to club room.

Serving Bar. -- 9 ft. x 5 ft. 10 in. x 9 ft. 0 in. high, with door to lobby at foot of stairs.

Club Room. -- 19 ft. 7 in. x 7 ft. 10 in. and 7 ft. 0 in. x 2 ft. 10 in. x 9 ft. 0 in. high. Fixed window 5 ft. 7 in. x 5 ft. 0 in., with ventilating grate over. Boarded and painted dado 5 ft. 0 in. high, and wall above painted. Ceiling whitened. Fire place. Fitted with seats and tables.

Passage from Bar to Yard at rear. -- 3 ft. 0 in. wide, 6 ft. 8 in. high. Doors to kitchen and lobby of stairs. Walls papered and ceiling whitened.

Yard and Premises at rear. -- The yard at rear is width of house by 25 ft. 6 in. deep. There is a door from cartway at side, which is kept closed. In the north-east corner is a small brick built wash-house, with copper and fireplace. There are wooden sheds for coals, &c., along west side of yard. The yard is paved with bricks and stone, and drained to gullies.

Sanitary Accommodation and Water Supply. -- There is a W.C. for use of tenant on the north side of the yard, adjoining the wash-house. It has a long copper pan. The only light is by a small opening above door. Immediately opposite the door of the W.C. is the urinal, which is formed by north boundary wall of yard on one side 4½ in. brickwork rendered in cement, against wood shed on west, and a boarded screen 2 ft. 6 in. on house side. There is no means of flushing, but a gully for drainage. The water supply is from a pump in the yard, in which there is also a large stone sink, but all in open.

Generally. -- The trade accommodation is limited to one bar, and a tap room. The latter, owing to its length, is dark at the farthest end from the window. The domestic accommodation is poor, and the rooms, with the exception of the two first floor rooms (which are only 6 ft. high) are small. The stairs are dark and dangerous. There is no proper means of water supply. The house generally requires redecorating, and the walls are damp. The sanitary arrangements are bad, the position of the W.C. (for the use of the tenant and family) and the urinal being very objectionable.

Within a quarter mile radius of the house the following licensed premises are situate :--

FULL LICENCES

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Yards - - - - - - - Total
Salutation Inn - - - - - - - - - 50
Fox and Hounds - - - - - -- 162
Waggon and Horses - - - - 260
Barge Aground - - - - - - - - 368
Star and Garter - - - - - - - - 440
North Star - - - - - - - - - - - - 587 - - - - - - - - - - 7

BEERHOUSES, ON-LICENCES

Royal Tar - - - - - - - - - - - - - 30
Plough - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -77
Express - - - - - - - - - - - - - 357 - - - - - - - - - - 2

Total Licences - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 10

The two nearest licensed premises are: --

Royal Tar (Beerhouse) - - - -- - 30 yards
Salutation Inn (Public House) - 50 "

Henry Eyres (Sub-Divisional Inspector of Metropolitan Police).

This is a small house, with only one entrance upon the footway. It is used by the working classes, and is well conducted. Fairly clean. Not much affected by holiday traffic. To far from Kew Bridge, and not much room to draw up. Nothing special about the custom. The neighbourhood has not increased.

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DIFFERENTIATION.

Royal Tar (Beer House). On the south side of Kew Bridge Road, at the north-west corner of The Hollows, and almost opposite the Lamb. A comparatively new house, with separate entrances to public and private bars. Good tap room. The bars and tap rooms are conveniently arranged and well lighted. Height, 9 ft. 10 in. Club room on first floor. Urinal at rear of house, entered from The Hollows.

Salutation Inn (P. H.). A fully-licensed house on the north side of Kew Bridge Road, with entrance by double doors from that road to public bar. Private bar and tap room off public bars, and a private bar with entrance from passage on east side of house. Club room on first floor.

Signed on behalf of the Renewal Authority - Geo. Brodie Clark, Clerk to the Renewal Authority. 2nd April 1908.

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Six weeks later there was the second meeting of the committee to determine the fate of the Lamb.

The Principal Meeting of the Middlesex Licensing Committee 11 July 1908

LICENCE REFUSED

At the Middlesex Licensing Committee on Saturday at the Guildhall, Westminster, the question of the extinction of the licence of the Lamb, Kew Bridge, Brentford, was considered.

Mr. Travers Humphreys, who appeared for the justices, pointed out that the licensee Mr. E. Deacon, had been in possession since 1887.

(This is strange, Edward Deacon has only taken over the house in April, three months before.

Mr. A. F. Woollen said that he appeared for the trustees of the late Mr. W. Barnes, the copyholders, and they thought the licence should be renewed, but they took up the position that they would not resist the wishes of the justices, if the justices thought after hearing the evidence thought the licence should be go.

Mr. Sidney Barnes, surveyor, then gave evidence of the position of the house, it arrangements and sanitary condition. The house was inconveniently arranged. Near it were two better houses, with better accommodation, and one had been recently rebuilt.

Cross-examined : It was the only house on the North side of High Street from the Express. It was a quarter of a mile from Brentford Market.

Mr. A. H. Pittard, justices' clerk, said that he held consents from the brewers to the extinction of the licence subject to compensation. The licensed houses near were better than The Lamb.

Cross-examined : The Brewers' lease expires next year; the trade done was about three barrels a week.

Mr. Wootton said he would leave the matter in the hands of the justices. If they refused the licence he went down with his flag nailed to the mast.

The renewal was refused.

(Middlesex Chronicle 18 July 1908)

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With the refusal of the renewal of the licence, the house was now to be closed and the only matter remaining was to determine the amount of compensation to be made. This was set out in a further meeting of the committee.

Supplemental Meeting of the Middlesex Licensing Committee - 23 October 1908.

At this meeting the amount of compensation was arranged as follows : --

The "Lamb" B. H., High Street, Brentford, Beer House On.

Licensee - William Edward Deacon - £85

Leaseholder - Sich & Co., Lamb Brewery, Chiswick - £87 10s.

Freeholder - Mary Elizabeth Wren, Joy House Twickenham Road, Isle worth - £800

(The payment to the leaseholders was exceptionally low, compared to other houses closed, this was due to the lease expiring in a year or so. For the same reason the payment to the freeholder was exceptionally large. Also the payment to the licensee was high, considering he had only been at the house for eight and a half months, presumably this was the result of Mr. Travers Humphries who having had said he had been there for 20 years, influenced the decision. The landlady of the Waterman's Arms which was closed the previous year, received only £50, and she had been in the house for twelve years.)

The house closed with the payment of the compensation money, at the end of December 1908.

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At the adjourned licensing sessions in February 1909, on the discussion regarding the possibility of closing the Royal Tar public house with compensation was this the mention of the Lamb : --

"To Mr. Bennett : The house supplied the working people of the neighbourhood. The Lamb beer house, which was just opposite was closed last December."

(Middlesex Chronicle 20 Feb. 1909)

The Royal Tar was still open till recently, though then named O'Riordans. It had closed by early 2020.

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LICENSEES OF THE LAMB

John Sawyer - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1854/5
Joseph Sawyer - - - - - - - - - - - - -1855
Edmund Welch.- - - - - - - - - - - - 1855/6 to June 1892
Ellen Welch - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - June 1892 to November 1893
Thomas J. Hall - - - - - - - - - - - - - November 1893 to c. 1894/5
William Thomas Broadfoot - - - - 1894/5 to 15 October 1898
Emily Broadfoot - - - - - - - - - - - - 15 October 1898 to c. 1900/1
Thomas Reynolds - - - - - - - - - - - c. 1900/1 to November 1901
Frederick Thomas Savage - - - - - November 1901 to 1903/4
George Hayter - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1903/4 to May 1906
James Harrison Snowball - - - - - May 1906 to April 1907
William Edward Deacon - - - - - - April 1907 to December 1908

In the fifty two years the Lamb was a beerhouse, there were twelve licensees, Edward Welch, with a tenancy of 37 years, was the longest-standing by far. The average tenancy of the other eleven licensees was a little over a year.

Notes

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Page published April 2020