From the Croydon Advertiser and East Surrey Reporter – Saturday 04 March 1876

SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 1876.

Annual licensing meeting.

The annual licensing meeting of the Croydon Petty Sessional division took place the Town Hall, Croydon, on Thursday last, when the magistrates present were: T. R. Edridge, Esq. (in the chair), J. Broomhall, Esq., and W. W. Stanger, Esq.

At the commencement of the proceedings, Mr. Edridge, addressing those present, remarked that that being the annual licensing day, the Bench were about to renew the licenses held by various persons, unless, in the meantime, some objection was raised to their doing so.

Leaving for the present the renewal of certain licenses which would refer to later on, he observed that he was sorry to see that amongst the licenses the Bench granted there were only three six day licenses, namely, those of Mr. Entwistle, of the Croydon Stores; Mr. Anderson, of the Station Hotel, East Croydon : and Mrs. Stacey, of the Rising Sun, Broad Green. The magistrates would be glad if more licensees would follow these examples. He should be glad also if the various persons who did open their houses on Sunday would make some little difference in the appearance of their houses as between Sunday and other days. There were some few who did so, but unfortunately the bulk of the licensees made no difference whatever.

There had been but very few convictions during the year against the holders of licenses for the infringement of the Act; but the Bench had had a number of cases of drunkenness, the causes of many of which had been traced to the fact of parties having been supplied at various public-houses. He (Mr. Edridge) also drew the attention of licensees particularly to this fact : they were perfectly well aware of the penalty they incurred for permitting drunkenness in their houses, if convicted, but when they allowed persons to remain in their houses for hours together, or enter their houses several times during the hour, and upon each occasion and during the time the persona continued to remain, supplied them with intoxicating drinks, publicans must be aware that the supplying of this large quantity of drink would end in only one way, and that was that the parties supplied would become intoxicated. It was strange there were so few complaints against publicans, knowing, as they did, this fact. He mentioned the subject because he hoped the licensees would take into account their own interests and guard against continuation of this state of things, because some steps most be taken to prevent it.

Again, he thought, it often happened, when they heard of disturbances occurring in public-houses, that they occurred in consequence of the person in charge of the bar not being person fit for the purpose. He remembered one case particularly, in which the publican himself was out of the way and the person in charge of the bar was young girl. In the neighbourhood of this house there were a number of rough persons, and the publican, knowing these circumstances, ought to have taken some steps so that a fit and proper person should have had the management.

Mr. Edridge then asked if there were any persons prepared to make objection to the renewal of any of the licensee of persons in the Croydon division.

Mr. Beadell said he appeared for the District Board of Works, and referred to the Queen Adelaide Tavern, in the Beckenham-road, Penge. He stated that complaints had been made as to the urinal attached to this house, and asked the Bench to see if some arrangement could be made to improve it. In answer to Mr. Edridge, Mr. Beadell said no notice had been given to the parties concerned of the intention to bring the matter forward.

Mr. Edridge said Mr. Mitchell, sanitary inspector the Board of Health, had given him list of several houses in this part of the district which had urinals in the same condition as that of which Mr. Beadell had spoken. The state of things existing was very disgraceful state, and the Bench intended on this occasion to adjourn the granting of the license to the house Mr. Beadell had referred to, and the houses the sanitary inspector had brought forward until the 25th of March, the day on which they intended to adjourn to at the end of the sitting. During the interval the persons complained of would have opportunity of doing that which was necessary, and the end of this time, if Mr. Beadell and the sanitary inspector did not satisfy the Bench that the required alterations were made, they would very likely object to the renewal of the licenses.

Mr. Inspector Mason had given him (the Chairman) list or the various parties convicted during the year, and wished him to call attention to the non-compliance of a large majority of the licensees with regulation respecting the painting of the name and description of business carried on in a conspicuous place. With the exception of those complained of the existing licenses would now be renewed.

The following were the names houses referred to being on Mr. Mitchell’s list, and also those with regard to which other complaints had been made, the majority them being adjourned till March 25th The Stanley Hotel, Carshalton; The Blue Anchor, Bedford Arms, The Cannon, The Clifton Arms, The Crescent Arms, The Cricketers, The Croham Arms, The Crown and Sceptre, Duke of York, Earl of Eldon, Earl Russell, George the Fourth, The George, The Golden Lion, The Half Moon, King’s Arms Hotel, King’s Head, The Mail Coach, The Oakfield Tavern, Oval Tavern, Prince Albert, Prince of Wales (Thornton Heath); Prince’s Arms, Queen’s Arms, Railway Arms, Red Deer, The Reform, Royal Oak, The Running Horse, Selhurst Arms, Stag and Hounds, Surrey Arms, Tamworth Arms, Victoria Cross, Volunteer, Wellington, Wheatsheaf, Whitgift Arms, Wilton Arms, Queen Adelaide, Penge: The Clarendon, Penge; Blacksmiths’ Arms, Croydon; Brigstock Arms, British Queen, Devonshire Arms, Duke of Cambridge, Duke of Edinburgh, Four-in-Hand, Fox under the-Hill, Gardeners’ Arms, Holmesdale Arms, Linden Arms, Lion, Lord Palmerston, Mitre, Plough and Harrow, Prince George, Purley Arms, Roebuck, Royal George, Sawyers’ Arms, Simla, Sir Robert Peel, Spread Eagle, Telegraph, Upland Arms, Victoria, Victory, Gillett-road ; White Hart, Woodman, Gardeners’ Arms, Mitcham ; Ship, Mitcham ; Dewdrop, Penge.

Mr. Lynch, voluntary missionary to drunkards, after referring to the objects he had in view, presented a petition to the Bench. This petition, he remarked, was to have been presented by the Rev. Mr. Shrewsbury, and was signed by four ministers of the Church of England and four ministers of other denominations. There were only about 420 signatures, only about 30 of these these being those of teetotallers. The petitioners respectfully submitted that the intemperance which so largely prevailed was promoted by the facilities that existed for the sale of intoxicating drinks, and they earnestly implored the Bench not to grant any new licenses, and to embrace all suitable opportunities for reducing the number of those already granted. Mr. Edridge, the course of some remarks, observed that the Bench were perfectly well aware of the large amount of misery, degradation, and crime which was the result of drunkenness, and he was not at all surprised Mr. Lynch and others should come forward in the way they had. The remarks that had been made should have the best attention of the magistrates, but at the same time, Mr. Edridge pointed out that they were there carry out the law, and must be guided by the circumstances which attached to each particular case and act accordingly.

NEW PUBLICANS’ LICENSES

The Bench then proceeded to hear applications for full publicans’ licenses for the sale of wine, spirits, and beer. and the following were taken :

The Eagle, Church-street —John Hildyard.—Mr. Crispe appeared in support of the application, and submitted that the house was in a populous locality, in a direct line from the Old Town to West Croydon station, and that it was desirable to grant a full publicans license. He also referred to the un-blemished character of the occupier. —Mr. Rowland opposed on behalf of the licensees of the Gun Tavern, Rose and Crown, and Volunteer, and the Bench refused the application.

Prince George, Parchmore-road. —W. J. Adams. -Mr. Adams applied on his own behalf, and asked for a publicans license, but the Bench refused it.

Bridge Hotel, St. James’-road.—George Brooks — Mr. Drummond appeared for the applicant. In the course of his remarks he contended that the best thing to be done with many of the beerhouses that at present existed was to convert them into inns. With regard to Mr. Brooks, he remarked that his client was a very respectable man and asked for a six days’ license only. Mr. Edridge said the circumstances were no different to those of last year, and therefore the Bench could not agree to grant the license.

Royal Oak, Croydon. — William Coode. — Mr. Drummond appeared for the applicant, pointing out that the house was at the corner of the road leading to Riddlesdown and that there were a great number of people from London who passed, and in addition that it was an the high road to Brighton. There was no inn that had stables equal to Mr. Coode’s, and frequently gentlemen and their families stopped there who required all the usual beverages obtainable at an inn. The house was about half-a-mile from the nearest inn. M. Drummond also referred to the great respectability of his client.—Mr. Rowland Opposed the application and submitted that his friend had shown no fresh ground for granting the license. There was only a distance of 300 yards between the Windsor Castle and the Royal Oak.—Mr. Edridge said the Bench wished to know more upon the point of persona staying at the house, and adjourned the application till the 25th, to enable Mr. Coode to supply the Beach with the information.

Lord Palmerston, Pawson’s-road.–W. B. Evenden. – Mr. Drummond supported the application, which was for a six days’ license. With reference to altered circumstances be said the road was in a bad condition last year and the houses were unlet, but now the Board of Health had caused the road to be put in repair and almost every house was tenanted–The magistrates refused the appLication.

Brigstock Arms, Brigstock.road —John Frost. – Mr. Drummond appeared for Mr. Frost, and presented a petition in support of the application. He pointed out that the traffic had greatly increased past the house in question, and the neighbourhood had much increased also since the last application.—The Beach, however, refused to grant the license.

The Simla, Thornton-heath.—Wm. Lawrence. — Mr. Parry applied on behalf of Mr. Lawrence for a beer as well as other publicans’ licenses, the client having made certain alterations, which would require a new beer license being applied for. He referred to the fact that no complaint whatever had been made against his client —Mr. Edridge pointed out that the question now arose as to whether they should grant the license at all. — Mr. Parry handed in a petition supporting the application. —Mr. Edridge remarked that the matter was a very serious one for Mr. Lawrence, and told Mr. Parry the Bench adjourned the matter till the 25th March.

… MORE TO TRANSCRIBE …

Gorringe Park Hotel, Mitcham. -Wm. Vincent.—Mr. Drummond supported the application, and presented a petition in its favour. He referred to the fact that the house was near the Mitcham Junction station, in which there was no refreshment bar. There was also a greater amount of road traffic passed the bowie than before. The nearest licensed houses were one at Tooting, and the Swan, Mitcham. —The circumstances being exactly the same, in the opinion of the Bench, as last year, the license was refused.

TRANSFERS

The following transfers were agreed to :—

Windsor Castle, Carshalton, from John Glover to Charles Clark.
Prince Albert, Croydon, from George Wm. Amer to Wm. Henry Martin. Pawleyn Arms, Penge, from James Ashby to Thos. Outline.
Paxton Arms, Penge, from Mary Ann Salmon to George Vautier Seale. Duke of Cornwall, from Sophia Hunt to Thomas Benson.
While Horse, from Albert Welling to Mr. Hughes.
Brewery Tap, Penge, from John Northfield to James Silvester.

GROCERS’ LICENSES

The following persons were granted licenses for the sale of intoxicating liquors by retail, to be consumed off the premises, being not before licensed to sell the liquors mentioned :—

– Walter Albert Andress, Bridge House. Collier’s Water-lane, for spirits.
— John Dibble, 3, Connaught Terrace, Station Road, Penge, for beer, wine.
— Henry George Grimbleby, 6 and 7, Waddon Road, Croydon, for beer and wine.
– William George Hill, 1 Gladstone Terrace, Penge for beer and wine.
— Samuel William Reading, High Street, Mitcham, beer dealers’ additional license.
— Alfred Tilley, High Street, Penge, beer and wine.
— John Edward Walker, Selhurst Road, common beer and wine.
—The application of Mr. F. H. Tredle was adjourned till March 25th.

Mr. Jacob Tear applied to the Bench for the removal of the license hitherto held for the Stanley Hotel, Carshalton, to a house to be erected at Wallington. -The matter was adjourned, however, till the 25th of March.

Notes:

Gorringe Park Hotel : should say Tooting Junction, not Mitcham Junction.