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THE COACH AND HORSES.
This House has seen many vicissitudes. It will be remembered by older members of the public as the house which stood on the old Portsmouth road, some 400 yards to the South-East [?] the fortifications on the Hill and ramparts at Hilsea were built, it was found necessary to deflect this road to its present position and the “Coach and Horses” was rebuilt on its present site.
It took a part in the political struggle in regard to the Licensing Bill in 1906. It will be remembered that the Bill passed the House of Commons by a substantial majority, the intention being the confiscation of licences without compensation, the then Chancellor of the Exchequer declaring that there was no value in a licence.
The Government of the day was, however, very wary over the value of any licensed property which they held and they sold by auction all their licensed properties in the neighbourhood of the fortifications, amoung which the “Coach and Horses” was one, having at the same time the Licensing Bill up their sleeves all ready to launch.
The “Coach and Horses” was one of many other cases and was sold by auction and when the controversy became keen, the whole transaction was exposed to the public and the Licensing Bill thrown out by the House of Lords.
It is now again to be rebuilt in order to set it back and make way for the enormously increased traffic on the London and Copnor Roads.
Harry Furniss, the well-known cartoonist of the day, drew the picture which was painted on the side of the old house and which will be continued in an improved form on the new building.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Saturday 10 January, 1931
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Maybe Harry Furniss’ autobiography’s worth a look?