This page began as a compilation of references to the Coach and Horses, up until the construction of its third incarnation. Over time it has expanded to include other references to Hilsea. There’s no attempt at a narrative here—just a collection of quotes from primary and secondary sources, a few photos, and some comments. I originally envisioned it as a timeline, but I’m now in the process of breaking it up into shorter pages.
One of the two wards at the northern end of Portsea Island, Hilsea boasts a rich military and industrial history. Originally a small hamlet on the London-Portsmouth road in the parish of Wymering, Hilsea gained strategic significance due to its position as the northern gateway to the island. During the 18th and 19th centuries it was heavily fortified as part of Portsmouth’s defences. The Hilsea Lines—a series of moats and fortifications—were key in protecting the Royal Navy Dockyard at Portsmouth from land-based invasion.
With the expansion of Portsmouth in the early 20th century, Hilsea transitioned into a residential suburb while retaining elements of its military and industrial character.
Hilsea Barracks played a crucial role during the Napoleonic Wars and was later used by the Royal Field Artillery during World War I. Its presence influenced the development of the surrounding area, with many facilities and businesses, including pubs, catering to the military personnel stationed there.
Events in Hilsea
General events in Hilsea that do not fit in one of the more specific categories below.
-
1543 The Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries transfers lands and church properties in Portsmouth, including Portsea and Hilsea, to Winchester College after the suppression of Southwick Priory. Notable figures like Thomas Thistlethwayte and John Burrell are involved in the leasing agreements. This marks a significant shift in land ownership following Henry VIII’s reforms.
-
1628 Tresspasses Upon Her Rights
Dame Mary Wandesford is granted lands near Hilsea and Portsea in Hampshire as a reward for her father’s service to the crown. She fences these lands with a sea wall, but faces disputes as individuals trespass and damage her property. This prompts her to appeal to the Privy Council, resulting in several legal rulings in her favour in the 1630s.
-
A severe thunderstorm passes over the country, resulting in the deaths by lightning strike of three cows belonging to local farmers Burrell and Green. Other nearby areas, including Gosport, also suffer similar incidents. The storm causes widespread damage, including to buildings and other livestock, as far north as Newcastle.
-
A piece of land at the back of Hilsea, located west of the lane leading to Copnor, is auctioned.
Hilsea Lines
-
1862 I Really Need A Better Title Here
Sir George Lewis reports that more than half the work on Hilsea Lines has been completed, with a fresh contract being prepared to finish the project, including the widening of the channel. The works are expected to be completed by September 1864.
Pubs of Hilsea
Pubs in Hilsea circa 1800 included the Coach and Horses, the Battle of Minden, the King’s Head and the Horse and Jockey.
It’s worth mentioning at this point that the Battle of Minden was fought on 1 August 1759, plans for Hilsea Barracks were first drawn up in 1756, and construction was carried out between 1780 and 1794. Until I find other evidence, I’m assuming the original Hilsea pubs were all opened in the latter half of the 18th century to service the barracks.
Battle of Minden
The earliest-attested pub at Hilsea.
-
1768 Murder at the Halfway Houses
Samuel James Lewis, a Hilsea publican, is murdered by Sergeant Williams of the Royal Marines near the Halfway Houses in Portsmouth. Williams shoots Lewis, steals his watch, and is later convicted and executed. His body is publicly displayed but secretly removed by fellow marines. Years later, bones believed to be Williams’ are found during fortification work in Portsmouth.
-
1772 The Children Cried for Beer
Mrs. Lewis, a Hilsea publican, discovers an armed intruder hiding under her bed. She discreetly escapes to a nearby farmhouse for help and returns with the farmer and his men, who successfully capture the man.
-
The freehold of Great Horsea Island is auctioned at the Battle of Minden. The island spans 106 acres of pastureland, including a farmhouse and outbuildings, and is presently occupied by Farmer George Guy.
-
The Great Horsea Salt Marsh is opened to a limited humber of hunters. Hunters can secure places through Mr. Pratt at the Battle of Minden in Hilsea.
-
1813 Purchase for Works at Hilsea Act
The Battle of Minden, property of Samuel Spicer, is bought into government ownership with the intention of tearing it down.
-
Ten years later, this is the last time we hear of the Battle of Minden as a going concern. The Coach and Horses and King’s Head also appear to continue operation throughout this period.
-
1834 Sale of the Materials of the Battle of Minden
But at some point the Battle of Minden is abandoned and left derelict, and eventually it is torn down and the materials sold.
Horse and Jockey
-
1813 Purchase for Works at Hilsea Act
The Horse and Jockey is bought into government ownership, with the intention of tearing it down. The pub is on the east side of the London-Portsmouth road, and further north than the Barracks.
Todo
Add map showing location of Horse and Jockey. If I can find it again.
Coach and Horses
Hilsea has been home to three different pubs named the Coach and Horses. The first, situated west of the old London Road, burnt down in 1870 shortly after the London Road was redirected. The second was demolished in 1931 due to a road-widening project. The third, the current building, was designed in the Scottish Baronial style by AE Cogswell.
At first glance you’d expect an inn called the “Coach and Horses”, on the London-Portsmouth road, to be a coaching inn. But I’m not so sure that’s the case. The pub was south of Portsbridge, and just three miles from Portsmouth. If a traveller was caught outside Portsbridge at night the Coach and Horses was no good to them, and if they’ve already reached it by the evening, wouldn’t they press on that last three miles to Portsmouth?
-
1813 Purchase for Works at Hilsea Act
The Coach and Horses, a public house west of the London-Portsmouth road with a stable and a garden, the property of the Devisees in Trust of Sir John Carter, is bought into government ownership with the intention of tearing it down.
-
1834 Found Drowned in Hilsea Pond
A coroner’s inquest is held at the Coach and Horses in Hilsea after an elderly beggar woman, Elizabeth Bassel, is found drowned in Hilsea Pond. She had been drinking heavily the night before and likely entered the pond without realizing it. The verdict is “found drowned.”
-
1835 A Hundred Lots of Good Oak and Fir
Timber from the recently dismantled H.M. brig Hardy, including oak and fir beams, is auctioned at a field behind the Coach and Horses in Hilsea. Builders and merchants are invited to bid on about 100 lots of wood and firewood, sourced from the ship, which was decommissioned and sold to John Levy of Rochester earlier that year.
-
1839 Found Dead in a Field of Standing Oats
In 1839, an inquest is held at the Coach and Horses in Hilsea after Jonas Over is found dead in a field of oats. His body had been lying there for over a week. Over had recently worked on local building projects, but the exact cause of death remains unknown, leading to a verdict of “Found Dead.” His body is buried at Wymering churchyard.
-
The census for the night of June 6, 1841 records Samuel Neat as a 45-year-old publican living with his wife Lucy, daughter Salley, and young son Samuel at the Coach and Horses.
-
Furnished apartments are advertised for rent for the summer season, just a ten-minute walk from the newly built Cosham Station. The ad appeared in the Hampshire Telegraph in May of that year.
-
1851 Shocking Waggon Accident near Hilsea
A waggoner working for a Bedhampton miller suffers a severe accident near Hilsea when a horse begins kicking violently. The waggoner is kicked, breaking one leg and injuring the other. He is taken to the nearby Coach and Horses pub for medical attention. The horse is eventually freed from its harness with minimal injury.
-
The census for the night of March 30, 1851 records Samuel Neat, a licensed victualler, along with his wife Lucy, three children of school age, and a servant named Arthur Smith at the Coach and Horses.
-
1852 We Think His Drinking With Him a Highly Imprudent Act
Alexander Stewart accuses a man of stealing his watch at the Cosham railway station during Portsdown Fair. After chasing the suspect to the Coach and Horses in Hilsea, Stewart drinks with him briefly before handing him over to police. The thief is committed for trial.
-
1853 Found, King Charles Spaniel
The owner can reclaim the dog by paying incurred expenses and contacting Samuel Neat at the Coach and Horses Inn in Hilsea.
-
1855 Much Respected by All Who Knew Him
Samuel Neat, the well-respected landlord of the Coach and Horses Inn in Hilsea, passes away at the age of 53.
-
The contents of the Coach and Horses, including furniture, household items, and even some livestock, are put up for auction after Mrs. Neat, the widow of the previous landlord, decides to leave the premises. Despite the sale announcement, records suggest that Mrs. Neat continued running the inn until at least 1864.
-
The census for the night of Sunday 07 April, 1861 lists Lucy Neat, now a widow, as the head of the household, living with her children, grandchildren, a servant and several lodgers. The large number of labourers lodging at the inn may reflect increased infrastructure work in the area, such as on the Hilsea Lines.
-
1862 Thirteen Pounds Weight of Bacon
John Smith, known as “Cockney Jack,” is charged with stealing 13 pounds of bacon, the property of Lucy Neat, from the Coach and Horses. After being spotted with the bacon, he is pursued and apprehended following a violent struggle. Smith claims he was mistreated during the chase, but the magistrates dismiss his complaints, sentencing him to two months of hard labor.
-
1862 Murder, the gipsies are killing my husband
A violent confrontation leads to arrests when a group of Romani people attack several soldiers and a constable with sticks. The incident leads to serious injuries, and the attackers are committed for trial at the next Winchester sessions. The trial at Winchester concludes with an acquittal.
-
George Goodwin is charged with assaulting Mrs. Lucy Neat, landlady. He pleads guilty and is fined 15 shillings plus costs. If he fails to pay, he faces fourteen days of hard labor.
-
Ensign Alexander Jackson Clark of the 55th Regiment dies from apoplexy after participating in a hunt near Hilsea. Witnesses see him resting during the hunt, and later a surgeon finds him in a deteriorating condition at the Coach and Horses. Despite medical efforts, Clark passes away in the evening. An inquest concludes that his death, at the young age of 23, was unexpected due to his prior good health.
-
George Reed, a labourer, is charged with stealing a shawl and money from his landlord, Robert Wilson, after lodging with him in Buckland. Reed is apprehended while trying to sell the stolen shawl to a woman who suspects it was stolen. When arrested, Reed is found wearing Wilson’s boots. He is committed for trial on a charge of housebreaking at the Quarter Sessions.
-
Kelly’s Directory lists key individuals and establishments in Hilsea, including Frances Eliza Martin, the landlady of the New Coach and Horses pub.
-
1881 Last Will and Testament of Frederick Bull
Placeholder
-
1888 Drunk in charge of… a stream traction engine?
George Grant is charged with being drunk while operating a steam traction engine near Cosham, causing a collision with a tramcar. The tram driver accuses Grant of recklessness, while witnesses claim he was sober and that the accident was caused by the tram driver’s carelessness. The men operating the engine had stopped at the Coach and Horses before the incident. No conclusive evidence of Grant’s drunkenness is found, and the case is dismissed by the court.
-
The Coach and Horses is rebuilt once more, this time to accommodate growing traffic on the London and Copnor Roads. The pub had previously played a role in the 1906 Licensing Bill controversy when it was sold by the government despite a looming bill aimed at confiscating licenses without compensation. The well-known cartoon by Harry Furniss, once painted on the old building, is planned to be incorporated into the new structure.
Green Post
King’s Head
- 1813 Purchase for Works at Hilsea Act
- 1839 Robson’s Commercial Directory of the Seven Counties
- 1859 Directory of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight
- 1880 Kelly’s Directory
Duncan’s Head
One measly reference.
Ok, there are a couple of near misses:
Quote
Moore, Thomas (Duncan’s Head), St Nicholas st. Portsmouth
— Slater, Isaac (1852) Slater’s Royal National and Commercial Directory and Topography. Isaac Slater, Fleet Street. (source)
Note
Note
We also have a Rodney’s Head just a little further along the road on the 1861/1874 town plan
Quote
Piper, Edward Duncan’s Head, Copnor
Duncan’s Head, Edward Piper, Copnor, Landport
— Kelly, E.R. (1880), Kelly’s Directory of Hampshire, with the Isle of Wight, Wiltshire and Dorsetshire, Kelly & Co. Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London (source)
Note
Copnor’s a maybe. 20 years later though. Big gap.
Todo
I’ve talked to someone about this before. I need to dig that conversation out of my email. Somebody who was interested in the Five Cricketers?
George Inn
1859 Directory of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight
References to unknown pubs
1813 Soldiers of the Inverness Militia Court-Martialled
1818 Selling beer without a license
1834 Mystery pub to let
1835 Mystery pub to let
Hilsea Barracks
1730-1770 Plan and Profiles for Building Barracks
1756 A Barracks for 2000 Men
1761 Gross Belgians breathe a better air than we
1762 One Guinea for Each of Them
1763 Noxious and Unhealthy Vapours
1768 A Sickly Spot in England
1801 A New Adjutant
1803 Stephen Carroll, A Terrible Example
1803 A New Adjutant
1807 A New Commandant
1808 Mad Dogs and Officers
1808 To Be Majors in the Army
1810 Collection of Morbid Anatomy Specimens
1813 Soldiers of the Inverness Militia Court-Martialled
1813 Purchase for Works at Hilsea Act
1823 Death of William Maynard
1828 A Gavel-Fronted Guard-House
Hilsea Lines
Hilsea Pond
1730-1770 Plan and Profiles for Building Barracks
1834 Found Drowned in Hilsea Pond
1826, Greenwood’s Hampshire
Note
This map shows the old path of the London Road. It’s possible that the northernmost building on the west of the London Road is the first Coach and Horses, but the road layout is very different from later maps (for example Copnor Road doesn’t join London Road).
1832, Marriage of Samuel Neat and Lucy Seal
Note
Marriage of Samuel Neat and Lucy Seal on Friday 18 May, 1832 (source: Ancestry tree of user jetfab). This sits between the 1830 reference to him being “of the Green Post Public-house” and the 1839 reference to him at the Coach and Horses.
Todo
Order a copy of this marriage certificate.
1856, OS Six-inch England and Wales, 1842-1952, Hampshire & Isle of Wight LXXV
source Surveyed 1856, Published 1870.
Note
Coach and Horses Public House, at the South-east corner of the junction between London Road and Horsea Lane. Note that the Hilsea Barracks and Hilsea Lines are not present on this map.
This map, surveyed in 1856, shows the new route of London Road and the first pub. This is the building that burns down in 1870.
1856, Coach and Horses
Quote
GOVERNMENT PROPERTY, HILSEA.
TO be LET, with Immediate Possession,—The COACH AND HORSES PUBLIC HOUSE, situated on the London Road, about Three Miles from Portsmouth, with good stabling, skittle ground, large garden, and all necessary outbuildings.
Tenders to be delivered at Pall Mall, addressed to the “Director General of Contracts,” on or before the 30th November, 1856.
For further particulars as to the Property, application to be made to the Superintendent Government Property, Hilsea.
— Hampshire Telegraph, Saturday 01 November, 1856
Quote
GOVERNMENT PROPERTY, HILSEA.
To be LET, with Immediate Possession,—The COACH AND HORSES PUBLIC HOUSE, situated on the London Road, about Three Miles from Portsmouth, with good stabling, skittle ground, large garden, and all necessary outbuildings.
Tenders to be delivered at Pall Mall, addressed to the Director General of Contracts,” on or before the 30th November, 1856.
For further particulars as to the Property, application to be made to the Superintendent Government Property Hilsea.
Superintendent’s Office, Hilsea,
1st November, 1856.
— Hampshire Telegraph, Saturday 08 November, 1856
1863, Coach and Horses
Todo
I’ve missed the reference off this one.
Quote
A SUSPICIOUS AFFAIR.—An inquest was opened on Wednesday evening at the Osborne-tavern, before Mr. W. J. Cooper, on the body of William Bulchin, aged 21, late a carter in the employ of Mr. Wyatt, of Nutbourne. After the jury had been sworn the Coroner said it would be necessary to adjourn the inquest, in order that the police might inquire into the case, and a post mortem examination of the body be made. The jury proceeded to view the body, and the inquiry was then adjourned until Wednesday. From what we can learn it seems that the deceased was returning to Nutbourne, with his master’s horse and waggon a few days since, and stopped at the Coach and Horses, Hilsea, where he partook of some drink with two men, supposed to be tramps. When he left the house the two men got up into the waggon with him. He stated during his illness that he did not recollect anything that took place after leaving Hilsea. He was found lying in the road, between Hilsea and Cosham, with his face cut and bruised, and was taken to the hospital, and from thence to the residence of his brother, in Albion-street, where he expired on Tuesday evening. The two men were stopped between Cosham and Havant, by some person who knew that they were not in the employ of Mr. Wyatt, and in reply to questions, they said the driver had fallen out of the waggon, and were going to Havant for a doctor. They were taken back to Cosham and detained for the night, but were discharged the next morning. The police are now making inquiries as to the whereabouts of these persons.
— Hampshire Advertiser, Saturday 26 December 1863 (source)
Quote
THE SUSPECTED DEATH FROM VIOLENCE.
On Wednesday evening, W.J. Cooper, Esq., Borough Coroner, resumed the enquiry at the “Osborne Tavern,” Mile-end, into the circumstances attending the death of William Balchin, a carter in the employ of Mr. Wyatt, miller, of Nutbourne.
The Coroner said the jurors were aware that the inquest had been adjourned frem the 22nd inst., they having then assembled on a very busy night, and having viewed the body of the deceased, which was identified by his brother, he (the Coroner) adjourned the inquest till that day, to enable Dr. Davies to make a post mortem examination of the body; and also the police to institute enquiries as to the circumstances attending his death.
The following evidence was then adduced:—
Henry Balchin, a joiner, living in Albion-street, Mile-end, Landport, deposed: The body which the jury viewed at my residence on the 23rd inst., was that of my brother, William Balchin, who was 21 years of age, and was a carter in the employ of Mr. Wyatt, miller, of Nutbourne, Sussex. From information I received about half-past eight o’clock on the evening of Monday the 14th inst., I went to the Royal Portsmouth, Portsea, and Gosport Hospital, but the hospital was closed. On returning to from work the following evening, I found deceased in bed. I observed that the right eye was blackened, and that there were several bruises about the back part of his head; he was very weak. I saw no wound He complained of great pain in his head, in consequences of which, I applied to Dr. Davies who visited him that night. With the exception of a few minutes each day, he kept his bed till the following Tuesday, when he died. On Sunday the 20th Inst., he was much worse; he was delirious, and complained of pains in his head. About half past one o’clock on Monday morning, and whilst he was sensible, he told me that he did not think he should “get over it.”
The Coroner asked witness, whether deceased had ever made any statement to him, as to how he came out of the waggon?
Witness replied that he had, but in answer to a further question by the Coroner, he said that deceased had made that statement to him previous to his expressing his belief that “he should not get over it.”
The Coroner said that that statement having been made by deceased, previous to his expression “that he did not think he should get over it,” precluded it from being admitted as evidence; any statement made by a dying man, he believing, at the time of making such a statement, that he was dying, was in law equal to testimony given upon oath; but to be given in evidence it must be shown that at the time of making such statement he believed that he would shortly be in the presence of his Maker. If, therefore, deceased had made such a statement between half-past one on Monday morning, and the time of his death, it might have been taken in evidence, but if he had made any statement implicating any person previous to saying that “he did not think he should get over it,” he (the Coroner) could not admit it in evidence.
In answer to the Coroner, Inspector Drew, of the Fareham division of the Hants Constabulary said he had not heard Mr. Wyatt complain of any monetary deficiency.
Balchin’s examination continued: There was no money in deceased’s pocket.
James Aldridge, ostler at the “Market House Tavern,” Mile-end, on being sworn, deposed: I knew the deceased, William Balchin; he used to bait his horses at my master’s house. On the afternoon of Monday the 14th inst., he called there on his way home to Nutbourne, he baited his horses, and had his dinner there, and left the house between quarter and half-past four. He was perfectly sober when he came in; he had two pints of beer, in payment for which I saw him tender a shilling and receive seven-pence in change which he put in his pocket. I saw him put two shillings and a six-pence into a leathern purse. I have never noticed large sums of money in his possession.
William Robinson, a blacksmith, living at Farlington, said: I knew the deceased William Balchin, by his passing my house on his way to Portsmouth. I came to Portsmouth on Monday. the 14th inst., and I saw him in the tap-room of the Market House Tavern, about half-past three o/clock in the afternoon of that day; he was then drinking beer; and was quarrelling with another carter. They went out into the street, but did not fight; the other carter driving off, and deceased coming in doors again. I left the house with my brother-in-law (who also had a waggon,) and another man, about a quarter before four. Before we got near the Green Post, at North End, deceased passed us, and he got down, and walked along with us. Whilst we were walking along, two men, one of whom was drunk, dressed something similar to sailors, came up, and asked deceased to give them a ride. He told them to go and get up at the back of the waggon, which they did. When we arrived at the Green Post, at Hilsea, my brother wanted deceased to have some beer, but his team being about 30 yards ahead, he declined to do so, and I saw him overtake his waggon. I, accompanied by my brother, and the other man, went into the Green Post, where we had some beer, and in about 10 minutes came out again, and proceeded together up the road, and when about 50 yards this side of the Railway Station, and on the left hand side of the road we saw deceased sitting in the road with Mr. Baker, chemist, of Cosham, and several other persons round him. He was bleeding from the mouth. It was then about five o’clock, and dusk. I did not notice he had a black eye. We then went on, and on arriving at Cosham, we saw the waggon, standing before the Ship Inn, and the two men who had asked deceased for a “lift,” in charge of a police constable, who is now present. They were taken before Sir Lucius Curtis, a county magistrate; I also attended and gave the same evidence that I have given now. On the following day, I went into the Royal Portsmouth, Portsea and Gosport Hospital. I did not see the deceased at the Hospital He was “drinky” when he left the Market House Tavern, but he was sober when he left the Green Post.
Mr. William Maynard, Accountant, of Hanover-street, Portsea, deposed: On Monday, the 14th Inst., at about five o’clock in the afternoon, I was talking from Cosham to Portsmouth in company with my brother-in-law, Mr. Webb; on reaching about half way between the railway crossing and the Turnpike gates at Cosham, my attention was attracted to a man calling out, “Stop my horses,” and on turning round, I saw a man lying in the road near the footpath behind me. I immediately ran up to him, and found he was insensible, and bleeding very much. I left in in charge of two other persons; my attention was then drawn to a waggon that had almost come to a standstill; it had not passed through the railway gate, but was a considerable distance from it. After stopping for not more than a minute, the horses went off at full gallop. I and my brother ran after them, calling out, “Stop that waggon,” and on just passing the railways gates, we met Mr. Woods, of Queen-street, Portsea, who was in horseback, and he, at my request, turned back and stopped the waggon. On my reaching the Ship Inn, which is the first public-house in Cosham, I made enquiries as to who had been driving the waggon, when a man came forward and said, “I have, sir.” I then asked him whether he belonged to the waggon. He said, “No.” I replied, “Do you know who have run over a man in the road; and how was it you did not stop?” He said, “I came for assistance.” Not liking the appearance of the men, who seemed to me to be tramps, I sent my brother for a doctor, and I went for a policeman, who after making enquiries of the men, took them into custody. Neither of the men gave any account of how deceased was injured. One of them appeared to be very much intoxicated, but the other seemed to know what he was about. One of them said they had asked for a “lift” on the road, and that deceased had given them a “lift.” Mr. Baker, chemist, and my brother, who had been to the man’s assistance, returned. My brother said to me, “This is a bad job, Maynard; I think he has lost a part of his tongue.” I replied that it was a bad job, and at the request of the constance I procured a van and conveyed him to the hospital, where he was attended by the house surgeon, Mr. O’Brien, who is now present. Deceased was taken to the examining room, and laid on the sofa, and the nurse washed his mouth. He received every attention. In washing his mouth I saw something, which I fancied was a part of his tongue, come from it. His right eve was swollen.
In reply to a juror,
Mr. Maynard said that at the hospital, deceased said, in a rambling manner, “Where are my horses.”
In answer to the coroner,
P.C. Gulliver, of the Hants Constabulary, stationed at Cosham, said enquiries had been made at the turnpike-gate, as to the waggon passing through, and the toll-keeper had told him that decease and two other men were riding inside it.
Mr. Daniel O’Brien, house surgeon of the Royal Portsmouth, Portsea, and Gosport Hospital, was the next sworn, and said: On the evening of the 14th inst., deceased was brought to the Hospital. He was taken to the consulting room, where I examined him. He was in an insensible state; I attribute that insensibility to the effects of drink, It might have arisen from a slight concussion of the brain. He had a contusion, and blackness of the eye, commonly called a black eye, and was bleeding from his nostrils; there was a good deal of blood on the front of his clothes. About half an hour after his admittance, he became sensible, and objected to remaining in the Hospital, saying that he wanted to go home. He was noisy, and rambled like a drunken man; saying that he wanted his horses; it was not the rambling of delirium. A sedative was administered, and I visited him in the night; he was then sleeping calmly. I saw him on the following morning about eight o’clock, and asked him how he was, and he replied that he was all right except being sore. About half-past eight, a constable from Cosham came and asked me whether deceased was in a fit state to give evidence before a magistrate, and I replied that he was. If I had been told that he was to walk four miles, I should not have said that he was fit to go and give evidence.I asked him to put out his tongue, which he did; it was perfect, there was no loss of substance whatever, what Mr. Maynard thought was a piece of his (deceased’s) tongue, might have been a clot of blood. I also asked him whether his mouth was sore, and he replied that it was not.
By the Foreman: I examined the deceased’s body, as well as his head; it appeared to me, that he had fallen on his face and had received a black eye, and a bloody nose in the fall.
In answer to several jurors,
Mr. O’Brien said the substance that came from the deceased’s mouth, might have been thrown from his stomach; me (Mr. O’B) could not exactly say what it was; no drug or narcotic had been administered to deceased.
By the Coroner: I should not have given him a sedative, had any narcotic been administered to him.
Mrs Lucy Neat, deposed: I am a widow and landlady of the Coach and Horses Inn, Hilsea, I remember Monday, the 14th inst., two men, one of from was “fresh,” and the other not very “fresh,” apparently Londoners, and who told me they were Londoners came into my house followed by deceased, who was a stranger to me; the men asked deceased to have some “short” but re refused, and one of the men then called, and paid for a quart of ale, of which they all three partook. They seemed to be on very good terms with each other.
Thomas Alexander, a labourer; in the employ of Mr. J. Wildey, of Cosham, deposed: On the afternoon in question, I saw the waggon standing just below the Ship Inn at Cosham, I saw a man running up the street calling for a “doctor” He appeared to be almost man, and as if he did not know what he was going. He afterwards jumped up into the waggon, and said, “Come on mate let us drive off. I looked along the waggon, and seeing that it belonged to Mr. Wyatt, I stopped the horses, and the men got down. They were afterwards taken into custody.
Mr. Webb (who was with Mr. Maynard on finding deceased) said: On deceased being taken to the Hospital, the surgeon at first objected to receive him, considering him an unfit patient for the hospital; but after a brief consultation with a nurse, he admitted him, and had him undressed; his face was washed, and the substance before alluded to, came from his mouth. Mr. O’Brien took it in his fingers, and put it down again. Deceased was taken to his warn, leaning on the arm of a man, and I believe Mr. O’Brien visited him before we left.
P.C. Gulliver, said: On Monday the 14th inst., from information I received, I went to the “Ship Inn,” Cosham, where I found a waggon belonging to Mr. Wyatt, of Nutbourne. There were two men in the street, standing at the side of the waggon. I asked them whether they were in the waggon when the man fell out, and they replied that they were. I then proceeded to the spot where the man was lying in the road; he was insensible, and bleeding from the mouth and nose. I took them before Sir Lucius Curtis.
A juror here suggested that the question as to what position the deceased was lying in, when found by Mr. Maynard in the road, should be put.
The Coroner then put the question, and in reply Mr. Maynard said he could not positively say in what position he found deceased, and referred it to Mr. Webb, who said that on first seeing deceased, he was on his hands and knees.
Gulliver then continued: I made no special charge against them. Sir Lucius ordered them to be kept in custody, and I accordingly took them to Fareham. On the following morning I went to the hospital where I saw the house surgeon. I asked how the young man that was taken there the previous night, was progressing. The house surgeon said he had examined him, and that he was merely in a state of intoxication, and said it was not a fit case for the hospital. He (the house surgeon) asked deceased how he was, and he replied “all right except pains in his head, and sore.” I took him from the hospital up the road towards Cosham, he guiding himself by the wall, and leaning upon me; he could not have walked without my assistance. He bled from the nose, and complained of pains in his head all the way along the road, and finding he was unable to proceed I took him home to his friends in Albion-street. I had intended when I went to the hospital to have taken him to Fareham, to give evidence before the magistrates. The men were that day, again taken before Sir Lucius Curtis, who discharged them. Deceased that day told me he had lost some money; and that he could not remember how he got out of the waggon.
In answer to a Juror, witness said: I did not think he was drunk the previous days or I should not have sent him to the hospital.
Thomas Drew, Superintendent of the Fareham Division of the Hants Constabulary, said: On Monday, the 14th inst., the last witness brought two men, who have the names of James Saunders and Thomas Kendrick, to the Police-station. They were both the worse for liquor, Kendrick particularly. In reply to my questions, they said they were cork cutters, and had been to Portsmouth. They were searched in my presence, and on Saunders was found 8s. 7d., and on Kendrick 5s. and a relief card of the Cork Cutters’ Society; they represented that they had been relieved by several of their trade at Portsmouth. The constable informed me there had been an accident at Cosham, and they being strangers, be thought it right to take them into custody. Whilst we were searching them, one of them—I believe it was Kendrick—said they were coming from Portsmouth and making the best of their way to London, and had asked a man to give them a ride, which he did; they stopped at a public-house and had a quart of beer, and and on their way to this place, the man (deceased) who was standing on the outside of the waggon fell off. Some one called out for a “doctor,” and he (Kendrick), not knowing what to do, drove off for one. On the following morning I took them to Cosham, and afterwards before Sir Lucius Curtis, who, having heard the evidence of a man named Robinson, they said that they were riding in the waggon, and deceased, who was standing on the shaft, fell off, and had he been inside he would not have fallen off; that they were all the worse for liquor, and that on deceased falling they were very much frightened, and some one calling out for a “doctor,” they drove off to procure one. They were sober at that time, and the statement tallied with that which they made to me on the previous night. I took their address, which I have at Fareham. One of them told me that some years ago he had worked in this town. From the inquiries Sir Lucius Curtis made of Robinson and other persons, he did not think it necessary to detain them, especially as deceased was out of the hospital, and he, therefore, discharged them.
The Coroner expressed an opinion that the statement made by the men, both to Superintendent Owen and to Sir Lucius Curtis, seemed very feasible; they had it in evidence that they had been drinking at a public-house; that they were all worse for liquor; and one of the witnesses saw one of the men at Cosham calling out for a doctor; and altogether the evidence in several points agreed with their statement; and he asked the Jurors whether, in their opinion, the fall of the deceased out of the waggon occurred in any other way than by accident. Suppose the men were there before them, why the first thing he should tell them would be that they were not bound to answer any questions which would criminate themselves, and even if he were not to caution them, they would naturally repeat their former statements.
Mr. Owen Davies, Licentiate of Physicians, Edinburgh, and Member of the Royal College of Surgeons, London, deposed: On the evening of Tuesday, the 15th inst., I was applied to to see the deceased, and went to where he was lying, No. 36, Albion-street. I found him in bed, and examined him externally. He had echymose eye, with a congested eye bone, and a slight abrasion over the right cheek bone, also a slight bruise under the left ear. He complained of pain over the right eye; he was perfectly collected, and rational, and answered my questions sensibly, I could not find any direct evidence of injury to the brain; his pulse being natural. I discovered no fracture of the skull. I ordered him some purgative medicine, and desired his friend to let me know how he was, and if any change took place to let me know immediately. He stated to me he had been drinking at the Coach and Horses, and that he remembered nothing after getting into the waggon. I did not think badly of his case. I considered there had been a slight concussion of the brain. I did not again see deceased till the following Sunday, when the brother came for me. On my attending him he was slightly delirious, but could answer my questions. He complained of great pain over the right side of the head. I saw at once inflammation of the brain was going on, and treated him for it up to his death, which occurred on the following Tuesday. I subsequently made a post-mortem examination, at which Dr. Allnutt was present; the appearances presented nothing unusual, except a discoloured bruised eyelid; the eye itself being congested. On removing the scalp, I found extravasated blood over the templeray region, on the right side. On cutting through the temple muscle, I discovered an extensive fracture of the scalp commending at the anterior margin of the parietal bone, passing forward to the spheroid, partially fracturing the frontal bone, then reclining inwards to the base of the skull. There was no depression of the bone on removing the skull cap, I found the membrane of the brain highly congested with blood, opposite the fracture there was a small clot of extravasated blood; the brain substance itself was in a state of inflammation. I found some matter at the base of the brain. The fracture extended across the base of the skull. The other organs of the body were healthy. The fracture and morbid appearance of the brain which I have described, was the result of a great external violence on the head, such as would be produced by a fall from a waggon; but would not be produced by a blow from a fist. Deceased died from inflammation of the brain.
In reply to the coroner, witness said: I do not think and treatment whatever would have saved deceased.
The Coroner then ably summed up, after which the room was cleared.
In about a quarter-of-an-hour, the jury agreed upon the following verdict:—“That the deceased, William Balchin, died from inflammation of the brain, cause by the fall from a waggon, but whether such fall was the result of accident or otherwise, there is no evidence before the jurors to shew.”
— Portsmouth Times and Naval Gazette, Saturday 02 January, 1864 (source)
1864, Coach and Horses
Quote
Thomas Martin was charged with having, on the 5th inst., stolen two pickaxes, the property of Edward Custance, from the Government Works at Hilsea. During the last six weeks the proscutor had lost upwards of 80 “picks” from the works, and in consequence of information received a man was sent on the day named to the Coach and Horses, at Hilsea, where the prisoner was drinking, and purchased of him the two picks produced, which were identified by the prosecutor as his property. The prisoner was committed for trial at the ensuing Assizes.
— Portsmouth Times and Naval Gazette, Saturday 13 February, 1864
Quote
STEALING PICKAXES:—Thomas Martin, 42, a labourer, was charged with stealing two pickaxes, the property of Edward Custance, at Wymering, on the 5th February. Mr. Deverell prosecuted. The prosecutor said he was a sub contractor at the fortification works at Hilsea, and he had a large number of iron picks, which he kept for the use of the men engaged under his superintendence. In the course of seven weeks he had lost no less than 92 picks out of 178. The prisoner was suspected, and taken into custody, and since that time he had not lost another single pick. A witness names Simpson said he had been in the want of grub-axes, and he saw the prisoner at the Coach and Horses public house, who said he had some picks for same which could be altered so as to suit his (Simpson’s) purpose. He bought two of them for 3s. 6d, and took them to his master. The prisoner said he had bought them of the maker, Boxall, the blacksmith. The prosecutor identified the picks produced as two of his lost ones. Every one of his picks were stamped on the iron part with his initials, and a number; those produced bore the initials, but the numbers had been hammered. still be believed they were 94 and 98. The prisoner was found guilty. Superintendent Harvey, in reply to the Judge, said he knew something of the prisoner. Three years ago he had been indicted in that Court for felony—a wholesale stealing of fowls from a farmyard—and the prisoner had then turned Queen’s evidence against three other men. The prisoner was sentenced to one year’s hard labour.
— Hampshire Chronicle, Saturday 05 March, 1864
1866, Coach and Horses
Quote
ROYAL ENGINEER OFFICE
Portsmouth, May 3rd, 1866,
WAR DEPARTMENT PROPERTY.
TO BE LET, WITH IMMEDIATE POSSESSION,—“THE COACH AND HORSES” PUBLIC HOUSE, Hilsea, situated on the London Road, about 3 miles from Portsmouth, with good Stabling, Skittle-ground, large Garden, and all necessary Outbuildings.
The Conditions and Forms of Tender for renting the above, may be obtained from the Superintendent of the War Office Property, Royal Engineer Office, Portsea, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, between the hours of Eleven and Four o’clock, to the 22nd of May, 1866, which are to be filled up and forwarded by post to the Director of Contracts, War Office, Pall Mall, on or before the 25th of May, 1866, marked in the left-hand corner of the envelope “Tender for Public House, Hilsea”
G. C. DOWNMAN, Superintendent.
— Hampshire Telegraph, Saturday 05 May, 1866
1866, The Daring Cash-Box Robbery at Portsmouth
Note
The image was pretty rough in places, I may have made transcription errors.
Quote
THE DARING CASH-BOX ROBBERY AT PORTSMOUTH.
At the Borough pollice-court on Tuesday, before G.J. Scale and J. McCheane, Esqrs., Joseph Singleton, alias Edwards, 50, and Edward McGhie, 47, were brought up on remand on a charge of stealing a cash-box and £85 from the bar of the White Hart publichouse, Oyster-street, Portsmouth, the property of Messrs. Antill and Co.—Mr. Cousins appeared on behalf of the prosecution, and Mr. Wallis defended the prisoner Singleton.
Mr. Cousins, in opening the case, said he thought that when the magistrates had heard the facts the would agree with him that it was the most impudent robbery that possible could be imagined. Singleton lived in Duke-street, and McGhie was a labourer living in Fountain-street, and he (Mr. C.) should be able to prove that both men were of very small means, and men who were not likely to indulge in acts of extravagance.
He then referred at some length to the law relating to accomplices, and gave an outline of the facts proved in the evidence. He thought that when the magistrates had heard the case they would have no alternative but to commit both prisoners for trial.
Henry Brown deposed: I am the manager for the executors of Mr. Antill of the White Hart publichouse, in Oyster-street. It is my custom to take the cash-box into my bedroom with me at night, and to bring it down with me the first thing in the morning. I generally put the box on a sideboard in the bar when I come down, and during the day it is kept in a drawer made for that purpose. I brought the cash-box downstairs on Monday morning about half past six o’clock and placed it on the sideboard, which could not be reached by any person standing outside the bar, but a person could come from the outside to the inside through a door which was no fastening. It would be easy for a man to jump over the bar. When I placed the box on the sideboard I opened the front door, undid the fastenings of the shutters on the inside, and then went outside and took down one of the shutters, leaving the other two up—the house being partially closed on account of the death of Mr. Antill, late the former proprietor of the business. As I was taking in the shutter the prisoner Singleton followed me in and asked to be server with a pint of beer. I served him with it, but he did not pay for it, saying he would call again presently and do so. I then left him in the bar for a few seconds while I went to adjust the shutters on the outside, and I then returned into the bar, when he followed me and asked me to let him out by the back door into White Hart-row, and I did so. It was two of three minutes before I returned to the bar, as I had to go down the passage to the door, and adjust the shutter at the back. I did not notice anything singular about Singleton as he went out, but after I missed the cash-box I remembered that he held his left arm in a peculiar kind of manner. He had a loose tweed jacket on, and a white smock frock in his left hand. The back door is in a straight line from he front, and the passage from one door to the other is about 60 feet in length. Singleton walked behind me as I went down the passage and when I returned and missed the cash-box I immediately went to the back door to look after Singleton, but I could not see him. The contents of the cash-box were one £10 note, seven £5 notes, £32 in gold, and £8 in silver; done up in separate parcels, and there might have been a few loose shillings, in addition to some paper documents. I examined the box and found the contents safe before I came downstairs. Two of the £5 notes produced, I identify as being in the cash-box that morning. Singleton as been a customer at Mr. Antill’s.
Cross-examined: This was the the only occasion when Singleton said he would pay for what he had when he came again. In the position in which he was standing when I returned into the bar he could not reach the box, nor could he reach it at all from that side of the bar. When I missed the box I looked out of the front door as well as the back, but I first looked out of the back door, which was furthest from me.
Mr. Wallis asked the witness if Singleton’s left shoulder was a little higher than the right and if it was not some such appearance as that which attracted his attention.
Witness said he saw one shoulder raised a little and one arm projecting out, but he could not tell if the left shoulder was higher than the other.
Mr. Cousins: How can he tell? No doubt the prisoner raised it as soon as he heard you ask the question, and if you had asked about the right shoulder he would have put that down. (Laughter.)
In answer to other questions, the witness said the cash-box was placed about 18 feet from the bar door. When he went to get Singleton out of the back door the back door was open.
William Allen, boot and shoe maker, of Kingston-road, Buckland, said that on Monday, the 17th inst., about ten minutes or a quarter past eight o’clock in the morning, the two prisoners came into his shop. McGhie asked to look at a pair of water-tight boots, a pair of which be bought and paid for. Witness had no means of knowing whether the prisoners had money, but Singleton asked the price of a pair of side-spring boots, and when told the price he said, “That’s rather too stiff.” The other prisoner then said, “I will lend you a shilling,” to which Singleton replied, “II don’t want it; I have plenty,” and at the same time jingled something in his pocket that sounded like money.
William Brown, brickmaker, of No. 2, Kingston-road, Buckland, said he knew the two prisoners. On Monday, the 17th inst., about half-past eight o’clock in the morning, he saw them at Mr. Allen’s beershop. Singleton called him in and asked him to have half a pint of beer, which he did. He saw a quantity of gold in Singleton’s hand; he could not say how much. He did not see any silver; it was all gold. McGhie paid for one pot of beer with a sixpence. Singleton hired a cart at Allen’s of a man named Benham. He did not hear what they said; they went outside and hired the cart and he remained inside. They left together, but neither of them got into the cart at that time. When they got a little way along the road, they asked him (witness) to have some brandy, and they went into Mr. Hayward’s, the White Swan, and had half a pint of brandy, which McGhie paid for with a shilling and two-pence. They then went to the Blue Anchor, at Kingston-cross, kept by Mr. Churcher, and there they had a pint of brandy; Singleton called two men in and they had some of the brandy; and he went and got a loaf and some cheese and gave it to them. The men were strangers. They then went to the Sportsman, and the two men went with them. There they had two pots of beer. Witness then went home to breakfast, and Singleton went away in a cart. He did not see which way McGhie went; he did not see him afterwards. This was about 10 o’clock.
Cross-examined: He didn’t know that they called this “going on the spree.” He did not know whether it was a practice for men like the prisoners and himself to go about like this before breakfast; he never went with them before. He had a “drop” at his own work, and with other men at times. He was not aware that Singleton was a general dealer.
Edward Albert Philip Cleife, a bricklayer, residing at 7, Buckland-street, said that on Monday, the 17th inst., he drove a card for Mr. Benham, which had been hired by Singleton. He took him up at Kingston-cross about 10 o’clock in the morning, and drove him to Gravel Hill, a distance of about 14 miles. On the road he frequently stopped at publichouses; he should think four or five times. At the Leopard at Purbrook he called for some beer and brandy and treated the men in the tap-room He did not how much brandy he had, but he had one pint. He stopped at the Coach and Horses at Hilsea; witness had a bottle of ginger beer, and Singleton had some beer and treated a man who worked there. He recollected the George at Portsdown Hill; Singleton had some beer there, and treated some beer to any one who liked to have it. He also stopped at Horndean, and there he had half a gallon of beer, and half a pint of brandy. When they got to Gravel Hill they had half a pint of brandy. Singleton paid Mr. Benham for the horse and trap, and gave witness half a sovereign in addition to this for himself.
Cross-examined: He knew Singleton by sight, but had never spoken to him before.
Isaac Byng was then called. He said he lived in Green-row.
Mr. Cousins: You are a horse dealer I believe?
Witness: No; I’m anything. (Laughter.) Amongst other things he kept a beerhouse, the New Inn Tap. On Monday, the 17th, he passed Cleife and SIngleton at Purbrook, and went to the Red Lion at Horndean. He was having his dinner when they came in. Singleton treated him and some one on the other side of the table; Singleton also had some brandy. He (witness) drove Singleton to Petersfield from Gravel Hill.
Mr. Cousins: What happened at Petersfield?
Witness: Why my “oss” had the “kick-up,”—(laughter);—and he did kick too. (Renewed laughter.)
Mr Cousins: Never mind about your horse; what did Singleton do?
Witness: Well, sir, my old “oss” began kicking and he kicked the foot-board right away, and I thought I was going too—(laughter)—when a man comes along and said he could sell me an old pony to get along, and Singleton bought it for 55s.
Mr Cousins: Did you have anything for yourself?
Witness: No; it was only an old one, you know, just to get along with. (Laughter.) The deal was made this side of Petersfield, in a beerhouse near Sheet-gate. We had a drop of ale and brandy. The man “stood” the brandy, and Singleton “stood” the ale. He (witness) then drove Singleton to Liphook, and they then went on to Hammerpond, just this side of Guildford. He and his brother and Singleton went into a beerhouse there, and tried to get lodgings, but they were will, and told them if they went about two miles further on they might get lodgings. Singleton, who had lost his hat on the road, said, “Well I must have a hat.” Witness supposed he was getting cold as he was bald-deader. (Laughter.) Singleton then went away, and he did not see him any more.
Cross-examined: He considered it was a high price for the horse; he should want three of them for a guinea. (Laughter.)
Elias Woodruffe, a gunner in the Royal Marine Artillery, living at 17, Carlisle-street, said that during his leisure time he worked for Mr. Marshall “screening” the ashes in a dust-heap in a brickfield at the top of Carlisle-street. On Monday, the 17th inst., about 11 o’clock in the morning he was so working, about found the cash-book (produced) buried in the heap. A person going from Portsmouth to Fratton would not go far out of his way by going this way, but if was not the nearest way.
Mr. John T. Antill said he identified one of the notes (produced) marked K.B., 04862, as the property of Richard Oakley Millidge and Willian Henry Payne, the executors of the will of his late father, and he believed that the other note as well as the cash-box (produced) was their property also.
P.C. William Porter said that at 20 minutes past 10 o’clock on Monday night, the 17th, he apprehended the prisoner McGhie in Gamble-lane, Kingston. He was very drunk, and lying down asleep. He lifted him up and searched him, and in his left hand waistcoat pocket he found for £5 notes (produced), two of which had been identified by the witness Henry Brown. He said to him, “I shall take you into custody on a charge of stealing a cash-box containing £85, the property of Mr. Antill.” He replied, “You think you’ve got a b------ mark, don’t you.” He then took him to the station. On the following morning he charged him with the offence, and he said, “It is a serious affair; I wish I had the coin now.” He knew McGhie; he was a common labourer.
By McGhie: I did not see you with any cash-box.
Detective Sergeant William Poole deposed that on Tuesday, the 18th inst., he and P.C. Compton apprehended the prisoner at Putney-vale, Surrey. He was riding in a cart accompanied by an old man, who said, in his presence, that he had taken him up near London. They took him into a publichouse head, and on searching him they found on him two £5 notes, £14 10s. in gold, £6 15s. 4d. in silver, and 3s. 1¾d. in pence and farthings, making £31 10s. 5¾d. It was all loose together in his pocket. When they took him into custody he said, “What is this for?” He (Poole) said, “You are charged with stealing Mr. Antill’s cash-box, containing £85.” He replied “ALl right, go on, do as you like; its all my my money that I’ve got, and I can account for it.” He knew Singleton and he had been to his home several times, and his wife said in his presence that he was in the habit of turning a mangle for her.
Mr. Wallis addressed the bench at some length. He contended that not one scrap of evidence had been produced against Singleton. Referring to notices having appeared in the papers of the previous career of Singleton, he thought that it was a great pity that such statements should appear, as it might be the means of prejudicing the minds of the magistrates. He ventured to say that the only means why suspicious was pointed at his client, was that he happened to be a customer on that morning, and he urged that so far as the evidence had gone there was nothing at all against his client. He hoped the bench would not allow anything that had appeared, or which might have been said, to prejudice their minds, and he was satisfied that his client would meet with justice at their hands. He concluded by asking them to discharge Singleton.
The magistrates retired, and after a few minutes deliberation returned into court, when Mr. McCheane said they had decided on sending the case before another tribunal.
The depositions having been read and signed, the prisoners were formally committed for trial at the ensuing Quarter Sessions.
1867, An Ungrateful Act
Quote
COUNTY BENCH.—THURSDAY.—Before H. Carter and F. Bradshaw, Esqrs.
AN UNGRATEFUL ACT.—James Clarke and William Walker, navvies, were charged with stealing £1 0s. 6d. from the person of Abraham Clarke.—The prosecutor is a labourer residing at Cosham, and on Monday afternoon about one o’clock he met the two prisoners against the Coach and Horses. He knew Walker, and he asked the prisoners where they were going, to which they said they were seeking for work and were hard up. He took them into the Coach and Horses and gave them some beer and food. He had a purse in his inside waistcoat pocket which contained half-a-sovereign, two five shilling pieces, and a sixpence. One of the five-shilling pieces was worn more than the other and had George and the dragon on it, and the sixpence was crooked and had a hole in it. He laid his head on the table as he was not quite well and after he had been in that position for some time, the prisoner Clarke shook him and told him to wake up. He looked up and saw Clarke had his hand in his inside waistcoat pocket. Prosecutor asked him what he was going when he said, “Wake up.” The two prisoners then went out together and before the prosecutor had lost sight of them he found his purse was gone. He followed them and saw them go into the Canteen at Hilsea. He then went for a policeman came gave the prisoners into custody. Mr. Leader, the keeper of the Canteen proved that the prisoners went into his house on Monday afternoon. Clarke called for a pot of beer, for which he tendered a five-shilling piece. He afterwards asked him if he could give him change for another five-shilling piece, which he did. When the prisoners were searched a sixpence was found on the prisoner Clarke.—Both prisoners, who said they were not guilty, were committed for trial at the Sessions.
— Portsmouth Times and Naval Gazette, Saturday 21 September, 1867
1868 Serious assault
Quote
FAREHAM PETTY SESSIONS.
MONDAY.—Before Admiral Sir Lucius Curtis, Bart., K.C.B. (Chairman), Spencer Smith, Esq., General Hore, and F. Bradshaw, Esq.
SERIOUS ASSAULT.—William Wingham, a powerful-looking youth, was charged with assaulting William Hoad. The complainant (who is an elderly man) is a carpenter living at North-end, near Portsmouth, and works at Hilsea. On Thursday, the 2nd of January, he was engaged on certain works for the War Department at Hilsea, between the garden and the shrubbery, when he saw the defendant and some smaller boys pass by him. A man who was with the complainant drove them off the works; but shortly afterwards the defendant returned, and in passing trod upon the complainant’s toes. The latter told him that he had no right there, and put up his hand to prevent him from passing, and the defendant thereupon took up a piece of a fence and was in the act of striking the complainant, when it was taken from him. The defendant then took up a large stone (weighing several pounds) and threw it at the complainant; this struck the complainant in the back of the head, the force of which produced a large wound, from which the blood flowed freely, and which rendered the complainant insensible. After that the defendant made another rush at the complainant, and struck him in the mouth. The defendant, who pleaded guilty, alleged that the complainant struck him first; and his mother said that he suffered from fits, and had not consequently been able to work for some time. He had, she said, had three fits since Saturday; whereupon Sir Lucius Curtis told the woman that if her son suffered from fits and was of a violent temper, he should be watched. It was a very serious assault, and might have resulted in the death of the complainant. He was fined 15s., including costs, or 14 days’ imprisonment in default of payment. The alternative, however, was avoided, by the boy’s friends at once paying the money.
William Page, a signalman in the service of the joint railway companies at Port-creek, was charged with using threatening language towards the complainant in the previous case, whereby he went in fear of bodily harm, and in consequence of which he prayed that he might be bound over to keep the peace towards him. On the day following the assault by the boy (to whom the present defendant was related) the complainant was called from his work to see two women who were in front of the “Coach and Horses.” He (complainant) said he wished to have nothing to say to them, when the defendant, who was close by, came up and said, “Are you the man who insulted this woman yesterday?” The complainant said, “No. I never insulted any woman,” whereupon the defendant said, “Are you the man who had his head cut?” to which he received a reply in the affirmative. The defendant then said, “Then you are the man who insulted this woman, and I’ve a good mind to knock your ------ old head off.” The defendant repeated the threat three times, and a man named George Gasser proved hearing the defendant say, “If it wasn’t that he’s in his work I’d give the old ------ something now. Never mind, I’ll get five or six of our fellows down here, and we’ll do something for the old ------ yet.” The defendant admitted making use of language similar to that described by the complainant and his witness, but alleged that it was applied to the latter and not to Hoad. So far, he remarked, from wishing to injure the complainant, he should be very sorry to strike him, because he was old enough to be his grandfather. Two women were called to prove the defendant’s allegation, and at the close of the case the magistrates asked the complainant if he were disposed to come to some amicable arrangement. The complainant replied that he had no wish to injure the man, and that he merely took this course for his own preservation, and ultimately consented to withdraw the information upon the defendant paying the costs, and promising not again to molest him.
— Hampshire Telegraph, Wednesday 15 January, 1868
1869, Licensing, Coach and Horses
Quote
FAREHAM PETTY SESSIONS.
MONDAY.—Before Admiral Sir Henry Leeke, K.C.B., F. Bradshaw, Esq., and W.H. Deane, Esq.
LICENSING.—Mr. Wallis applied for a license for the “Coach and Horses” public-house at Hilsea, under somewhat peculiar circumstances, the late tenant, a person named Lovelock, having neglected or omitted to apply for a license before he left the house. It had been a licensed house from time immemorial, and nothing could be said against it by the police. The application he made was under the 14th section of the 9th of George IV., which gave the magistrates the authority to grant a license in a case like this where the tenant who lived in the house at the time of the licensing meeting omitted to apply for a license and soon afterwards left. Mr. Edwin Webb, the representative of Messrs. Simonds & Co., of Winchester, would be the actual resident occupier of the house for the future, and he was a man who bore a very excellent character.—The police raised no objection, and the magistrates granted the application.
— Hampshire Telegraph, Wednesday 20 October, 1869
Quote
COUNTY BENCH.—MONDAY.—Before Admiral Sir Henry J. Leeke, K.C.B. (chairman), F. Bradshaw and W. H. Deane, Esqr.**
A special session for the transfer of alehouse and beerhouse licenses was held, and the license of the Coach and Horses alehouse, which was not applied for at the general annual licensing meeting, was, on the application of Mr. Wallis, of Portsmouth, granted to Mr. Edmund Webb; that of the King’s Head alehouse, Alverstoke, was transferred from Mr. William Barber to Mr. John Sheppard; and that of the Windmill alehouse, Alverstoke, from Mr. William Daysh to Mr. William Barnes. Several applications were made for the transfer of beerhouse licenses; but as the necessary notices had not been given temporary endorsements only were made in each case until the next special sessions.
— Portsmouth Times and Naval Gazette, Saturday 23 October, 1869
Quote
THE “COACH AND HORSES,” HILSEA.—The application for the renewal of the license for the “Coach and Horses,” public-house, at Hilsea, which was adjourned from the last meeting, was again called on, Mr. H. Ford, of Portsea, appearing for Webb, the representative of Messrs. Simmons and Co., brewers, of Winchester, who obtained a license at the last general annual licensing meeting.—Mr. Ford said that at the last meeting the magistrates required that a fresh tenant should be procured, as Mr. Webb was not the real resident occupier. The firm had succeeded in getting as a tenant John Hailstone, a man of unexceptionable character, who recently belonged to the army, and left it as a sergeant with a good-conduct medal. He, therefore, prayed that the license be granted.—The application was granted.
— Hampshire Telegraph, Wednesday 07 September, 1870
Quote
NEW APPLICATIONS.
The Mile End Tavern, Brockhurst.—Mr. Field made application that the license of this house, John Bartlett, landlord, which was suspended at the licensing session last year, be renewed. The house was the property of Mr. Davey, brewer, of Portsmouth.—Mr. Field put in a memorial, and said the landlord had continued to live on the premises, he being a cab proprietor. He hoped the bench would consider the closing of the house for 12 months had been a sufficient punishment for any former misdeeds. A low private house next door had been removed, and was now converted into a chemist’s shop.—Mr. Hornigold stated that there was a house occupied by low girls near the Inn at the present time. There was, besides, the Willow Tree nearly opposite, and three other beer houses near. There were more houses in proportion to the population at Brockhurst than in the town.—Application refused.
THE BEE HIVE, 76, HIGH STREET, GOSPORT.—Mr. G. Feltham, of Portsea, asked for the license for this house, which fell last year before the sweeping enactments of the Wine and Beerhouse Act of 1869. It was one of the largest houses in High-street, containing 10 rooms, besides bar, parlour, and large club room.—Mr. Feltham put in some very good testimonials for Mr. Henry Angell, who had been selected as landlord by the lessees.—Mr. Hornigold stated the King’s Arms was next door, and there were several other houses near.—Refused.
The Court adjourned at half-past three.
An adjournment of the licensing meeting was held at the Sessions-room, Fareham, on Monday, before Capt. Field, R.N., F. Bradshaw, Esq., Captain Manse, R.N., and J. Carpenter-Garnier, Esq.
Several alehouse and beerhouse license certificates, which had not been previously applied for, and others the application for which had been adjourned from previous meetings, were granted. Among the latter were the Coach and Horses, at Hilsea, which, on the application of Mr. H. Ford, was granted to John Hailstorm; the Royal Cooperage, Gosport, on the application of Mr. Field, of Gosport, was granted to John Morrell; and the Rose and Shamrock beerhouse, Gosport, was granted to Mr. Joseph Dash.
Mr. Field applied on behalf of Mr. Biden, the owner, for a renewal of the license to the Goliath alehouse, which had been refused at a previous meeting, but the magistrates declined to re-open the question, which had been decided by a full bench.
An application by Mr. Goble, on behalf of the owner and occupier of the Sailor’s Home, at Fareham, under similar circumstances, met the same fate.
Mr. Malim, of Chichester, applied on behalf of Mr. Alexander Taylor for a beerhouse license certificate for the Bird-in-Hand beerhouse, Fareham, the renewal of which was refused last year, and a new license to which the magistrates had at a previous meeting (this year) declined to grant.—Mr. Malim insisted that the owner of the house (Mr. Puttock) had purchased the interest of the proprietor of the Fountain, a house near, in the license granted to him, and would, if the present application was granted, close that house and open the Bird-in-Hand, which was a much more commodious house.—The application was granted.
Mr. Field applied for a beerhouse license certificate for the Crown, on Portsdown-hill, which had been refused last year.—The application was refused.
— Portsmouth Times and Naval Gazette, Saturday 10 September, 1870
1869, Bankrupt
Quote
IN the matter of JOHN LOVELOCK, formerly of the “Coach and Horses” Tavern, Hilsea, in the Parish of Wymering, Hants, Licensed Victualler, part of the same time also of the “New York” Tavern, Bath- square, Portsmouth, Hants, Licensed Victualler, and now of the “New York” Tavern, Portsmouth aforesaid, Licensed Victualler, adjudged Bankrupt on the 11th day of October, 1869.
An Order of Discharge will be delivered to the Bankrupt after the expiration of thirty days from this date, unless an appeal be duly entered against the judgment of the Court, and notice thereof be given to the Court.
Dated this 29th day of November, 1869.
JOHN HOWARD,
Registrar.— Hampshire Telegraph, Saturday 04 December, 1869
1870, Destructive Fire, Coach and Horses
Quote
ALARMING AND DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT HILSEA.—A very destructive fire broke out at about 2 o’clock on Monday morning on the premises known as the Coach and Horses, situated at Hilsea, near Portsmouth. The origin of the fire is not at present known, and although the fire engines from Hilsea Barracks were soon on the spot and every assistance rendered by the military authorities, yet nothing could be done to arrest the progress of the flames, which eventually destroyed the whole of the building, furniture, &c. The premises are insured in the Guardian Office. Mr. E. Webb, of Highfield, near Southampton, is the lessee of the premises under the War Department.
— Hampshire Advertiser, Wednesday 05 October, 1870
Quote
TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF THE “COACH AND HORSES,” HILSEA.—On Sunday night, about half past 12 o’clock, a fire occured at the old “Coach and Horses” public house, opposite Hilsea Pond, which resulted in the total destruction of the house. It was discovered by a man named Warner, who resides in a cottage opposite. He had retired to rest, and about half past 12 he got up, and happening to look out of the window, saw the flames bursting from the front-room window. He immediately gave an alarm, and the fire engine from the Hilsea Barracks, under the command of a lieutenant of the B Battery of Royal Artillery, was soon on the spot. No water but a small supply from the Hilsea Pond could be obtained, and the house was completely gutted, nothing remaining but the bare walls. Mr. Middleton, the landlord, had fortunately taken nearly all his furniture out of the house to Portsea, as it was his intention to quit the same day, and consequently he sustained no serious injury. The house, which is Government property, and let to Mr. Webb, of Southampton, for whom Middleton has been managing the business, is insured in the Guardian Fire Office for 250l., and the furniture in the London and Lancashire Fire Office for between 50l. and 60l. It is stated that the fire originated in the bar, but it is not known from what cause.
— Hampshire Telegraph, Wednesday 05 October, 1870
Quote
DESTRUCTION BY FIRE OF THE “COACH AND HORSES,” HILSEA.—Half an hour after midnight on Sunday as John Cross, a stonemason, residing at Hilsea, was returning home, he observed that the Coach and Horses, an old established inn, built on a side road off the direct London-road at Hilsea, was on fire. Cross immediately burst open the front door, and alarmed the inmates, succeeding in rescuing Mrs. Middleton, one of her children, and a female domestic servant, who slept on the premises on the night in question. The men of the B battery of the 11th Brigade Royal Artillery stationed at Hilsea, manned the fire-engine and proceeded to the spot, but in consequence of the scarcity of water, the only supply being a well in the neighbourhood, the preventive means could make no headway against the burning premises, and in one hour after the alarm was raised the house was completely gutted. The building is the property of the War Department, and is leased to Messrs. Simmons, of the Hyde Brewery, Winchester. It had been sub-let to Mr. George Middleton, who was in occupation at the time of the fire. The latter had completed arrangements for taking a house in Landport, and was absent in Portsmouth with a son of his on the night in question. The following day it was intended to quit the hostelry, it having been let to another tenant. The house is insured in the Guardian Fire Office for £250, and the furniture for £60 in the London and Lancashire.
— Portsmouth Times and Naval Gazette, Saturday 08 October, 1870
Quote
FIRE.—The Coach and Horses, a well-known roadside public-house, situate at Hilsea, near Portsmouth, was burnt to the ground early on Monday morning last. The chief part of the furniture had been removed by Mr. Middleton, the landlord, who was about to quit the house, but what remained was totally consumed, only a small supply of water, from Hilsea pond, being obtainable. The premises, which are Government property, and let to Mr. Webb. of Southampton, were insured, as well as the furniture. The fire originated in the bar.
— Hampshire Chronicle, Saturday 08 October, 1870
1870 License transfers
Quote
A special sessions was held on Monday, before Captain Field, R.N. (chairman), Mr. Frank Bradshaw, and Mr. J. Carpenter Garnier, for the purpose of transferring alehouse licenses and beerhouse license certificates.
The license of the Queen’s Head, alehouse, Gosport, was transferred from Mr. Thomas New to Mr. Thomas Field, and that of the Rodney’s Head from Mr. William Hobbs to Mr. Robert G. Oakley. The license certificate of the Baker’s Arms, beerhouse, Fareham, was transferred to Mrs. Eliza Emery, the widow of the late proprietor; and that of the Victory, beerhouse, Gosport, to Mr. Walter Eddy, a son of the late proprietor.
The magistrates declined an application for a license to the canteen at Port Fareham, but directed a communication to be made to the War-office authorities on the subject.
An application for a transfer of the license to the Coach and Horses, at Hilsea, Wymering, which had been burnt down, was refused to the lessee.
Several other licenses were temporarily transferred—one that of the New Inn, Portchester, to Mr. Henry Hayward, the magistrates refusing to grant it to his daughter, “a young lady” in her 21st year (whose application was supported by Mr. E. Goble), as they did not consider her a proper person to be entrusted with the conduct of such a business.
— Hampshire Advertiser, Wednesday 14 December, 1870
Quote
COUNTY BENCH.—MONDAY.—Before Captain Field, R.N., (chairman), F. Bradshaw and J. Carpenter Garnier, Esqrs.
This was a special session for the purpose of transferring alehouse licenses and beerhouse license certificates.—The license of the Queen’s Head alehouse, Gosport, was transferred from Mr. Thomas Mew to Mr. Thomas Field, and that of the Rodney’s Head from Mr. William Hobbs to Mr. Robert G. Oakley. The license certificate of the Baker’s Arms, beerhouse, Fareham, was transferred to Mrs. Eliza Emery, the widow of the late proprietor; and that of the Victory, beerhouse, Gosport, to Mr. Walter Eddy, a son of the late proprietor.—The magistrates declined an application for a license to the canteen at Port Fareham, but directed a communication to be made to the War Office authorities on the subject.—An application for a transfer of the license of the Coach and Horses, at Hilsea, Wymering, which had been burnt down, was refused to the lessee.—Several other licenses were temporarily transferred—one, that of the New Inn, Portchester, to Mr. Henry Hayward, the Bench refusing to grant it to his daughter, a “young lady” in her 21st year (whose application was supported by Mr. E. Goble), as they did not consider her a proper person to be entrusted with the conduct of such a business.
— Portsmouth Times and Naval Gazette, Saturday 17 December, 1870
1870, Grand reopening?
Todo
Double-check the date on this one. Did the really rebuild the place inside two months?
Quote
PETTY SESSIONS, TUESDAY.—Before Mr. Spencer Smith (chairman), Messrs. Frank Bradshaw, Henry Carter, and W. H. Deane.
John Hailstone, of the Coach and Horses publichouse, Hilsea, Wymering, was charged by Mr. Superintendent Drew with having opened his house for the sale of beer at twenty minutes to 12 o’clock on the night of Sunday, the 4th instant, “otherwise than as refreshment for travellers.”—He was convicted in the mitigated penalty of 10s and 7s 6d costs, which he paid.—The license of the house was afterwards temporarily transferred to Mr. George Knight, on the application of Mr. Henry Ford, of Portsea, who represented the owners, Messrs. Simonds, of Winchester.
— Hampshire Advertiser, Saturday 24 December, 1870
Quote
COUNTY BENCH.—TUESDAY.—Before Spencer Smith, Esq., (chairman), F. Bradshaw, W. H. Deane, and H. Carter, Esqrs.
A SLEEPING LANDLORD.—John Hailstone, keeper of the Coach and Horses, Hilsea, appeared in answer to a summons charging him with opening his house for the sale of beer, otherwise than as refreshment for travellers, after eleven on Sunday night, the 4th inst.—At twenty minutes to twelve on the night named the attention of P.C. Compton was attracted to the house by hearing talking inside, and on looking in he saw three men with a quart mug and glass containing beer. Compton asked the landlady the reason the house was not closed and she said, “My husband’s not at home, and I’ve been trying to get them out for some time.” Compton found the man (the defendant) lying down rolled up in a coat, and the landlady admitted this was her “old man.” She woke him up, and he told Compton he went off to sleep and did not know the time, adding a hope that the officer would say nothing about it.—Mr. H. Ford, for the defence, said this was not one of those outrageous cases which sometimes came before them. He appeared there not only for defendant but for Messrs. Simmonds, the lessees of the property, and on their behalf he expressed sorrow for defendant’s conduct. He reminded the magistrates that defendant had only been in the house a short time, and on behalf of Mr. Webb, Messrs. Simmonds, manager, he said the defendant came to him with the highest character, but in consequence of his having incurred the censure of the police another tenant had been obtained.—Defendant was fined 10s. and costs.—On the application of Mr. Ford, the license was temporarily transferred to George Knight.
— Portsmouth Times and Naval Gazette, Saturday 24 December, 1870
1871, Licensing
Quote
PETTY SESSIONS, Monday.—Magistrates present: Captain Field, R.N. (chairman), the Rev. J. T. Maine, Mr. Frank Bradshaw, and Mr. J. Carpenter-Garnier.
A special sessions for the transfer of alehouse licences and beerhouse licence certificates was held, when the following transfers were effected:—The license of the Floating Dock (alehouse), Gosport, from Mr. George Dugan to Mr. Robert Miles; that of the Coach and Horses (alehouse), at Hilsea, from Mr. John Hailstone to Mr. George Knight; that of the Dolphin (alehouse), Emsworth, from Mr. Thomas Hayden to Mr. James Chase; that of H.R.H. Prince Alfred (beerhouse), Alverstoke, to Mrs. Emma Kent, the widow of the late proprietor; and that of the Ship (beerhouse), Hardway, from Mr. John Pyecroft to Mr. Peter Reason.
— Hampshire Advertiser, Wednesday 08 February, 1871
1871, Lawn Turf
Quote
LAWN TURF.
FOR SALE,—A Quantity of GREEN SWARD TURF. Apply at the “Coach and Horses” public-house, HIlsea, Cosham.
— Hampshire Telegraph, Saturday 20 May, 1871
1871, Licensing
Quote
PETTY SESSIONS, MONDAY.—Before Mr. Spencer Smith (chairman), the Rev. J. T. Maine, Messrs. Frank Bradshaw and W. H. Deane.
A special sessions was held for the transfer of alehouse and beerhouse licenses and for granting licenses to deal in game, when the following transfers were effected:—
Alehouses.—Anglesey Arms, Alverstoke, from Mr. John Longworth to Mr. James Norman; Fountain, Forton, Alverstoke, from Mr. Hiram John Bailiffe to Mr. George Dibden; Mitre, Gosport, from Mrs. Ann Perryman to Mr. John Curry; Pier Tavern, Gosport, from Mr. Joseph Christopher to Mr. William Strudwich.
Beerhouses.—Ship, Hardway, Alverstoke, from Mrs. Martha Cottrill to Mr. Samuel Ewens; Yew Tree, Hayling South, from Mr. Wm. Guy to Mr. Thomas Downton.
Mr. Henry Ford, of Portsea, applied on behalf of the proprietors of the Coach and Horses, at Hilsea, which was some time since destroyed by fire, for the removal of the license to a new house now being erected near. The application was granted.
— Hampshire Advertiser, Wednesday 12 July, 1871
Quote
COUNTY BENCH.—MONDAY.—Before S. Smith, Esq., the Rev. J. T. Maine, and F. Bradshaw and W. H. Deane, Esqrs.
Mr. Henry Ford, of Portsea, applied on behalf of the proprietors of the Coach and Horses, at Hilsea, which was some time since destroyed by fire, for the removal of the license to a new house now being erected near.—The application was granted.
— Portsmouth Times and Naval Gazette, Saturday 15 July, 1871
1871, Three Lives Lost
Note
I added more line breaks than normal to this one, to make the conversations more readable.
Quote
FATAL BOAT ACCIDENT IN PORTSMOUTH HARBOUR.
THREE LIVES LOST.
A sad accident, by which three persons lost their lives, occurred on Sunday last. About eight o’clock on the morning of that day Henry Varndell, thirty-five years of age, his wife Eliza, their child George Frederick, aged ten months, and his brother William Varndell, left Hardway in a small punt, intending to proceed to Portsbridge and from thence to walk to Waterloo to attend the funeral of Mrs. Varndell’s sister. When off Tipnor point, a gust of wind caught the sail and the boat capsized. William Varndell managed to swim ashore, and was picked up in nearly an exhausted state on Tipnor beach; all the others were drowned. The body of Eliza Varndell was washed up on the beach at Hilsea an hour or so after the accident occurred, and was removed to the Coach and Horses public-house.
The inquest upon the body was held on Monday at the King’s Head, Hilsea, before E. Hoskins, Esq., County Coroner.—After briefly stating the facts of the case, the Coroner said that though there had been indiscretion on the part of the husband and brother-in-law of the deceased, yet there was no blame to be attached to anyone. He had been in communication that morning with Mr. Garrington, the borough Coroner, who would hold an inquest upon the other bodies, which had been washed ashore at Tipnor, within the boundary of the borough. In consequence of that it was necessary to hold two separate inquests. The following evidence was then adduced:—
William Varndell stated that he was a labourer, living at Hardway, in the parish of Alverstoke. His brother’s name was Henry Varndell; he was also a labourer, working on Mr. Butler’s coal wharf. His sister-in-law, thedeceased, was 34 years of age. They had three children, the oldest of whom was a little over three years, and the two children who were left were in his charge. His brother and his wife and child left Hardway with him about eight o’clock. They all got into his (witness’s) shooting punt. There was only one seat in the centre of the punt, and it was flat-bottomed and had no regular keel. It was fitted with a mast. He had never measured the punt, therefore he could not give its dimensions, but should fancy it was about 10ft. long and about 3ft. wide. it carried no ballast and was made simply for shooting over the mud. They had no rudder, but steered the punt with an oar. His brother and himself had been well accustomed to handle it. He had worked in a barge and had been up and down the harbour a great many times, and was well acquainted with the navigation. He had known the harbour for twenty years. The mast of the punt was about six feet high, and was fixed in the bow by means of a “cleet.” The sail they used was what was usually called a “gaff,” and was a very small one, there being not more than three yards of canvas in it. When they started the tide was at the flood. The sail was not made fast, and his brother held the corner of it in his hand, the rope being twisted once or twice round the outrigger. He (witness) steered and was sitting aft outside of the boat. His brother and his wife were sitting on little stools in the centre of the boat; there was not room for them to place themselves in any other manner, and they say facing each other amidships. The deceased held her child in her arms. They were steering for Portsbridge, and were going to the funeral of a sister of deceased at Waterloo.
—The Coroner: What made you go by boat?
—Witness: Because it was nearer about would save us walking a good distance.
—The Coroner: Whose proposal was it that you should go by boat?
—Witness: It was my brother proposed it, sir. I told him it was too rough to go. He answered that it was not. He was older and I am.
—The Coroner: Was it to save expense that you went by boat?
—Witness: Yes, sir, it was. When we started the wind was S.W., and we were running before it. Just as we passed Portsbridge creek, because the wind kept on freshening, I wanted to run on shore. My brother said, “Take and jib her at once or we shan’t get round the point.” So the boat was jibed, and while we were jibing, a sudden puff of wind came and caught the sail, the boat was capsized, and all four of us were turned over into the water. There was no chance of righting the punt as she was flat bottomed. I am a pretty good swimmer and struck out, and when I looked about I could see that I was half a mile from shore, and that my sister-in-law (the deceased) was clinging to the bottom of the boat. I wanted by brother to swim ashore and get assistance, as the punt would have been sufficient to keep his wife up, but he would not. If he had, I think both he and his wife would have been saved, as he could swim. I suppose he wanted to help her. When I left I saw them clinging to the bottom of the punt. I could not tell the depth of the water I was in. If the boat had overturned a little distance from the place where she did we should have been able to touch bottom. We were in a channel where the water was deeper. I saw a man shove off in a boat soon after I had struck out, but I did not notice him while I was swimming to shore. When I got on shore I was very nearly done. Some shipwright, I believe, pulled me out, but I do not know what happened to me afterwards.
—The Coroner: The wind was fair you say all the way up, but if when you wanted to jib you had sculled the punt round the point no accident would have occurred, would it?
—Witness: No, sir, but we should have got wet.
—The Coroner: If it had not been for the sail the punt would not have capsized?
—Witness: No; punts are generally very safe things.
—The Coroner: Did your sister-in-law at any time during the trip suggest that you should strike the sail?
—Witness: No sir, she did not.
—The Coroner: There was nothing to alarm her then?
—Witness: Not a bit.
—The Coroner: I suppose the poor little infant was lost in the capsize of the boat?
—Witness: Yes; I saw it go out of her arms. I have seen the body of the deceased. There were no marks of violence upon it.
—The Foreman: If you had kept the boat on the same tack, could you have got up?
—Witness: No, we should have run ashore.
—The Foreman: Was it a sudden gust of wind?
—Witness: Yes. You see we wanted to make Portsbridge, and if we had not tacked we should have gone on the shore at Tipnor Creek.
Stephen Hawkins stated that he was in the employ of Messrs. Leather, Smith, & Co., of the Dockyard Extension Works, and was watchman, his duty being to see that the barges discharged their cargoes properly. He lived on Tipnor Common. On Sunday morning, a few minutes past nine, he was looking out of his window. If blew pretty freshly, and he saw a sail and soon after the punt. There was a great deal of sea. The wind was squally and gusty. As the punt pitched he could see three persons in her. They were steering before a S.W. breeze. Before they reached Tipnor Point he saw an alteration in the course. About 200 yards from the shore they turned to the N.W., the sail jibed, and the boat capsized. He saw it all. They evidently wanted to clear the Point.
—The Coroner: Did you see any of them jump up as the sail jibed.
—Witness: Two were sitting in the well of the punt and one was sitting on the sides, so that I could not see very well. I did not notice that they jumped up. I did not stop to see anything more. My boat was in the water, and I went and got the oars directly. She was only ten yards from the shore, and I and another man jumped in her and went at once to the rescue. The name of the man who went with me was Hayling. He is a pensioner from the Royal Navy. As we were pulling towards the punt we saw something black floating on the water. I thought it was the woman, and we turned round and round after it. When we got up to it it proved to be only a bundle of clothes. We then went to the punt; she was bottom upwards and the anchor was fastened in the mud. We could not recover any of the bodies. The boat was doing her work “first rate” when I first saw her, and it would have been all right if they had not jibed. I should not like to have jibed my wherry in such a sea. The sail was not a large one. When we got on shore we found the last witness.
—The Coroner: What amount of time elapsed before you got to the boat?
—It was twenty minutes before we got there.
—A juryman: You made strict search?
—Witness: Oh, yes: we looked everywhere.
—Juryman: You saw the black bundle first?
—Witness: Yes: we went after that first. It was only mourning clothes.
—Juryman: Where did you first see it?
—Witness: About twenty yards astern of the punt, and it floated nearly 100 yards before we could get up to it. When we went back we found the last witness. He was nearly exhausted, and my daughter got him some brandy, and after we had rubbed him a bit we got some life into him and took him into the house.
John Smith, a blacksmith in Portsmouth dockyard, and living at Buckland stated that on Sunday morning, about half-past ten, he was coming across the fields from Stamshaw to Portsbridge. A storm came on, and he took shelter under a bank. He had not been there very long before he got on the embankment and noticed something in the water very near the shore. Soon after it stranded. He went to it and discovered it was the body of a woman. The body was the same as the Coroner and jury had viewed. When he discovered it there were no signs of life. He pulled it out and gave information to the police. He did not know at the time that any accident had happened.
P.C. George Compton, of the county police, stated that from information received from the last witness he went to the shore near Horsey Island. He there found the body of the deceased. She was quite dead, and was in just the same condition as when viewed by the Coroner and jury. He found a pair of gloves and a quantity of biscuit in the pocket of her dress, but no money.
The Coroner here recalled the first witness, and asked if either of the party in the boat were the worse for liquor. He did not ask the question to hurt his feelings but simply for information.
—Varndell replied that none of them were.
The Coroner said that after hearing the evidence the jury could have no doubt as to the fact that it was an accident. Though they might think it was indiscreet in the wild state of the weather which had been prevailing for some time that day, to venture out with a sail in such a boat, there was no one whom they could censure. It was at the suggestion of the deceased and her husband that the adventure had been engaged in, and is they believed the statement of the survivor it was evident that he had yielded to their wishes and went with them. If that was the case could the jury come to any other conclusion than that the deceased came by her death accidentally? She and her husband had paid the penalty of their indiscretion, but there could be no doubt of the circumstances of the case.
The jury returned a verdict of “Accidentally drowned.”
— Portsmouth Times and Naval Gazette, Saturday 05 August, 1871
1871, Licensing
Quote
FAREHAM GENERAL ANNUAL LICENSING MEETING.
The General Annual Licensing Meeting for the petty-sessional division of Fareham, was held in the Sessions-room, Osborne-road, on Monday morning, when the justices present were the Rev. J. T. Main (chairman), F. Bradshaw, Esq., Captain Field, R.N., W. H. Deane, Esq., J. Carpenter Garnier, Esq., and the Hon. Captain Pakenham. The business of the meeting was confined to the granting of renewals to existing spirit houses and to the hearing of applications for new spirit licenses. Not a single complaint was made by Mr. Superintendent Drew, and the licenses for 81 houses, in various parts of the division, were renewed without opposition.
THE “COACH AND HORSES,” AT HILSEA.—Mr. H. Ford applied for a permanent licence for the “Coach and Horses,” public-house, situate near the turnpike gate, on the new London-road. He said it would be in the recollection of the magistrates that some time ago the “Coach and Horses,” public-house, which had stood for many years on the old London-road, was burnt down. Other premises had been erected on the new London-road, and the magistrates in petty session had granted a temporary transfer of the license to the new premises. He now asked them to grant a permanent transfer.—The bench at once acceded to Mr. Ford’s application.
— Hampshire Telegraph, Wednesday 23 August, 1871
1871, Public transport
Quote
We are glad to state that the omnibus system is being gradually extended in this district. Two routes are occupied, and we learn that a new omnibus will commence running between Cosham and Landport, calling at the New Coach and Horses, at Hilsea. The fares are somewhat below those of the railway, and we trust the enterprise will prove a good investment.
— Hampshire Telegraph, Saturday 23 September, 1871
1871, Any time you want an omnibus
Quote
PORTSMOUTH COUNTY COUR.
SATURDAY,—Before C.J. Gale, Esq., Judge.
The Judge sat for a short time to-day. There were six judgement summonses, and 94 new plaints. There was, however, but one case of any interest to the public.
PEARCE V. WEBB.—Mr. King appeared for the plaintiff, who is an omnibus proprietor, living at the “King of Prussia,” in Broad-street, Portsmouth. The action was to recover 5l. 11s., the price of a set of harness, and the hire of an omnibus for 15 days. The defendant, who lives at the “Coach and Horses,” at Hilsea, had paid 3l. 2s. 6d. for the harness, but disputed his liability for the use of the omnibus, as he contended the plaintiff had lent it to him. This was the question in dispute. The plaintiff alleged that the omnibus had been hired, and that 1l. a week, the usual price, had been charged. On the other hand, the defendant alleged that he had painted and repaired the top of an omnibus, and that for this the plaintiff lent him the omnibus.
In support of this statement, the defendant’s brother was called, who stated that when Mr. Pearce called at the “Coach and Horses,” he said at any time the defendant wanted an omnibus, he could lend him on. Some time ago they broke the springs of their omnibus, and witness went down to Mr. Pearce, who said “All right, my boy. It’s a good thing to have a friend to come to.”—Another witness, named George Knight, also said Mr. Pearce met him in the Commercial-road in the last week in September, and asked him if his master wanted some horses. He then added that his master could have an omnibus whenever he wanted one.—The plaintiff defined these statements; but judgement was given for the defendant, the Judge remarking that he could not disbelieve so many witnesses.
— Hampshire Telegraph, Wednesday 29 November, 1871
Quote
PORTSMOUTH COUNTY COURT.
A sitting of this court was held on Saturday, before C.J. Gale, Esq. Six judgement summons were disposed of, and 94 new plaints.
PEARCE V. WEBB.—The plaintiff, who is an omnibus proprietor, and for whom Mr. King appeared, claimed £5 11s., the price of a set of harness and the hire of an omnibus for fifteen days. The defendant, who lives at the Coach and Horses, at Hilsea, had paid £3 2s. 6d. for the harness, but disputed his liability for the use of the omnibus. He contended that the omnibus had been lent to him in consideration of his having painted and repaired the top of the ‘bus.—Several witnesses were called who corroborated this statement, and his Honour, remarking that he could not disbelieve so many witnesses, gave judgement for the defendant.
— Portsmouth Times and Naval Gazette, Saturday 02 December, 1871
1872 More license transfers
Quote
A SPECIAL SESSIONS for the transfer of alehouse licenses and beerhouse license certificates was held at the Sessions-room on Monday, before Mr. Spencer Smith (chairman), Mr. Frank Bradshaw, and Rear-Admiral Chads, when the following transfers were effected:—
Alehouses.—The Crown, Warblington, from Mr. Arthur Locke to Mr. Thomas Holmes Laker; New Coach and Horses, Wymering, from Mr. George Knight, to Mr. Edwin Webb; and the Swan, Wymering, to Mrs. Martha Rogers, the widow of the former proprietor.
Beerhouses.—Five Alls,” Alverstoke, provisionally to Mr. Thomas Martin, a son of the former proprietor; the Red House, Alverstoke, from Charles Henry Coward to Jeremiah Budd; and the Beehive, Fareham, from Mr. Charles Bone, to Mr. Francis Brown. Several applications for transfers were refused for want of, or owing to informalities in, the notices.
— Hampshire Advertiser, Wednesday 10 January, 1872
1872, Theft by an artilleryman
Quote
FAREHAM PETTY SESSIONS.
MONDAY.—Before the Rev. T. Maine, and F. Bradshaw and J. Carpenter Garnier, Esqs.
THEFT BY AN ARTILLERYMAN.—John Sharp, belonging to the 11th Brigade of Royal Artillery, stationed at Hilsea Barracks, was charged with stealing half-a-pound of tobacco, value 1s. 9d., the property of Edmund Webb, the landlord of the “Coach and Horses,” at Hilsea.—Stephen Banger stated that he resided at the “Coach and Horses,” Hilsea, and was in the employ of Mr. Webb, proprietor of that place, as ‘bus-conductor. On Saturday, the 24th ult., witness bought half-a-pound of tobacco for his master at the shop of Mr. Franckeiss, tobacconist, of Commercial-road, Landport. It was done up in half-ounce packets, the whole being tied up in one parcel, which the witness placed on a seat in a corner of the ‘bus near the door, there being at the time a gentleman and two ladies in the ‘bus. The prisoner and two other artillerymen afterwards got in, and the prisoner seated himself near where the tobacco was placed. The soldiers rode as far as Hilsea Barracks, and they then alighted. On arriving at the “Coach and Horses,” witness searched for the tobacco, but could not find it.—Henry James Webb, son of the prosecutor, stated that on the evening in question, about nine o’clock, he got on to his father’s omnibus near the “Bedford Hotel,” Landport, and rode outside until they reached Kingston-cross, when he took a seat inside. The prisoner was there, sitting in the corner nearest the door, close to a paper parcel on the seat. The ‘bus stopped at the Hilsea Barracks gate, and prisoner, with the other soldiers, alighted, taking the parcel with him. Witness did not know whether it belonged to him or not.—Henry Cloake, a shoeing smith in the 1st Brigade of Royal Artillery, stationed at Hilsea, deposed to buying half-an-ounce of tobacco from the prisoner on Sunday morning.—P.C. Compton deposed that on Monday, the 26th ult., he went to Hilsea Barracks, having received information from the prosecutor of the loss of some tobacco, and saw the prisoner there. He asked him if he rode in Webb’s omnibus on Saturday night, to which he replied in the negative, but the constable took him across the barrack square to a sergeant, who identified him as having been in the ‘bus on the night in question. The constable then asked him what account he gave of having sold some tobacco to Cloake on Sunday morning, to which he replied that he had bought it at Landport. He was taken into custody and charged with the offence, but made no reply.—Prisoner elected to be tried by the Bench, and pleaded guilty.—He was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment with hard labour.
— Hampshire Telegraph, Wednesday 06 March, 1872
1872, Local liquidation cases
Quote
LOCAL LIQUIDATION CASES.
Since the publication of the last official list of debtors petitioning under the Liquidation Clauses of the Bankruptcy Act of 1869, there has been 164 additional new cases in town and country, including the following local petitioners, viz:—
RE WILLIAM HENRY HOOPER, of Bournemouth, plumber, painter, and glazier.—First meeting of creditors to be held at the offices of Messrs. Dawson, Bryan, and Dawson, solicitors, 33, Bedford-square, London, for the purpose of proving debts, examining a statement of the debtor’s affairs, and deciding by resolution whether the same shall be wound up under liquidation or bankruptcy.
RE JOHN ALLEN, timber dealer, &c., Blackfriars-road, Southsea.—Creditors to meet at the offices of Mr. J. Wainscot, accountant, No. 9, Union-street, Portsea. Solicitor for the debtor, Mr. F. Walker, 9, Union-street, Portsea.
RE GEORGE LOCK, cattle dealer, Easton, near Winchester, Hants.—Creditors will hold their first meeting at the Royal Hotel, Winchester. Solicitor for the petitioner, Mr. W. A. Kilby, 4, Portland-street, Southampton.
RE ERNEST WARD, of Bitterne, grocer, pork butcher, and hay dealer, &c. Creditors to meet at the office of Mr. W. A. Kilby, solicitor, 4, Portland-street, Southampton.
RE EDMUND WEBB, of the Coach and Horses, Hilsea, licensed victualler.—Creditors to meet at the offices of Mr. Edmonds, No. 46, St. James’s-street, Portsea.—Solicitor for the debtor, Mr. G. H. King, of 20, Union-street, Portsea.
— Hampshire Advertiser, Wednesday 03 April, 1872
1872, Licensing
Quote
FAREHAM PETTY SESSIONS.
TUESDAY (yesterday).—Before the Rev. J. T. Maine and Rear-Admiral H.Chads.
TEMPORARY TRANSFER.—Josiah Webb, of the “New Coach and Horses,” public-house, at Hilsea, applied for a temporary transfer of the licence of that house to Thomas Nicholson, son of the proprietor of the “White Horse” public-house, West-street, Fareham.— The magistrates granted the application.
— Hampshire Telegraph, Wednesday 08 May, 1872
Quote
PETTY SESSIONS, Monday.—Magistrates present: The Rev. J. T. Maine (chairman), Mr. Frank Bradshaw, Mr. W. H. Deane, and Rear-Admiral Chads.
Transfer of Licenses.—A special sessions for the transfer of alehouse licenses was held, and the following alehouse licenses were transferred, viz., that of the New Coach and Horses, at Hilsea, Wymering, from Mr. Edmund Webb to Mr. Thomas Nicholson; that of the Great White Lion, Gosport, from Mr. Jacob Bunker to Mr. Alfred Bartholomew Jennett; and that of the Dolphin, Havant, from Mr. Charles Lellyett to Mr. John Purvell. The following beerhouse license certificates were also transferred, viz., that of the Red House, Alverstoke, from Mr. Jeremiah Budd to Mr. Joseph Norkett; that of the Victory, Gosport, from Mr. Wm. Read to Mr. Harry Spencer; and that of the Yew Tree, Hayling South, from Mr. Thomas Downton to Mr. Ralph Snow Cutler.
— Hampshire Advertiser, Wednesday 29 May, 1872
1873, Licensing
Quote
A SPECIAL SESSIONS for the granting of a license to perform stage plays at the Town-hall, at Havant, was held before Mr. Spencer Smith (chairman), Captain Field, R.N., Mr. Frank Bradshaw, Colonel Mansel, and Rear-Admiral Chads, and the necessary formalities having been complied with, the license was granted to Mr. E. R. Longcroft.
A Special Sessions for the transfer of alehouse and beerhouse licenses was also held before the same justices, and the following transfers were effected:—
Alehouses.—The license of the West Town Hotel, Hayling South, from Mr. George Clinker to Mr. Benjamin Walter Casper; that of the New Inn, Portchester, from Mr. John Binstead to Mr. Herbert Hill; that of the White Hart, Portchester, from Mr. William Russell to Mr. James Russell; that of the Dolphin, Emsworth, from Mr. James Chase to Mr. Frederick Fielder; that of the New Coach and Horses, Hilsea, Wymering, from Mr. Thomas Nicholson to Mr. Chas. Martin; that of the Black Dog, Gosport, from Mr. Albert Brewer to Mr. William Payne; and that of the Isle of Wight Hoy, Gosport, from Mr. George Barringer to Mr. James Parkman.
Beerhouses.—The license of the Yew Tree, Hayling South, from Mr. Ralph Snow Cutler to Mr. Edward Bundle; that of the Windmill, Peel-common, Titchfield, from Mr. John Langdon to Mr. William Heath; that of the Camden Arms, Forton-road, Alverstoke, from Mrs. Harriet Tipping to Mr. John Bartlett; that of the Heroes of Waterloo, from Mr. Henry Long to Mr. Wm. Sims; and that of the Village Home, Alverstoke, from Mr. Alexander Wm. Whitcher to Mr. John Germain.
Occasional licenses were granted to Mr. John Purnell, of the Dolphin, Havant, authorising him to keep his house open until midnight on the 19th, 20th, and 21st instant, on the occasion of theatrical entertainments to take place at the Town-hall.
A similar license was granted to Mr. Geo. Brothers, of the Coach and Horses, Titchfield, authorising him to keep his house open until midnight on the 12th inst., on the occasion of a supper to take place there.
— Hampshire Advertiser, Wednesday 19 February, 1873
1874, Found drowned
Quote
COSHAM.
SUPPOSED CHILD MURDER.—The Coroner, E. Hoskins, Esq., held an inquest at the “Coach and Horses” Inn, on Tuesday, on the body of a newly born male child, which was found in a pond at Hilsea, on the previous Saturday.—William Leach, a farm labourer, living at Bedford-street, Kingston, stated that whilst passing the Hilsea pond, with a team of horses, he saw a bundle in the water. On taking it out he found that it was the body of a child wrapped up in a cloth. He left it in charge of a labourer named Smithers. He (Smithers) was now called, and stated that it was just after ten o’clock when the bundle was found. He passed the pond two or three times about eight o’clock, but did not then notice the bundle in the water. When the body was handed to him, he communicated with the police. He had not seen anybody in the neighbourhood of the pond that morning. He did not know anybody in the neighbourhood who had been recently confined.—Dr. Martin stated that the body was that of a fully-developed male child. It had been immersed, but he did not think it had been in the water for more than 12 or 24 hours. It had evidently lived, but only for a short time. There were no external marks of violence beyond what might have resulted from immersion. He had made a post mortem examination. The umbilical cord had been tied by some person who had a knowledge of how to perform that act. He found the whole of the organs healthy, and he was positive that the child was born alive. He believed that the child was either drowned or smothered.—P.C. Street stated that he had made every possible enquiry, with the view of ascertaining who the mother of the child was, but had not succeeded in doing so.—After hearing the remarks of the Coroner, the jury returned a verdict of “Found drowned.”
— Hampshire Telegraph, Saturday 31 January, 1874
1874, Reckless driver
Quote
A RECKLESS DRIVER.—Robert Harfield, a dealer, of Portsmouth, was charged with furiously driving a horse to the danger of the foot passengers.—About seven o’clock on the evening of the 5th inst., P.C. Street saw the defendant driving at a gallop in the direction of Cosham, from Portsmouth. At the iron bridge the defendant was stopped, when the harness was found to be broken to pieces, and the tail-board shaken off the cart. When asked his name, the defendant told the constable “to find out.” He was seen again by the constable near the “Coach and Horses,” where he again refused to give his name; and on being told that he would be reported, the defendant offered the constable a half-sovereign not to do so.—The Chairman: Was he drunk?—Witness: He was not drunk, but he had been drinking hard.—The defendant denied offering money to compromise the matter, and also said that he was not drunk.—He was fined 15s., including costs, or seven days hard labour in Winchester Gaol.—The money was paid.—Defendant asked if he had any remedy for the falsehood told by the constable as to having offered him money, but was told by the Clerk that that was a matter with which the Court had nothing to do.—The defendant: I shall see what can be done, if it costs me 100l.
— Hampshire Telegraph, Wednesday 13 May, 1874
1876, Sudden death of a pensioner
Quote
HILSEA.
SUDDEN DEATH OF A PENSIONER.—On Wednesday the County Coroner (E. J. Harvey, Esq.,) held an inquest at the “Coach and Horses,” Hilsea, on the body of Alexander Ross, aged 44 years. The deceased was a pensioner, and for the past two years had worked as a labourer at Hilsea Barracks. He had lately frequently complained of pains in his side and in the region of the heart. On Monday morning he left home shortly before seven, and soon afterwards was found by a man named Wareham lying on the bank by the roadside, opposite the “Coach and Horses.” He was assisted into the hostelry, but died almost immediately.—Dr. Martin, of Cosham, attributed death to disease of the heart, and a verdict to that effect was returned.— Hampshire Telegraph, Saturday 15 April, 1876
1877, Rifle competition
Note
The formatting here would be a complete pain to convert to Markdown, so I’ve left it as an image.
Quote
RIFLE COMPETITION.—A shooting match came off on Saturday, at the Hilsea range, between 12 of the Royal Marine Artillery and 12 of H.M.S. Excellent, with the results as shown below. The conditions were seven rounds at each distance; Wimbledon targets and marking; position, and; rifles, regulation:—
[…]
Tason, Wright, Fletcher, Brown, Dix, Moroy, Carruthers, Collins, Wynne, Wilson, Patterson, Monk, Vincent, Milne, Haggett, Magner, Hampton, Snooks, Calman, Brown, Sullivan, Hood, Minns, Barnett
[…]
After the shooting was over, the competitors retired to a casemate close to the range, where lunch was provided by Mr. Martin, of the “Coach and Horses.”
— Hampshire Telegraph, Wednesday 11 July, 1877
1878, Licensing
Quote
A SPECIAL SESSIONS, for the transfer of licenses under the Intoxicating Liquor (Licensing) Act, was held at the Sessions-room on Monday, when the following changes were effected:—
Alehouses.—The license of the Five Bells, Alverstoke, was transferred from George Wroughton to Henry Titheridge; the Fountain, Forton, Alverstoke, from Henry Kew to George Brewer; the Military Arms, Forton, from Charles William Holder to Francis Samuel Westgate; the Three Tuns, Elson, Alverstoke, from Thomas Abernethy to James Henry Cox; the Trafalgar, Forton, from Harry James Ingram to George Veek; the Castle in the Air, Fareham, from Stephen Harding to Frederick Herbert Hannan; the Royal Oak, Fareham, from Thomas Morris to Thomas Anderson; the Ship, Emsworth, Warblington, from Thomas Maynard to Frederick Crowther; the New Coach and Horses, Hilsea, Wymering, to Frances E. Martin, widow of the late proprietor.
— Hampshire Advertiser, Wednesday 05 June, 1878
1878, Found Drowned
Quote
FOUND DROWNED.—The body of a newly-born female child was found floating in the water near Southsea Castle, yesterday morning, about ten o’clock by John Freake, aged fourteen years, of Southsea. The body was taken to the Cricketers’ Tavern, where an inquest will be held at six o’clock this evening. The child was small and the body was not decomposed.—The body of a man was found yesterday morning in the Portsbridge Canal near the bridge. It was conveyed to the Coach and Horses, where an inquest will be held.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Monday 02 September, 1878
Quote
ROBBING AN ARTILLERYMAN AT HILSEA.—Charles Barrington was charged with stealing a pair of top boots, valued at 14s., belonging to John Forrest, a gunner of Royal Artillery, stationed at the Hilsea Lines. On the 10th instant the prosecutor and the prisoner were in company at the “Coach and Horses” public-house, at Hilsea, and on leaving a little before two o’clock the prosecutor dropped behind the prisoner and another gunner of artillery, laid down at the foot of the Hilsea ramparts, and went to sleep. At a quarter before three Sergeant Robert Fryer was passing the spot, and then noticed that the prosecutor was without boots. Information was given to P.C. Gregory, and he and the sergeant found the prisoner at the “Ship” Inn, Cosham, the boots then being under the settle where he had been sitting. He (the prisoner) said he had come from Portsmouth and was going to Basingstoke, and that he had not stolen the boots, but that a soldier had given them to him to go and sell at Southsea, that he was to take the soldier back 8s., but that he would not go to Southsea to do so.—In cross- examination by the prisoner, the prosecutor stated that he did not say at the “Coach and Horses” that his boots were too small for him. He did not pull off one boot and hand it to the man at the bar. He did not give him (prisoner) the boots; nor did he tell him to sell them for 8s. He (prosecutor) was drunk at the time.—The prisoner alleged that the prosecutor had given him the boots, and pressed him to go to Southsea to sell them. He pleaded guilty, he said, solely to prevent his being sent for trial; but he knew the rules of the Service, and that the prosecutor was not allowed to sell his necessaries. He (the prisoner) had served 20 years in the army, and had been at Balaklava, Sebastopol, Alma, and in other actions.—George Martin, the son of the landlady of the “Coach and Horses,” proved that the prosecutor had taken off his boots while at the house and offered to sell them.—The Magistrates were satisfied of the prisoner’s guilt, and they sentenced him to a month’s imprisonment with hard labour.
— Hampshire Telegraph, Saturday 21 September, 1878
1879, Fatal railway accident
Quote
FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.—A labourer named William Smith, in the service of Mr. Hunt, farmer, of Highgrove, was knocked down and killed by the 6.30 a.m. up train on Thursday morning, at Dutton’s-lane crossing, near Hilsea. An inquest on the body was held at the Coach and Horses, Hilsea, by the county coroner (Mr. E. Goble), on Saturday, when the jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death,” but added to it an opinion that better accommodation should be made for foot passengers in crossing the line at that point.
— Hampshire Advertiser, Wednesday 22 January, 1879
1879, Found drowned
Quote
THE LATE MR. CARLTON.—This afternoon the County Coroner (Edgar Goble, Esq.) will hold an enquiry at the King’s Head, Hilsea, touching the death of Mr. Carlton, grocer, wine and spirit merchant, late of Lake-road, who was found drowned on Saturday morning in Hilsea Pond. The body is at present lying in a shed at the back of the King’s Head.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Tuesday 07 October, 1879
1879, Shocking death
Quote
SHOCKING DEATH OF A WELL-KNOWN PORTSMOUTH LICENSED VICTUALLER ON SATURDAY.
We deeply regret to have to announce the death under painful circumstances, of Frederick Stratton, licensed victualler, of the Royal Albert Tavern, Albert-road, Southsea, who was killed on the railway near Cosham. It appears that the deceased, who owned a farm in the vicinity, was crossing the lines at Highgrove, when the 1.30 p.m. train from Portsmouth to Brighton coming up knocked him down, horribly mutilating his body. Death must have been instantaneous. The body was at once removed to the Coach and Horses, at Hilsea, where it will remain until the holding of an inquest, which will probably take place on Monday. The deceased, who was a very old inhabitant of Eastney, will be deeply lamented.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Monday 20 October, 1879
Quote
THE LATE MR. STRATTON.—In consequence of the absence of Mr. Goble and the illness of Mr. Addison, his deputy, Mr. Harfield, the Coroner for Southampton, will hold the inquest on the body of Mr. Stratton, at the Coach and Horses, Hilsea, at five o’clock this afternoon.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Tuesday 21 October, 1879
1880, Builder’s yard auction
Quote
ON MONDAY, APRIL 19, 1880.
HILSEA LINES, NEAR PORTSMOUTH.
By direction of Messrs. Plummer and Gamblin, upon dissolving partnership.
KING & KING are instructed to SELL by AUCTION, at the Workshop and Yard, situate in the rear of the “New Coach and Horses” Inn, Hilsea, on the above date, at Twelve o’clock.—That portion of the
CONTRACTOR’S PLANT AND BUILDER’S STOCK-IN-TRADE,
Lately required for the War Department contracts in this district, consisting of scaffold boards and poles, planks, rope, blacksmith’s forge and bellows, anvil, vices, portable forge, smith’s tools, patent drill, useful iron, nails, bolts, screws, lead pipe, old lead, spouting, gas fittings, erection of galvanized shed, water cart, drain pipes, navvy barrows, new doors, boards, work benches, and useful stuff.
On view the morning of sale, and catalogues to be had in due time at the Offices,
SOUTHSEA, and 130, QUEEN STREET, PORTSEA.
— Hampshire Telegraph, Saturday 17 April, 1880
1880, Cruelty to a Donkey
Quote
CRUELTY TO A DONKEY.—William King, sen., of Cosham, was charged by the Superintendent of Police with having wilfully and cruelly beaten a donkey.—P.C. Pearce, the constable stationed at Cosham, stated that about half-past six on the evening of the 7th inst., when on duty at Hilsea, near Portsbridge, he saw the defendant strike the donkey twice with the ground ash stick produced, and at twenty minutes after seven he saw the same conduct repeated. Witness examined the donkey at the “Couch and Horses,” and found four small wounds upon its back, from which blood was oozing. There were also marks of blood upon the stick. The defendant at the time said he was very sorry, but that he did not know it was so bad as that, and that as he supposed the marks were caused by the knots upon the stick he said he would cut them off, which he had partially accomplished when witness noticed the blood marks upon it and took possession of it.—P.C. Blanchard gave corroborative evidence, adding that the blows were hard and that the animal “twitched.”—The defendant now denied that he had ill-used the donkey; but after an examination of the animal in the court-yard the Magistrates said there was no doubt cruelty had been used, but as it did not appear to be a very bad case, they ordered the defendant to only pay 7s., the costs.
— Hampshire Telegraph, Wednesday 16 June, 1880
1881, A Discreditable Soldier
Quote
A DISCREDITABLE SOLDIER. — John Smith, a soldier, belonging to the Royal Artillery, stationed at Hilsea, was brought up in custody on a charge of having, on the 14th inst., stolen 2s. in money, the property of Charles Henry Newton.—Mr. Newton keeps the “Coach and Horses,” at Hilsea, and in his temporary absence from the bar the prisoner entered at took some money from the till. A halfpenny found upon him being identified, and the prisoner having acknowledged to P.C. Blanchard, who apprehended him, that he was guilty, and that he “took about a ‘bob’ in coppers,” he was convicted and sentenced to two months’ hard labour.—The prisoner had a bad character in the regiment, in which he had twelve months service, about seven of which he had spent in gaol and five in hospital.
— Hampshire Telegraph, Saturday 19 February, 1881
1881, Coach and Horses
| Name | Relation | Condition | Age | Occupation | Where born |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Henry Newton | Head | Married | 33 | Licensed Victualler | Southsea |
| Francis Eliza Newton | Wife | Married | 38 | — | Gosport |
| Arthur James Martin | Step Son | — | 12 | — | Southsea |
| Ernest William Martin | Step Son | — | 9 | — | Southsea |
| Sydney Herbert Martin | Step Son | — | 5 | — | Hilsea |
| Edith Adah Martin | Step Daughter | — | 3 | — | Hilsea |
| Nellie Newton | Daughter | — | 1 | — | Hilsea |
| Elizabeth Jane Griffin | Servant | — | 16 | Dom Servant | Buckland Portsmouth |
— 1881 Census, Sunday 03 April, 1881
1881, Marines in Trouble
Quote
MARINES IN TROUBLE.—Frederick Todd, George Ratcliffe, and Edward John Barnes, privates in the Marines, were charged with stealing a quantity of cigars, value 3s., the property of Charles Henry Newton, landlord of the Coach and Horses, Hilsea.—Henry Richards, a boy, saw Todd steal a box containing the cigars; they then divided them and threw the box into the garden.—Prisoners all pleaded guilty, and said that it was the result of a drunken freak.—Todd and Ratcliffe were sentenced to fourteen days’, and Barnes to seven days’ hard labour in Winchester gaol.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Tuesday 03 May, 1881
1881, Affiliation Summons
Quote
FAREHAM.
Agent for this paper, Mr. E. OVER, Portland-street.
PETTY SESSIONS.
Yesterday.—Before Admiral Chads, Sir F. Sykes, Bart., and F. Bretherton, Esq.
AFFILIATION SUMMONS—James Rappe, a driver on the Portsmouth Tramways, of 64, Emanuel-street, Landport, was summoned to show cause why an order should not be made on him for the support of the illegitimate child of Eliza Collins, of the Coach and Horses, Hilsea, of which she alleged him to be the father.—Mr. Wainscot appeared in support of the complainant, and Mr. Feltham for defendant.—After a lengthy hearing, in which the evidence was of a most contradictory nature, the Bench dismissed the summons for want of corroborative evidence.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Tuesday 31 May, 1881
Note
The Fareham Petty Session Court Register for 1881 (40M70/XP4), stored at the Hampshire Record Office, Winchester, contains less information than this newspaper report.
I expected Eliza Collins to be a lodger, but the 1881 census suggests that the building is not operating as a lodging house at this time. I don’t really know where she came from, or went to. I have a potential Eliza Collins visiting her sister and brother-in-law on the April 1881 census, but no mention of the child.
If this page is of interest to you, please get in touch - I’m distantly related to James Rappe.
1881, Tramway extension
Quote
THE TRAMWAY EXTENSION.—At eleven o’clock this morning a service of two horse cars was commenced between North End, and the Coach and Horses, Hilsea. Between the latter place and Cosham the passengers are conveyed by omnibuses.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Monday 04 July, 1881
1881, Body found
Quote
THE FINDING OF A BODY AT HILSEA.—The County Coroner (Edgar Goble, Esq.) held an inquest at the Coach and Horses, Hilsea, yesterday, on the body of Charles Oakley, aged 63 years, whose body was found lying on the mud in the moat on Monday evening, as already reported by us. It appeared that deceased was a pensioner, and lived at 23, Dorset-street, Landport. On Monday morning he left home to go in search of work, and nothing was seen of him afterwards until he was found dead by a fisherman named Hinks, in the evening. At the time deceased left home there was no money in the house, but his pension would have been due in about a week from that date.—Constable Hadden deposed to searching the body and finding on it a knife, tobacco box, and empty purse.—The jury returned a verdict of “Found drowned.”
— Portsmouth Evening News, Friday 07 October, 1881
1881, Sunday trading
Quote
PETTY SESSIONS.
Yesterday.—Before W. H. Deane, and F. Bretherton, Esqs., and Sir W. F. Sykes, Bart.
SUNDAY TRADING.—Charles Henry Newton, of the Coach and Horses, Hilsea, was summoned for keeping his house open at 10.30 on Sunday, the 23rd October.—Mr. Feltham appeared for defendant. — Sergeant Drew stated that he and Constable Dedman took up a position about two hundred yards from the defendant’s house, and saw three vehicles arrive, the occupants of which alighted and entered the house. In addition thirty-three foot passengers entered, among whom were two tramway sweepers, who remained a quarter of an hour. On witness knocking at the door defendant came and opened it, and enquired if witness was a traveller, to which he replied that he was a policeman. Constable Dedman asked who were the people who were in the house, and defendant said they were all travellers. One man gave witness an address at Buckland, but, in reply to the defendant, said that he told him he lived at Portsmouth. At the time they entered there were eight men.—Constable Dedman stated that there was not a bona fide traveller among the men; his reason for coming to that conclusion was that they were working men and walked leisurely.—Mr. Feltham, in defence, said that he should mainly rely on the fact that the landlord had taken proper precautions to ascertain whether those who had entered were bona fide travellers.—The defendant stated that a number of people, ten in all, came to his house, of whom two came from Rowland’s Castle. On the police knocking he immediately admitted them, asking if they were travellers. Sergeant Drew told him he knew him. He said he did not, and even if he did he should want to know where he lived before he served him. Drew then said he was a policeman, and he immediately admitted him.—Mrs. Newton said that she admitted all the people who were there when the police arrived. The people said that they came from Point. Four were served in the presence of the police.—By the Bench : There were not thirty-three people who entered—only eight—and if the police stated that thirty-three entered it was false.—Alfred Norton, of 50, Wingfield-street, said he was on the premises when the police arrived, and he told defendant he came from Portsmouth.—Another witness gave similar evidence.—The Bench inflicted a fine of £5, including costs, and ordered the license to be endorsed. In default of distress, one month’s hard labour.—Mr. Feltham entered a notice of appeal, and the Bench fixed the amount of recognisances of defendant at £100 and two sureties of £50 each.—This is the first appeal the Bench have had under the Licensing Act.—George Holmes, Alfred Norton, Marks Childs, Daniel Holdaway, and William Pilcher were summoned for being on the premises of the defendant in the previous case at an unlawful hour.—Norton, Childs, Holmes and Pilcher were fined 2s. 6d. and 7s. 4d. costs, and the information against Holdaway was dismissed.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Tuesday 15 November, 1881
1882, Lost earring
Quote
LOST.
LOST, between Coach and Horses, Hilsea, and Wiltshire Lamb, Landport, plain Gold Ear-ring. — Finder returning same to Mrs. G. Hall, Cosham, shall receive 5s. reward.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Tuesday 10 January, 1882
1882, Licenses
Quote
FAREHAM.
TRANSFER OF LICENSES.—The following transfers of licenses were made by the County Magistrates on Monday:—Black Dog, Emsworth, from William Henry Allen to John Peters; Dolphin, Emsworth, from Robert Stapley to Ann Winter; King’s Head, Hilsea, from Charles Grist to Alfred Miles; King’s Head, Bedhampton, from John Newman to George Laker; New Inn, Drayton, from George Albert Martin to Norris Beerling; Railway Hotel, Fareham, from James Burley to Alfred James Dunn; East Cosham Tavern, Cosham, from Stephen Windebank to George Todd; New Coach and Horses, Hilsea, from Charles Newton to Frank Jones; Blue Bell, Emsworth, from Charles Daysh to Joseph Rawding; Brewery Tap, Stoke-road, to Ann Johnson; Coal Exchange, Emsworth, from John Kehoe to William Ward; Queen’s Head, Gosport, from Thomas Field (deceased) to Maria Field (widow).
— Hampshire Telegraph, Wednesday 05 April, 1882
1882, For Sale
Quote
LEGAL AND OFFICIAL NOTICES.
WAR DEPARTMENT PROPERTY.
Com. Royal Engineer’s Office, Portsmouth, Aug. 12th, 1882.
TO BE LET, from Michaelmas, 1882, the “COACH AND HORSES” PUBLIC HOUSE, HILSEA, in the Parish of Wymering, in the County of Hants, situated on the London-road, about three miles from Portsmouth, with yard and all necessary outbuildings.
The conditions and forms of tender for renting the above may be obtained at the Office of the Superintendent of War Department property, Portsdown Cottage, Cosham, Hants, up to the 30th August, 1882, inclusive, between the hours of ten and four o’clock, which are to be filled up and forwarded by post to the Director of Contracts, War Office, Pall Mall, London, S.W., on or before the 6th September, 1882, marked in the left hand corner of the envelope, “Tender for ‘Coach and Horses,’ Public House, Hilsea.”
W. CROSSMAN,
Colonel Com. Royal Engineer, Southern District.
Hampshire Telegraph, Saturday 19 August, 1882
Note
Notice repeated Hampshire Telegraph, Wednesday 23 August, 1882
1883, Help wanted
Quote
WANTED. Respectable middle-aged woman for general work; widow, or one whose husband is at sea would suit.—Apply, Coach and Horses, Hilsea.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Tuesday 10 July, 1883
1883, Shoemaker wanted
Quote
SHOEMAKERS.—Wanted, a good General Hand.—Apply, Coach and Horses, Hilsea.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Saturday 18 August, 1883
1883, Refusing to quit
Quote
FAREHAM.
PETTY SESSIONS.
Yesterday. — Before E. J. Sartoris, Esq. (in the chair), F. Bradshaw, Esq., and Sir Frederick Sykes, Bart.
REFUSING TO QUIT.—Charles H. Newton and Eleanor Newton, man and wife, were summoned for being drunk and refusing to quit the Coach and Horses, Hilsea, when requested to do so by the landlord, Mr. Jones, on the 2nd inst.—They were fined 15s. each, including costs.
The Evening News, Tuesday 16 October, 1883
Quote
DRUNKENNESS. Charles Henry Newton and his wife, Eliza, were charged with having been drunk in the Coach and Horses Inn, at Hilsea, on the 2nd inst.—They were severally convicted in the penalty of 7s 6d, including costs, of seven days’ imprisonment with hard labour.
— Hampshire Advertiser, Saturday 20 October, 1883
Note
Charles Henry Newton was previously landlord. One feels he wasn’t happy about leaving. This is definitely the same court hearing, but the reporting is all over the place.
Todo
Confirm this is definitely the same hearing, because I wrote that a few years ago and I didn’t record why I thought that. Idiot.
1883, Help wanted
Quote
Girl (respectable) wanted, about 18, as General Servant.—Apply Coach and Horses, Hilsea.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Monday 29 October, 1883
1885, Broken windows
Quote
£5 REWARD.—Any person giving information that will lead to the conviction of person or persons returning from one of the outing parties on Saturday last, about 11.20, and pulling up at my house—the Coach and Horses, Hilsea—and breaking the windows, after my retiring to rest, shall receive the above reward.—Signed, Frank Jones, Coach and Horses Inn, Hilsea, Cosham.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Saturday 15 August 1885
1885, Help wanted
Quote
GENERAL Servant (respectable) about 18 or 19.— Apply Coach and Horses, Hilsea.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Tuesday 08 September 1885
1885, House to let
Quote
HOUSE — 366, Commercial-road — to Let. — Apply F. Jones, Coach and Horses, Hilsea.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Thursday 17 December 1885
Todo
Was Frank Jones letting his previous home?
1886, Refusing to quit
Quote
REFUSING TO QUIT.—Thomas Stubbs, of Cosham, was charged by the police with having been drunk in the Coach and Horses Inn at Hilsea, and refused to quit when requested, on the 21st ult. — The defendant pleaded guilty, and was convicted in the penalty of 20s, including costs; or fourteen days imprisonment, with hard labour, in default.
— Hampshire Advertiser, Saturday 02 January, 1886
1886, A Portsmouth man drowned
Quote
A PORTSMOUTH MAN DROWNED.—ABSENCE OF A MORTUARY AT COSHAM.—An inquest was held on Saturday at the Coach and Horses, Hilsea, before the County Coroner (Edgar Goble, Esq.), on the body of William Boyland, 55 years of age, lately living at No. 7, Cherry Garden-lane, Landport.—From the evidence of Henry Charles Boyland, a seaman serving on board H.M.S. Duke of Wellington, and a son of the deceased, it appeared that the deceased was a naval pensioner, and had worked in the Dockyard. The witness had returned from four years’ foreign service on the 21st of December last, and on the morning of that day deceased was missing as he (witness) returned home in the evening.—Sarah Boyland, the widow of deceased, deposed that deceased left his home about 20 minutes after five on the morning named, at which time she believed he was going to his work. He had a pension of 1s 1d a day, and his wages were a guinea a week in the dockyard. He was not a temperate man, and had left his home on the Friday previous and had remained absent until the Sunday, when he was in drink; he had been drinking several days, and of two sovereigns which he took away from witness on the Friday he brought back but 8s 6d. He was strange in his manner, but had never threatened to take his life.—In reply to the Foreman (Mr Budd) witness said that she and the deceased lived on very good terms, the deceased being very affectionate.—John Hall, the son of a gunner of the Coast Brigade, living at Hilsea Lines, proved finding the body of the deceased in an almost upright position in the inner moat of the Hilsea fortifications about four o’clock on Friday afternoon, and said that the body could not have been floated in by the tide.—Charles Roberts, a labourer living at Cosham, stated that his attention and that of Thomas Knight was called to the body by the last witness, and it was some 200 yards from the bridge. They assisted P C Cuell to get the body out, and being in a very bad state of decomposition it was eventually laid in a portion of Hilsea Lines.—Dr William Harris Heygate, practising at Cosham, saw the body at five o’clock on the afternoon it was found, and from a post-mortem examination which he had since made the state of the lungs showed that the deceased had breathed after entering the water. He was satisfied that death had arisen from asphyxia from drowning.—The Coroner then summed up, and remarked that on the face of the case there was no reason why the deceased should have committed suicide, except that he had had an attack of delirium tremens. The evidence as to his unsound state of mind was very slight, and he pointed out the courses which were open to the Jury.—The Jury returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased was drowned between the 21st of December and the 5th instant, but that there was not sufficient evidence to show how he came into the water.—The foreman subsequently drew the Coroner’s attention to the difficulty which had occurred in depositing so decomposed a body, and said that though undoubtedly the proper place would have been in one of the casemates of the fortifications, the War Department objected to that course.—The Coroner replied that although he did not happen to be the law adviser of the parish he might tell the jury that in common law it was the duty of the parish officers to provide some suitable place of deposit, and if there was no other place the body could be left in the house of the churchwarden. He did not happen to know who the churchwarden was, but it was clearly the duty of the sanitary officers to provide a mortuary.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Monday 08 February, 1886
1886, Death of a cabman
Quote
SERIOUS ACCIDENT TO A CABMAN.—A very serious accident happened to a cabman, named William Adams, of Southsea, on Tuesday evening, who, whilst driving near the Coach and Horses, Hilsea, fell off the cab, and severely fractured his skull. He was picked up in an insensible condition, and conveyed to the hospital at Mile-end, where he has been lying ever since in a hopeless state.
Quote
THE FATAL ACCIDENT AT HILSEA.—On Saturday the Coroner for Portsmouth (T. A. Bramston, Esq.) held an inquest at the Royal Portsmouth Hospital touching the decease of William Henry Adams, aged 38, a cab-driver, lately residing at 10, Hambrook-street, Southsea, who died as the result of injuries sustained in the overturning of a landau at Hilsea on Wednesday last.—The father of deceased gave evidence of identification, and said that his son had, as a child, been subject to fits, but had outgrown them.—E. Pharaoh, of 89, Grigg-street, said that on Wednesday she, with others, hired a landau, of which deceased was driver. They drove to Cosham, calling at one or two public-houses. Deceased was slightly the worse for liquor. When they reached the Coach and Horses, at Hilsea, deceased was very drunk. He got up on the box and took hold of the reins, immediately after being seized with a fit, causing him to fall over into the landau. The party all got out of the landau, and deceased came round shortly. Witness alone re-entered the landau, and got on the box by the side of the driver. After going about 100 yards deceased gave the near rein a sudden jerk, causing the horse to swerve and upset the landau into the ditch by the roadside. Witness and deceased were thrown out, the latter being under the horse. Witness got up, and deceased was assisted by some soldiers. He was taken into the Coach and Horses, where his head was bathed. He was subsequently removed to the Infirmary at Hilsea, and thence to the Royal Portsmouth Hospital. Witness was under the influence of drink.—George Jacobs, a carter, of Hilsea, said he saw the last witness drive up on a landau to the Coach and Horses, deceased, who was drunk, and hanging over the side of the box, being besides her. Mrs. Pharaoh asked for the landlady, but did not get off the box. She then turned the horse’s head towards Portsmouth, and as the turn was made too sharply the landau was upset. Mrs. Pharaoh and deceased were thrown out, but neither appeared to be injured. Deceased, after the landau had been righted, went to the bank and caught hold by both hands. He rocked to and fro for a time, and then staggered back six or seven yards, falling heavily on the road and striking his head on the ground. Deceased bled very much. As far as witness could see Mrs. Pharaoh was sober.—Thomas Purser, a groom, said he saw deceased and Mrs. Pharaoh at the Coach and Horses, and at the time of the accident deceased was driving.—In other respects his evidence was corroborative of that of the previous witness.—Mr. William Robert Smart, acting house surgeon of the Royal Portsmouth Hospital, in the absence of a post-mortem examination, gave it as his opinion that the probable cause of death was inflammation of the brain, caused by a fracture of the skull and aggravated by delirium tremens. Deceased was drunk when admitted.—The Coroner summed up at length, and, having animadverted upon the conduct of Mrs. Pharaoh and her companions, said that no doubt the whole of the occurrence was the result of drink. He, however, felt that death was brought about by an accident, and the Jury returned a verdict accordingly. They also expressed great dissatisfaction with the way in which Mrs. Pharaoh had given her evidence. The Coroner concurred, and said that she had run a very narrow risk of being prosecuted for perjury.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Monday 02 August, 1886
Note
This report was repeated verbatim in the Hampshire Telegraph, Saturday 07 August, 1886
1888, Daring theft of whiskey
Quote
PETTY SESSIONS.
Monday.—Before F. Bradshaw (in the chair), W. H. Deane, and C. E. Radclyffe, Esqs., and Captain Turner-Irton.
DARING THEFT OF WHISKEY.—Daniel Hogan, John Williams, William Dobson, and Amos Hough, soldiers belonging to the South Lancashire Regiment, were charged with having stolen a jar containing two gallons of whiskey, value £1 14s. 6d., the property of Messrs. A. and J. Brickwood, at Hilsea, on Friday last.—Mr. Whitlock prosecuted.—The evidence showed that the four prisoners were at the Coach and Horses, Hilsea, at four o’clock on Friday afternoon, when some beer was being taken into the house by a drayman in the employ of Messrs. Brickwood, and as prisoners were moving some barrels they were ordered to go away. A jar of whiskey had been placed under the verandah outside the house while the landlord (Frank Jones) and the drayman went into the cellar. During the time they were there the prisoners were seen to pass the house on several occasions, and upon a search being made for the whiskey it was found to be missing.—John Carter, who was working on the Hilsea Lines, stated that about four o’clock on Friday afternoon he saw four soldiers come from the direction of the Coach and Horses and pass down the old turnpike road into the Hilsea Lines. Two of the soldiers were carrying a jar, and they all went in behind some bushes. A few minutes afterwards all four left without the jar, and his suspicions being aroused he went to the bushes and found it concealed under some weeds and rubbish. He at once gave information to the police, and prisoners were apprehended at Cosham by P.S. Hood and Constable Ceull. When charged they admitted that they had been to the Coach and Horses that afternoon, but denied all knowledge of the whiskey.—The prisoners elected to be tried summarily, and were each sentenced to one month’s imprisonment with hard labour.
— Hampshire Telegraph, Saturday 01 September, 1888
1889, A fortunate sailor
Quote
Monday.—Before J. Carpenter-Garnier, W. H. Deane, F. Stapleton-Bretherton, and C. E. Radclyffe, Esqs, and Admiral Sir Henry Chads, K.C.B.
A FORTUNATE SAILOR.—William Jones, able seaman, of H.M.S. Excellent, who wore two good-conduct badges, was summoned for refusing to quit the Coach and Horses, Hilsea, when requested to do so, and for being drunk on those licensed premises.—On Sunday, the 24th ult., defendant went to the Coach and Horses with two soldiers, and called for some ale. The landlord, Mr. Jones, noticed that they were under the influence of drink, and refused to serve them, whereupon they used objectionable language, and were ordered to leave. They refused to go, and a constable was sent for.—A warrant officer said that defendant bore a good character, and the Magistrates dismissed him with a caution.
— Hampshire Telegraph, Saturday 07 December, 1889
1891, Census
| Name | Relation | Condition | Age | Occupation | Where born |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frank Jones | Head | Widow | 71 | Licensed Victualler | Marston Magna, Somerset |
| Harriett Cleall | Daughter | Married | 37 | Housekeeper (Dom) | Marston Magna, Somerset |
| Edith H Cleall | Grand daughter | Single | 14 | Scholar | Portsmouth, Hants |
| Caleb Williams | Lodger | Married | 49 | Bootmaker | Timberscombe, Somerset |
| Amelia Williams | Lodger | Married | 48 | Stocking[?] Nurse | Marston Magna, Somerset |
— 1891 Census, Sunday, 05 April, 1891
Note
The ad for a General Hand in 1883 Implies Caleb Williams has been living at the pub since at least then.
(Evidence is because the ad is a shoemaker looking for a general hand)
OS Six-inch England and Wales, 1842-1952, Hampshire & Isle of Wight LXXV.SE
Revised 1895, Published 1898
1897 Strange death
Quote
HILSEA MYSTERY.
STRANGE DEATH OF A DOCKYARD PENSIONER.
At the “Coach and Horses,” Hilsea, on Wednesday, the county coroner (Mr. E. Goble) held an inquest touching the death of a manwho was found under the ice in Hilsea Pond on Tuesday morning.
Henry George Piddell, a bricklayer’s labourer, living at 52, Guildford-road, Kingston, was the first witness. he identified the body, which lay in the coach-house of the inn, as that of his father, Henry Piddell. Deceased was a pensioned shipwright. he last saw him on the 9th inst., when he left home and did not return.
James Probert, of 22, Butcher-street, Portsea, said he kept a private lodging-house. He identified deceased as a person who came to take lodgings with him on the 9th inst. Deceased gave his name as Hall, and said he had hurt his foot while getting out of a train at Portsmouth Harbour. In consequence of this he could not travel to the Isle of Wight, and his baggage had gone on. Deceased stayed at the house seven days, leaving on the 16th. He did not drink much, but was very strange in his manner. He used to say, “I’ll have him,” “I’ll get him,” “I have got him,” and such like phrases. Before he left deceased borrowed 10s. of witness. He had not paid anything for his lodgings.
Dr. W. H. Heygate, of Cosham, stated that he saw deceased on Tuesday afternoon, and came to the conclusion that the body had been in the water some days. A post-mortem examination showed that deceased had been a healthy man. There were a few slight abrasions on the body, and marks on the fingers, showing that deceased had scraped the bottom of the pond with his fingers. Death was due to drowning. The brain and other organs were quite healthy. In answer to questions by the Coroner concernign the pond, Dr. Heygate said that about a third of the pond was skirted by a public road, and was unfenced. He had always looked upon it as in a most dangerous condition. Indeed, all through the district there were ditches unfenced which were quite dangerous, and it was a wonder that people did not break their necks.—In a conversation which ensued, a Juryman said it was quite easy for a man affected a little by drink to walk into the pond. It would be easy to prevent this with proper fencing.
William Doe, a boy, son of a gunner in the R.A., at Hilsea Barracks, said that on Tuesday morning he was sliding on the pond, when he saw the deceased under the water. He sent another boy, who was with him, to give information, and the body was afterwards removed by the police.
Constable Lawrence said the deceased was under unbroken ice about ten to fifteen feet from the road, in about three feet of water. No hat could be found, but otherwise the deceased was fully dressed. There was an empty purse, two keys, and a pocket handkerchief in the pockets, but no money or papers. The body was not at first identified, but a full description was inserted in the Evening News, and the deceased’s son recognised it, and afterwards identified the body as that of his father.
After a discussion in private, the jury returned a verdict of “Found drowned,” being of opinion that were was not sufficient evidence whether the deceased had committed suicide or been accidentally drowned. They added a rider drawing attention to the unfenced state of the pond.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Thursday 21 January, 1897
1900 Smoking concert
Quote
SMOKING CONCERT AT HILSEA.—A very enjoyable smoking concert was held on Wednesday evening at the “Coach and Horses,” Hilsea, by the non-commissioned officers of the batteries stationed at Hilsea, to bid farewell to comrades under orders for South Africa. The departing warriors were heartily toasted, and a capital programme was successfully carried out.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Saturday 13 January, 1900
1901 Census
| Name | Relation | Condition | Age | Occupation | Where born |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edward L Hind | Head | Married | 33 | Licensed Victualler | Blyth Rotherham, Yorkshire |
| Jessie L Hind | Wife | Married | 26 | — | Portsmouth, Hants |
| Thomas Hunter | Nephew | Single | 13 | Coal Merchant’s Clerk | Portsmouth, Hants |
| Mirian E Feast | Servant | Single | 23 | Cook (Domestic) | Fonthley, Hants |
| Everest Chandler | Boarder | Single | 22 | ??? | Manchester |
| John Stroud | Boarder | Single | 50 | ??? | N. York, USA |
| Earnest Porter | Boarder | Single | 21 | Foreman ??? | Huling, Warrington |
| Charlie Hollis | Servant | Single | 20 | Cellar Man | Darfield, Yorkshire |
| George Kirchen | Boarder | Single | 38 | — | ??? |
— 1901 Census, Sunday 31 March, 1901
1901, Help wanted
Quote
WANTED a Young Man to make himself generally useful. Live indoors; must be good character.— Apply “Coach and Horses,” Hilsea.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Saturday 27 April, 1901
1901, Stabling available
Quote
Good Stabling (now up to date), to Let, all modern fittings; would suit gentleman for polo ponies, or private horses.—Apply “Coach and Horses,” Hilsea.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Friday 03 May, 1901
1901, Fratton Park
Quote
NO DRINK LICENSE FOR FRATTON PARK.
Mr. Hind, the landlord of the “Coach and Horses,” applied to Messrs. A. W. White and G. E. Couzens at the Portsmouth Police Court this morning for an occasional license for the supply of drinks at Fratton Park this afternoon between 4 and 7.30 o’clock.
Mr. White said he did not see why they should grant a license to practically an outsider to step in and rob the license-holders near the ground of their trade.
The applicant informed the Bench that he was to supply on contract, but Mr. White said they could not help that. The game only lasted about two hours, and they had to consider whether it was a necessity. If they could not do with a cup of tea or a cup of coffee for a couple of hours they must do without. The application would be refused.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Wednesday 04 September, 1901
Note
A W White is the father of Gladys White.
1901, Tramway fares
Quote
SIR,—I would suggest that the tramway fares for through journeys from any part of the town should not be more than 4d., and that in as many junctions as possible the charge should not be more than a penny. I am an old inhabitant of the town and know the routes well, and I think that in this list of distances and fares there will not be much to grumble about.
Cosham to Point, Clarence Pier, Dockyard (via Commercial-road), or Eastney (or Circle), 4d.
Copnor Crossing (viâ Lake-road) to Dockyard (viâ Fratton-road), Clarence Pier, Eastney (or Circle), Clarence Pier, or Palmerston-road (viâ Commercial-road), 2d.
Dockyard to Eastney, 2d.
Dockyard to Clarence Pier, 2d.
All the above are through journeys.
The following are junctions for which the fare should be a penny:—Palmerston-road to Vic-Hall, Clarence Pier to Town Hall, Floating Bridge to Town Hall, Rugby-road to Town Hall, Town Hall to All Saints, Town Hall to Lake-road (Fratton-road end), Dockyard to Town Hall, Copnor Crossing to Lake-road (Fratton end), Cosham Station to “Coach and Horses,” “Coach and Horses” to Kingston-cross, Kingston-cross to Fratton Bridge, Fratton Bridge to Albert-road, Albert-road to Circle or Eastney, Kingston Cross to All Saints’ Church, All Saints to Town Hall, Dockyard to King’s-road, King’s-road to St. Jude’s Church, and St. Jude’s Church to South-parade.
From South-parade to Cosham, 4d.
All through journey tickets, changeable on any car, 4d.
NIMBLE NINE.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Tuesday 17 September, 1901
1901, Death of a baby
Quote
HIND—On the 15th inst., at the “Coach and Horses,” Edward Hunter Hind, the dearly-loved baby of Edward and Jessie Hind, aged three months and 14 days.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Tuesday 18 March, 1902
1902, Shooting match
Note
The formatting here would be a complete pain to convert to Markdown, so I’ve left it as an image.
Quote
PORTSMOUTH RIFLEMEN
MEET AN “EXCELLENT” TEAM
The members of the Portsmouth Rifle Club met a team from H.M.S. Excellent, Whale Island, in a shooting match, at Hilsea Range, on Tuesday afternoon, the weather being all that could be desired, but the wind was very tricky and gusty, making good shooting rather difficult. After a close contest the Excellents beat their opponents by only 20 points. The members of the Rifle Club entertained their visitors to a meat tea at the “Coach and Horses” after the match.
A word of praise is due to the markers, who signalled the result of each show in a very creditable and prompt manner, reflecting great upon the butt superintendent, Sergeant A. Smith, of the 3rd Hants. The following were the scores of each team:—
[…]
Meaning, Farley, Hid, Maguire, Feldwick, McClelland, Pratt, Scopes, Muid, Robertson, Fowler, Pulley, Bedford, Fry, Lent, Tucker, Wren, Jones, Whimshaw, Holt
[…]
The return match will take place at Tipnor in a few weeks time.
— Hampshire Telegraph, Saturday 26 April, 1902
1902, Lost whip
Quote
LOST—Between Cosham and the Coach and Horses, a Lady’s silver-mounted Driving Whip.—Apply White, The Poplars, North End.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Thursday 06 November, 1902
Note
There’s a good chance that the lady who lost her whip was Gladys White, who Gladys Avenue is named for.
1903, Mangle sale
Quote
For Sale, medium-size Box Mangle, cheap.—E. Bye, back Coach and Horses, Hilsea, after 8 p.m.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Friday 20 February, 1903
1903, Costers’ race
Quote
A COSTERS’ WALK.
ARRANGED AT PORTSMOUTH.
The costers of Portsmouth have for some time past been talking of a walk in imitation of their London confreres, and the project took practical shape in the Fish Market this morning.
The proposal is that the competitors should assemble about four o’clock on the 1st June on the Grand Parade, Portsmouth, and walk up Commercial-road, to the “Coach and Horses,” at Hilsea, and thence through Copnor and Eastney, returning along the Front to the Grand Parade.
Each competitor is to push his truck, and top hats will be worn. About a hundred entries are expected, and the event is arousing great interest. The prize will be a gold medal, and the winner will be entitled to the proud title of “champion coster walker of Portsmouth,” while there will be also money prizes of £3, £2, and £1, and 5s. for each one who finishes. There will also be a sealed handicap, with time allowance.
Collections are being made for the necessary funds in the Fish Market and amongst the fruit merchants.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Wednesday 20 May, 1903
Quote
THE COSTERS’ RACE.
GREAT CONTEST AT PORTSMOUTH.
45 MEN AND FIVE WOMEN START.
What will go down to posterity as the “Great Portsmuff Cawster Barrer Race of 1903” was “pushed off” on Wednesday afternoon.
The start was from the Grand Parade, Old Portsmouth, once the haunt of people quite at the other end of the social scale to costers, and the time of starting was four o’clock. Soon after three the competitors began to collect, and with them a quickly increasing crown, who came to cheer, to criticise, and to chaff.
An oblong reserved area was soon formed by the police, under Supt. Moss, and as the barrows and their owners came up the officials placed them in rows, of about eight in a row, which stretched along the wall of the Garrison Church.
SOME QUAINT COSTUMES.
Most extraordinary garbs were to be seen. The coster top hat, which in most instances appeared to be a family heirloom, so aged and dishevelled was it, was, of course, de rigueur, but beyond this item of dress the fancy of the competitors was allowed free play. This liberty was exercised to the full. One man, to economise weight, cut his hat down to the depth of a soup plate; perhaps, on second thoughts, it may be that he, being of frugal mind, had joined the presentable parts of two hats together.
Another man was dressed as a tatterdemalion Zulu, his robe being of the bed-curtain tint. He did not trouble to black himself, however. A third man did, and looked most effective. Yet another man dressed in convict’s garb, with conspicuous broad arrows; but it is only fair to state that he hardly looked the part. Still, most of the men took the race seriously, and attired themselves in such running costume as they could procure. There were cricket shirts, football shirts, white shirts, and coloured shirts; there were running knickers, and there were trousers of cloth and duck. The cloth trousers were turned up to the knee—this being an easy process, the cut being what is knows as the “Blimey” pattern. The legs were generally bare, and the footgear varied from canvas running shoes to hob-nailed boots.
In age, too, the competitors showed much variety. One or two men were nearing sixty, and some of the “barrer pushers” were hardly in their teens. Yet all were intent on going the course, and none more so than the women, who were encouragingly received as they came on the parade ground. They dressed in light, attractive, summer costumes, with short skirts, and sported “Harriet” hats, one of prodigious perimeter. Their barrows took the palm for ornate decoration and elaborate festooning, in addition to tricolour painting. All the barrows were well greased at the axle, and one old gentleman took the precaution to keep dust out by covering the hub with brown paper.
THE START.
The rows were arranged according to seniority, with the ladies first. Just before four the ex-Mayor and Mrs. Emanuel drove up, and were received with three cheers by the competitors, who in turn were cheered by a view of the championship medal and the statement that the winner would also receive his portrait, painted in colour.
By this time a tremendous crowd had gathered together, particularly at the High-street entrance to the Parade. Punctually at four o’clock, Alderman Emanuel let drop the “Pompey” flag, which was handed to him, and the women, five in number, of of whom two and the women, five in number, of whom two were married (one, so she herself said, being the mother of seven children), were off on their ten-mile journey.. One strapping lass took the lead, and the group was quickly out of sight. Five minutes later Alderman Emanuel started the men. There were 45 of them who started, out of 58 entries. The old men in the front row were quickly overtaken—one of fifty off sumers dropped two ranks in as many yards—and when the High-street was reached the competitors were allowed to break from a walk into a run, and the race then became until the finish a “go as you please.”
THE ROUTE.
The route from High-street lay through Commerical-road, Kingston-crescent, and London-road, turning by the “Coach and Horses,” Hilsea, roudn the back of the barracks, through Copnor, down New-road, Kingston-road, Fratton-road, up St. Mary’s-road, round the Workhouse, through Milton, past the Board School, through Eastney, thought Lump’s-lane, past the South Parade Pier, along South parade and Clarence Parade, across the Common, through Pembroke-road, and High-street, finishing at the Grand Parade.
A couple of mounted policemen preceded the leader all the way.
OFFICIALS AND PRIZES.
The time-keepers were Messrs. A. Amatt and J. Holley; and judges, Lieut. Fenwick, Messrs. G. Williams, G. W. Hooper, J. H. Burton, F. W. May, F. Vince, J. Burgess, W. R. Burridge, G. Newman, R. Day, Palmer, T. W. Sibley, J. Sibley, A. Thomas, W. H. Hooper, with Mr. A. E. Hooper, hon. sec. The judges were stationed all along the route to see that competitors adhered to the rules, particularly as to the hats, though for that matter most of the costers tied them on with string.
As the men went up High-street at good pace was cut out by the leaders, and it was rumoured that there was every likelihood of the distance being covered by the winner in an hour and a half, a feat which, it was whispered on the ground, had already been achieved, “though don’t you believe it, guv’nor” said a bystander.
There was no lack of prizes, no fewer than twenty-six being offered. There were six for the first sextette in, the winner receiving the Mayor’s championship medal, £2, and his portrait in colours; six sealed handicap prizes, four prizes for the women, and three men’s and two women’s prizes for decorated barrows. The special prizes comprised a cradle for the first married man finishing; two shallow baskets for the first fish coster finishing; a leg of mutton for the oldest man first finishing the course; a silver medal for the first youngest coster finishing. The first ten men home (excluding prize winners) under 2½ hours were to receive 4s, each; all others finishing under 3 hours to get 2s. 6d. each.
PAST THE TOWN HALL.
The human lining which had spread itself out along the route was perhaps at its densest in front of the Town Hall, whither sightseers had flocked in their thousands by common consent in order to get “a good place to see.” The steps in front of the building were thronged, and the crowd stood many persons deep on each side of the tramway track. The familiar cry, “Here they come!” was raised as the minute hand neared quarter-past four, and soon the advanced guard of the mounted police hove in sight, frantically waving back the throng that persisted in surging inward on the track. Behind the police came a body of cyclists and some vehicles, and then the first coster behind his barrow, looking a little tired already but very determined. No. 2. of the competitors close after him, was a lady coster, brawny and full of business, who pushed her way along right bravely. At varying distances—with traps, waggonettes, broughams, and cycles in-between—came the rest of the competitors—or what was left of them, for a few had fallen out already. Stout costers and slim costers, young costers and old costers, male costers and female costers, white costers, black costers, whitey-brown costers, costers running costers walking; but all in fancy costumes, and all with barrows. In every case but one the barrows were being pushed; the exceptional competitor was pulling his. The crowd looked on and smiled, sometimes breaking out into a laugh when a competitor more grotesquely “made-up” than the rest ambled past, and once or twice encouraging the female contestants with cries of “Go on, Sally!” and the like. Now and again a sympathiser who saw that his particular fancy was well in the rear would be heard to grumble that they hadn’t “‘arf a chance,” with all the vehicles in the procession to block their way; and the complaint did appear to be justified. It took about six minutes for the whole show to pass by, and then the crowd broke up and wended its several ways home, beginning to think about tea—a tea that for many would necessarily be devoid of shrimps, or whelks, winkles, or cockles. The costers were otherwise engaged.
AT NORTH END.
North End people manifested intense interest in the race, and turned out in hundreds to see it. Long before the time that the costers were due to start the thoroughfares were crowded, and at four o’clock tram traffic at Kingston Cross was practically suspended. At 4.22 the first coster, Spencer, appeared in sight, headed by two constables, and reached Kingston Cross a minute and 22 seconds ahead of B. Robinson. More than a minute divided second and third, G. Tally, and 90 seconds separated him from B. Cleife. F. Cleife was next, 120 yards behind, and then came a bunch of four. The first “lady” was about tenth in the race, and the last was one but last.
AT COPNOR.
The long pull from North End and through Hilsea and New-road to Copnor told pretty heavily on some of the men, and older competitors lagged behind very much. At the Workhouse, Spencer was still first, eight minutes in front of B. Robinson. He passed at five o’clock. After an interval of about a minute G. Tally went gaily by, and then a dozen passed all in a bunch in the next minute. It was half past five before the first of the women, Norah Mills, went past. She was loudly cheered by a tremendous crowd.
AT EASTNEY.
Spencer was leading at Eastney by seven minutes from B. Robinson. G. Tally was third, and R. Spikesley followed within 100 yards.
THE RESULT.
The first six men finished as under:—
H M S 1. Spencer 1 38 30 2. B. Robinson 1 42 13 3. G. Tally 1 45 16 4. R. Spikesley 1 46 5 5. F. Cleife 1 46 45 6. B. Robinson, junr. 1 48 12 OTHER PRIZEWINNERS.
The result of the sealed handicap was as follows:—1, B. Robinson, snr.; 2, B. Robinson, jnr.; 3, F. Cleife; 4, L. Jackson; 5, R. Spikesley; 6, Spencer.
For the best decorated barrow (men’s), L. Jackson was awarded the first prize, Wallis, jun., second, T. Page third, and Fletcher fourth.
Miss Norah Mills was the winner of the first prize for the best women’s decorated truck, second Mrs. Polly Hunt, and third Mrs. Burroughs. Mrs. Polly Hunt also took a special prize for the first married woman to pass the winning mark.
Prizes were awarded to all the female competitors who went the whole of the course, and those securing the awards were Miss Mills, Mrs. Polly Hunt, Mrs. Burroughs, and Mrs. Ward. Harriet Passingham was the only one who did not finish.
Robinson, sen., being the first married man to arrive home, was presented with the cradle, and being the first fish coster home he also took the two shallow baskets.
S. Ripner, as the oldest coster, got the leg of mutton, the silver medal for the youngest coster going to G. Tally. Robinson, jun., was given a box of sweets, being the next youngest.
H. Bampton, aged 61, was presented with a special prize for covering the course.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Thursday 11 June, 1903
1904, Bankruptcy notices
Quote
BANKRUPTCY NOTICES.
(From Friday Night’s “London Gazette.“)
Receiving orders.—Portsmouth.—William Frederick Curtis, Longleat, Dunbar-road, Eastney, decorator; Edward Lupton Hind, the “Coach and Horses,” Hilsea, licensed victualler; Charles Smith, 40, Spring-street, house agent.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Saturday 12 November, 1904
1904, Creditors meetings
Quote
CREDITORS’ MEETINGS.
CURIOUS CASE OF THE “COACH AND HORSES.”
THE LEASE OF A FREE HOUSE.
The first meeting of the creditors of Edward Hind, licensed victualler, of the “Coach and Horses,” Hilsea, was held at the Official Receiver’s office, Portsmouth, this afternoon.
The liabilities amounted to £310 17s. 9d., and the assets totalled £27 14s. 5d., leaving a deficiency of £283 3s. 4d. The failure was attributed to insufficient turn-over in business and increased assessments.
The Official Receiver’s statement showd that the debtor was originally a commercial traveller in tea, but gave up this calling in favour of an off-license business. Having saved £120, in 1897 he took over the “Coach and Horses,” Hilsea, from the War Department, the lease, by consent of the War Department, being held by the United Brewery Company, who found the purchase money. The rates had increased from £42 to £152 while he was tenant of the house, and he had lost about £120 in the business.
The chief debtors were:—Portsmouth United Breweries’ Company, £176 15s. 8d.; Mr. B. Murtough, £25 6s. 1d.; Mr. Miller, tobacconist, £16 16s. 1d.; Meyhew and Arnold, £14 2s. 6d.; and Mr. Rose, £10 16s. 9½d.
The Official Receiver said that the United Breweries Company paid £1,400 for the lease, and with the consent of the War Office took the lease on mortgage. It was a remarkable fact in this case that the house was supposed to be a free one. Yet in the lease the brewers were allowed to become mortgagees, and the brewers, he pointed out, were always ready to tie a house. A quesiton was whether the lease was void, because it contained a bankruptcy clause.
Mr. Franckeiss (who appeared for the Brewery Company) said he had looked through the lease, and there was no bankruptcy clause.
The Official Receiver pointed out that that removed a difficulty from the case. He went on to suggest that the house should either be advertised or handed over to the United Breweries’ Co.
Mr. Murtough thought the latter course would be the best, and it was ultimately agreed to.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Monday 21 November, 1904
Note
I believe Mr. B. Murtough to be Bernard Murtough, mineral water manufacturer, who would have been ~67 at the time of the creditors’ meeting. I have a photograph of the Coach and Horses (not yet published here) showing an advertisment for Webb & Salmon mineral water on the side of the building a few years previously.
Quote
DEATHS.
HIND—On the 28th ult., Edward Lupton Hind, of the “Coach and Horses,” the beloved husband of Jessie Hind.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Thursday 01 December, 1904
Note
The death is just one week after the creditors’ meeting.
Todo
Order death certificate. Not that I can trust it in cases of suicide.
1904, License transfer
Quote
LICENSING TRANSFERS
GRANTED AT PORTSMOUTH.
At a special transfer sessions held at the Portsmouth Town Hall this morning, the Licensing Justices on the Bench were Mr. G. S. Lancaster (chairman), Alderman J. H. Corke, Messrs. J. Howarth, John W. Gieve, J. J. Sapp, J. Bead, and H. Kimber.
The Justices granted transfers of licenses as follows—
ALEHOUSES.
“The Wellington,“ High-street, Portsmouth, from George Mitchell to George Augustus Collings; the “Royal Swan,” Pembroke-road, from Marion Annie Brown to William Wilson; the “King and Queen,” Common Hard, Portsea, from Elizabeth Pearce to Matthew William New; the “Coach and Horses,” Hilsea, from Edward Lupton Hind (deceased), to William Frederick James Hunt, trustee in bankruptcy of the estate of deceased; the “Spread Eagle,” St. Mary’s-road, from George Henry Catt to Henry Holt.
BEERHOUSES, ETC.
“The Star,” St. George’s-road, from William Wilson to John Williams; “The Stag,” 89, St. Thomas-street, from Arthur Samuel Heath to Joseph Barfoot; the “Fairy Brewery,” 20, Prince George-street, from Edward Robbins to John Stevens; the “Duchess of Edinburgh,” 72, Queen-street, from Charles Walter William Sexton to John Holford Box; the “Falstaff,” 50, St. James-street, from Catherine Rooke to Sophia Moore; the “Duke of Devonshire,” Albert-road, from Joseph Gard to Edwin Evan Rees; the “Coopers Arms,” 22, Arthur-street, from Edith Worledge to Albert John Martin; “Temple Bar,” 9, Church-path North, from George Westbrook to Charles Foundly; “Commercial Arms,” 297, Commercial-road, from Charles Foundly to John Carter; the “Florence Nightingale,” 2, East-street, Southsea, from George Henry Chivers to Alexander Robert Peebles; the “Bedford Arms,” Kingston-road, from Elizabeth Ann Poore (deceased) to Joseph Bray (the trustee and executor under the will of the deceased licensee); the “New Inn,” 86, Oxford-street, from Edward Fletcher to Samuel Carter; the “Russell Arms,” Russell-street, from Richard Kewell to Jane Louisa Kewell, widow of the deceased; the “Highbury Barn,” 250, Somers-road, from Ernest Vincent to George William Harman; “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” 15, Somers-road, from Rosina Clem to Charley Archibald Dobson; “The Battle and the Breeze,” 91 and 93, St. Paul’s-road, from Luke Hamilton Summers to Sarah Ann Foster; the “Sir Charles Napier,” 15, Telegraph-street, from Emma Caroline Davis to George Charles Davis; the “Up-to-Date” Restaurant, 8, Edinburgh-road, from Charles Francis Turner to Baptiste Albertolli; no sign, 126, Hereford-street, from Thomas George Beard to William Edward Hodges; no sign, Central Buildings, Commercial-road, from John Charles Dollar to Thomas Higgins; no sign, 114, King’s-road, from George Read to Frank Dunn.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Wednesday 28 December, 1904
1905 Coach and Horses death
Quote
HODGE.—On the 22nd Jan., at the Coach and Horses, Hilsea, John Archer, son of John and Emily Hodge, aged 15 years and 3 months.
— Hampshire Chronicle, Saturday 04 February, 1905
1905, Car crash
Quote
MOTORS IN COLLISION.
TWO CARS SMASHED AT HILSEA.
A serious motor accident occurred on Monday afternoon near the “Coach and Horses” Hotel, Hilsea.
Mrs. Lyon, of 3, Castle Bank, South Parade, Southsea, was driving a small Panhard car on the main road in the direction of Portsmouth, when a large car belonging to Mr. Cox and driven by F. Clark, also of Southsea, came out of the by-road and a bad collision occurred.
Mrs. Lyon’s car was absolutely wrecked, whilst the other was also badly smashed. Mrs. Lyon’s driver was injured about the face, and Mrs. Lyon was badly shaken. The occupants of the other car also escaped with a shaking. Mr. Cox’s car was towed back to Southsea by Mr. F. Ould, of the Granada Motor Company.
Mr. Cox himself was not in his car, as was stated last evening.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Tuesday 08 August, 1905
Quote
NOTICES OF RELEASE OF TRUSTEES
Debtor’s Name Debtor’s Address Debtor’s Description Court No. of Matter Trustee’s Name Trustee’s Address Trustee’s Description Date of Release Hind, Edward Lupton The Coach and Horses, Hilsea, Hants Licensed Victualler Portsmouth 41 of 1904 W. F. J. Hunt Cambridge Junction, Portsmouth Official Receiver Nov. 6, 1905 — The London Gazette, Friday 24 November, 1905
1906, Coach and Horses, death
Quote
HODGE—In ever-loving remembrance of John Archer (Jacky) at “Coach and Horses,” Hilsea who passed away 22nd January, 1905, aged 15 years and three months. Deeply mourned by father, mother and family.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Monday 22 January 1906
1906, Unfounded allegations
Quote
UNFOUNDED ALLEGATIONS.
CHARGE AGAINST HILSEA GUNNER DISMISSED.
Serious allegations were made at the Portsmouth Police Court this morning, before Alderman R. Barnes and Sir William Dupree, by Martha Williams, the wife of a labourer, living at 30, Walden-road, Stamshaw against Archibald Kinnaird, a young gunner in the 111th Battery Royal Field Artillery, stationed at Hilsea Barracks, who was charged with unlawfully assaulting and beating the woman on February 17th.
The prosecutrix stated that shortly before midnight on February 17th, she was returning home from Cosham, where she had been to meet a woman who was going to lodge at her house. She did know the woman except by sight. The woman worked in the fields at Hilsea, and had arranged to meet witness at the “Coach and Horses,” but did not keep the appointment. Witness was returning home at midnight when she met the defendant and another soldier. They said “Good night” to her, and passed on, but defendant turned round and followed her. She then alleged that he attempted to indecently assault her, and broke her umbrella with which she had struck him.
The defendant on oath denied the charge, saying that when he and a comrade were returning to Barracks they met the woman, who was loitering near the barracks. She accosted them, but defendant told her to go away, as he had nothing to do with such characters as her. It was then that she struck him with the umbrella.
Gunner Sheath and Gunner Hallam gave evidence as to the woman accosting them several minutes before the defendant arrived on the scene. Hallam said that the woman was walking slowly from North End towards Hilsea, and she was not returning from Cosham as she stated.
Corpl. Roberts, R.F.A., stated that he was the corporal of the guard on the night in question, but heard no disturbance. If there had been such a disturbance as the prosecutrix described near the Barrack gates, he would have heard it. He heard of no disturbance, but when the defendant entered the gates the woman ran after him and attempted to strike him with her umbrella.
Detective Ford stated that he had made inquiries in the case, but could find no corroboration of the woman’s story. On the other hand, he had ascertained that the woman’s husband was not at work, and also that the woman had been barred from entering several publichouses at Stamshaw because of her conduct.
On this evidence the Bench dismissed the case.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Tuesday 06 March 1906
Note
This report also appeared verbatim in the Hampshire Telegraph, Saturday 10 March, 1906
1906, Death notice
Quote
HIND—On the 22nd, at her mother’s residence, 37, Porchester-road, Woolston, Jessie, widow of the late Edward Hind, aged 31, late of the “Coach and Horses,” Hilsea.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Wednesday 25 April, 1906
Note
Age 31, and 14 months after her husband died during bankruptcy proceedings.
Todo
Order death certificate.
1907, For sale by auction
Quote
E. R.
By Command of His Majesty’s Principal Secretary of State for the War Department.
THURSDAY, JULY 18th, 1907.
To Brewery Companies, Brewers, Spirit Merchants and the Trade.
HALL, PAIN AND GOLDSMITH are favoured with instructions to offer for SALE by AUCTION, with possession, at their Estate Sale Rooms, 57, Commercial-road, Portsmouth, on the above date, at 3 o’clock in the afternoon:
Lot 1.—The Well-known Fully Licensed Freehold Property.
“THE COACH AND HORSES”
PUBLIC HOUSE, HILSEA, PORTSMOUTH.
Remarkably well situated on the main London-road, at its junction with Horsea-lane, close to Hilsea Barracks, as shown on the plan attached to the particulars, being the first licensed property on entering the Borough.
The Premises, which are substantially erected, with slated roof and stucco front and slated verandah, have the following accommodation:—Excellent drained cellar, bar parlour, three- division public and private bars, club-room, china closet, coal store, sitting-room, scullery, wine cupboard under the stairs, drawing-room, five bedrooms, box-room, and w.c. Adjoining there is a Building of two floors containing store and two rooms.
The Stabling, which is modern and well-built of bricks, with slated roof, contains five stalls, paved with blue Staffordshire bricks, and coach-house. There are two outside w.c.’s and a urinal. Gas and water are laid on, and there is a nice garden well stocked with fruit trees.
This Lot has a frontage to London-road of about 165ft. and a return frontage to Horses-lane of about 175ft 3in., the whole being let to Sir Wm. Thos. Dupree, together with the land comprised in Lot 2, for the remainder of the term of 21 years, expiring on the 29th September, 1907, at the yearly rent of £125.
Lot 2.—The Block of FREEHOLD LAND adjoining Lot 1, and having a frontage to the main London Road of about 83ft., a width in the rear of about 118ft., and an extreme depth of about 90ft.
Full particulars and conditions of Sale, together with plans, may be obtained of the Auctioneers, 57, Commercial-road, Portsmouth; or of Mr. W. H. Klwell, Land Agent to the War Department, War Office, Whitehall, S.W., and Maxwell House, Arundel-street, Strand, London, W.C.
— Hampshire Telegraph, Saturday 08 June, 1907
Note
The same notice, with very minor textual differences (eg “5” for “five”) also appears in the Hampshire Advertiser, Saturday 06 July, 1907
Quote
“COACH AND HORSES” SOLD.
BREWERY CO.‘S £9,500 PURCHASE.
WAR DEPARTMENT AS VENDORS.
By command of the Secretary of State for War, the “Coach and Horses” publichouse, Hilsea, was on Thursday afternoon offered for sale by public auction, and, after spirited bidding, was purchased on behalf of the Portsmouth United Breweries Co. for £9,500.
The auctioneers were Messrs. Hall, Pain, and Goldsmith, and the sale took place at their rooms, 57, Commercial-road, Portsmouth. It was explained that the fully licensed premises on offer were freehold and were War Department property, the Portsmouth United Breweries Co., holding the license on a lease. The auctioneers dilated upon the value of the property, and the growth of the district as a residential suburb of Portsmouth, and upon the fact that there was no public-house within half a mile of the “Coach and Horses.” The premises were situated on the only main road out of Portsmouth, and the house was the first hostelry met on entering the town and the last on leaving. In addition to being on the main road, the premises were also at the junction with Horsea-lane, giving direct access to the alternative main thoroughfare to the eastern side of Portsea Island.
The property has a frontage to the London-road of about 178ft. 8in., and a return frontage to Horsea-lane of about 175ft. 3in. It was pointed out that the premises were admirably fitted up for the purposes of a licensed house, and that the outbuildings included a slated cottage and a five-stall stable. To the main building was attached a pleasant verandah, a public drinking trough for cattle, and a garden well stocked with fruit trees. The Land-tax had been redeemed, but there was a tithe-rent charge of 1s. 6d., payable to the Vicar. With the exception of the “Green Posts,” there was no licensed house within a radius of three-quarters of a mile. Trams passed the door.
The bidding was quickly advanced to £8,000, and then followed a lively duel between the bidder acting on behalf of the United Breweries and another gentleman. The latter made a bid of £9,000, and the lot was then knocked down to the United Breweries Co. at £9,500.
This lot, together with the lot mentioned below, is held upon lease by Sir Wm. Thos. Dupree, for the remainder of a term of 21 years, expiring on September 29th, 1907, at the annual rental of £125. The price obtained for the house (£9,500) is stated to be more than was anticipated.
The other lot sold was a block of freehold land adjoining the “Coach and Horses,” having a frontage of about 69ft. 8in. to the main London-road, and a depth varying from 30ft. to 90ft. The land is at present used as a garden, but is ripe for building purposes. It was sold for £500 to another purchaser.
— Hampshire Telegraph, Saturday 20 July, 1907
1908, Hilsea moat mystery
Note
This is a terrible scan. I attached it and transcribed what I can. I think the dead man’s name is probably Blake.
Quote
HILSEA MOAT MYSTERY.
MUTINY VETERAN’S DEATH.
IMMERSION AND EXPOSURE
The circumstances […] Portsbridge on Friday morning […] by the Borough Coroner […] at the Portsmouth Town Hall this afternoon.
Henry James […] a constable in the Portsmouth Police Force said that he identified the body as that of his father, James […] who was an Indian Mutiny Veteran, and in receipt of a pension […] Deceased was quite blind in one eye.
Other of the deceased’s sons gave evidence that their father stopped with […]
On Wednesday […] deceased went to the home of a Mrs […] where some time ago he lodged for a fortnight, and asked if she could put him up. He stopped there until Thursday […] when he said that he was […] had all been very good to him.
Mr. John Hodge, the landlord of the “Coach and Horses” public-house, Hilsea, said that on Thursday the 9th inst., at about 6.45 p.m., the deceased came to his house, and after purchasing some whiskey, left saying that he was going to Cosham.
James […], caretaker of the Hilsea Lines, described how he discovered the body, which was lying […] yards from the water on the Portsmouth side of the moat, and on the left side of the main road. From the position of the body and the fact that the clothing was damp, the witness […] that deceased must have fallen into the water and clambered out again. One of the piles which were placed in the bank of the moat had been pulled down. The deceased would have had […] but there was a gate fifty yards from where the body was found, through which he might have entered.
The police were called to the spot, and P. C. Band telephoned to the Kingston Cross police station, and Mr. Andrews, undertaker, was asked to convey the body to the mortuary.
Mr. […] Maybury attributed the death to partial immersion in the water and subsequent exposure.
A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Monday 13 January 1908
1908, The sale of the Coach and Horses
Quote
THE SALE OF THE “COACH AND HORSES.”
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE “EVENING NEWS.“]
Sir,—Sir W. T. Dupree was not compelled to give £10,000 for the “Coach and Horses,” either by a supposed reserve or alleged bogus bids. He gave this sum simply because he wished to acquire the licensed property. But he knew, as everybody knew, that the Government was pledged to a bill imposing a time limit (Lord Peel’s Commission suggested seven years, whereas fourteen are given under the Bill), and therefore must have known the purchase to be speculative.
I should like to ask one question. Sir W. T. Dupree says, “I have had this property valued” (minus the licence), the valuation “giving an average of £2,150 as the value of the whole of the land with the bricks and mortar.” Will Sir W. T. Dupree tell us the value of the property plus the licence, knowing, as he does, that he is certain of the licence for fourteen years, or of compensation if cancelled within that time. More than that, is there a reasonable probability of losing the licence even after fourteen years, taking into consideration the situation of the house?
Yours faithfully,
A. F. AVENS.
41, Britannia-road,
Southsea.— Portsmouth Evening News, Saturday 14 March, 1908
Quote
TO THE EDITOR OF THE MORNING POST
SIR,—I and other Members of Parliament received a circular dated March 12 and signed “W. T. Dupree,” in which the following statement was made with regard to the Coach and Horses at Hilsea:
“I have had this property valued (minus the licence) by three of the principal firms of valuers in Portsmouth, with the following results: Messrs. Hall, Pain, and Goldsmith (the Government agents who sold the property), £2,500; Messrs. King and King, £1,950; and Messrs. Low and Cooper, £2,000; giving an average of £2,150as the value of the whole of the land with the bricks and mortar. In the common division of brewery holdings—one-third Ordinary Shares, one-third Preference Shares, and one-third Debenture Stock—the investment work work out as follows: £3,333 6s. 8d. Ordinary Shares, £3,333 6s. 8d. Preference Shares, and £3,333 6s. 8d. Debenture Stock. With a time limit as proposed in the Government Bill the whole of the Ordinary Shares would disappear, the whole of the Preference Shares would disappear, and, accepting the mean valuation of the figure quoted, £1,183 6s. 8d. belonging to the Mortgage Debenture Stock holders would also be lost.”
It will be observed that Mr. Dupree, of the Portsmouth United Breweries (Limited) represents the value of this house as having been reduced to £2,150. I know nothing of the Coach and Horses, but the following telegram was sent on my behalf, reply paid, at one o’clock on Monday to the Portsmouth United Breweries, Portsmouth:
“At what price would you sell the Coach and Horses and plot of land at Hilsea for? We have a client ready to offer £4,400 for prompt acceptance.”
No reply has been received to this telegram and my offer has, therefore, not received “prompt acceptance,” although it amounted to more than double the sum to which the value was said to have been reduced. This makes an interesting warning as to trade figures during such a campaign.
I many mention that what emboldened me to make this offer was my experience during the agitation of the trade which culminated in the Act of 1904. The cases of individual hardship which were at that time put forward with the greatest authority where the two which were cited by Sir Ralph Littler in an appeal which reached all Members of Parliament, and the two which were put forward by the leader of the trade deputation which waited upon Mr. Balfour. After an investigation into these cases, in which I was assisted by the Church of England Temperance Society, I offered to give £100 to any charity connected with the trade if either those cited by Sir Ralph Littler or those of the trade deputation were decided to be approximately correct by and judge of the High Court, after hearing at statement on each side.—Yours, &c.,
A. CAMERON CORBETT.
— Morning Post, Friday 20 March, 1908
Todo
Proofread below
Quote
SPEECH BY SIR WM. DUPREE.
MORE ABOUT THE “COACH AND HORSES.”
Sir William T. Dupree on Wednesday evening spoke at some length at a Conservative meeting in the Fratton-street Council School upon the Licensing Bill.
He observed at the outset that brewery and public-house investments had always been regarded as legitimate. In respect to the recent purchase of the “Coach and Horses,” at Hilsea, he had received letters asserting that he was supposed to have given as much for the licence, but he went on to observe that even at the price he paid a return of 3½ per cent. was assured, and surely that was a fair rate for a sound security considering the returns now made upon gilt-edged investments. Sir William, proceeding, pointed out what trouble would be to railway shareholders if railway debentures based on a 14-year time-limit, and referred to Mr. Balfour’s late statement that Sir William ought to have known that a purchase of Bills as involving the principle of a time-limit was abandoned. Well, he (Sir William) pointed out, as evidence of the insecurity of the Bill from a financial standpoint, what was going to happen on the Stock Exchange to-morrow, and all the Liberal and Labour Members of Parliament he (the speaker) had met had stated that they would have been quite as satisfied to have been able to purchase a house like his (Sir William’s) under a Bill such as the Licensing Bill was going to contain.
BREWERY SHARES SAFE.
Brewery investments had always been looked upon as safe, and his little savings from his salary he had from time to time put into investments of this nature. Many men had taken their hard-earned savings and put them into what they considered safe securities, but at the end of fourteen years their capital was to disappear. (Shame.) From the 3½ per cent. shares it was quite impossible to set up an adequate sinking fund. Sir William proceeded
to point out that his purchase of tithe was based on a year’s lease, and yet that if he had met a man from the backyard during the evening as an ardent alter 15 years arrived with a pension of sixpence a day. (Shame.) Would the Government were only adopting a one year’s continuation. Shame. With the Government it seemed to be a case of “head I win; tails you lose.” (Hear, hear.) At least that was how they were treating the Trade to which Sir William belonged. The reduction of beer was an innocent luxury, and statistics proved that the greatest output corresponded with the period of the country’s greatest prosperity, and in all countries but England the sale of beer was encouraged, the English spirit being discouraged.
THE IRISH ATTITUDE.
Sir William proceeded to wonder why Ireland was not included in the scope of the measure, and stated that he had been informed that the Irish party, though individually greatly interested as a Trade, had decided to abstain from voting on the Bill in view of the fact that there was no reduction of Irish Licences. The Licensing Bill, he declared, was one for the confiscation of real property, and regarding the nature of the source of taxation, Sir William stated that he knew very well from his visits to the source that the presence of Government’s own valuation in the Licence was as a matter of fact so little marked a sum. Mr. Liddell offered striking confirmation upon this point. In concluding, Sir William observed that he was certain that Irish landlords would not allow themselves to be influenced.
“LIKE AN EEL SKINNED ALIVE.”
Mr. Liddell made a bright, spirited speech upon the Bill. It was said of the Licensing Trade that it was always “interested” in its action, but surely an eel about to be skinned alive was entitled to be interested in its future. (Laughter and hear, hear.) The speaker maintained that the increasing sobriety of the nation; the insufficient powers given to the 1904 Act—an Act accepted by the Trade on an equitable and sincere basis—was a reason for bringing such a drastic Bill, with damaging arguments against the Government, and he reminded his audience of this liberal abuse over the Local Veto Bill 15 years. There could be no doubt that by causing licences in general, if not in particular, to become forms of private property, and the expenditure upon renewal was one of the many difficulties upon manufacturing establishments. As stated, the Bill had assessed and taxed the property as such. Mr. H. Haldane’s reference had been that W. T. Dupree was “Coach and Horses,” and Mr. Haldane had yet to wriggle or rather continue to endeavour to wriggle out of the hornets’ stinging criticisms upon which Sir William had thrice bitten. (Hear, hear and laughter.)
Mr. Liddell proceeded to point out that the Bill, with gross unfairness, included in the claims those whose sole conduct the presence of the publican’s goodwill which appeared to be included in the tenure and tenant, and, after examining these three sections of the Bill, considered it would be impossible for its strict laws. And Mr. Asquith was practically saying that under the new Bill the publican would not only have to provide a large license of £15,000, but that he was also a huge dealer of it in future.
IN FAVOUR OF THE BILL.
GOSPEL TEMPERANCE UNION.
Under the auspices of the Gospel Temperance Union a large meeting was held in the Ebenezer Lecture Hall on Wednesday evening, the President, Rev. John Kemp, being in the chair. The Chairman congratulated the meeting upon the fact that the Church of England Temperance Society had declared itself in favour of the Licensing Bill.
The principal speaker, the Rev. J. J. Cornish, gave an exposition of the Bill, and answered questions. Upon the motion of the Rev. W. F. Newham, seconded by Mr. Henry Smith, the following resolution was unanimously adopted:—“We most heartily thank Mr. Asquith and H.M. Government for the Licensing Bill recently introduced into Parliament, which, with satisfaction the 14 years’ time limit, and the right of local veto for the issue of new licences provided further that this control should be placed upon the Statute Book, and some 14 years of age be allowed to enter any licensed premises, and we urge that the Bill may be passed into law at the earliest possible date.”
— Hampshire Telegraph, Saturday 21 March 1908
Todo
proofread below
Quote
Letters to the Editor.
We are not responsible for opinions expressed by writers under this heading.
THE LICENSING BILL.
Greenrock, 21st March, 1908.
Sir,—Are our temperance friends going to do anything to show their appreciation of the present Licensing Bill recently introduced into Parliament by Mr Asquith? The Trade all over the country is beating the big drum in opposition to it. Surely temperance people ought to show their interest in the matter. If we are in earnest, we should show our feelings by petitions or any other way as advised. Every organisation ought to be active and at once show that the country is in earnest in this great reform. Trusting that immediate action will be taken by all reformers.—I am, yours, etc.,
Forward.
LICENSING BILL.
Temperance Institute, Greenock, 21st March, 1908.
Sir,—As you gave the fullest publicity in your columns to a letter from Sir William Dupree a few days ago re the sale of the Coach and Horses, a public-house in Portsmouth, it seems only just to your readers to hear the other side, and I enclose a letter, copied from a contemporary, from Earl Russell, which, as it is not nearly as long as Sir William’s, I trust you will publish it in full.—I am, sir, your obedient servant,
William D. Thomson.
57 Gordon Square, W.C.,
March 17, 1908.
Earl Russell has written the following letter to Sir William Dupree with reference to the sale of the public-house the Coach and Horses, at Hilsea, Portsmouth, a question explained by Mr Haldane in the House of Commons on Monday:—
“Earl Russell is in receipt of a statement from Sir William Dupree concerning the purchase of the Coach and Horses public-house at Hilsea, near Portsmouth. Earl Russell regrets that this document has not had the effect on his mind which it was evidently intended to have. He gathers that a brewery company willingly and voluntarily, and only on the purchaser’s urgent advice, put £10,000 into property worth £1750, the difference in value being accounted for by the prospect that the right to make indecent profits on the sale of liquor must be uniformly large if in one public-house they are considered adequate to pay interest on £8250.
Sir William Dupree further seems to be under the impression that he has suffered some injustice, or, as he says, been “robbed” by the introduction of a Licensing Bill. Compulsory reduction of licences with compensation became law in 1904. Had Sir William Dupree must have been the only inhabitant of these islands who was not aware that the present Government were pledged to extend that system and to introduce a time limit. This knowledge was not, as he suggests, confined to the Cabinet.
The conclusion of the whole matter appears to Earl Russell to be that Sir William Dupree has trafficked with the enormous profits of a business that causes more poverty and crime than any other in this country, and that the windfall that appears likely to be an unfortunate one.”
— Greenock Telegraph and Clyde Shipping Gazette, Monday 23 March, 1908
Todo
Proofread below
Quote
THE SALE OF WAR OFFICE LICENSED PROPERTY AT HILSEA.
The sale of the Coach and Horses Inn, Hilsea, was the subject of several questions in the House of Commons on Monday.
Mr. Bottomley asked the Prime Minister whether he was aware that the Coach and Horses Inn at Hilsea, Portsmouth, was recently sold by the War Office for the sum of £10,000 shortly before the introduction of the Licensing Bill, and that the purchaser complained that had he been aware of the intention of the Government to attach a time-limit of fourteen years to all licences he would not have purchased the property at the price he paid, and that the profits of the inn were inadequate to enable him during the contemplated time-limit to provide the necessary sinking fund for the redemption of his licence; and whether, in these circumstances, the Government would consider the justice of either annulling the contract for the sale or returning a substantial portion of the purchase price.
Mr. Haldane, who replied, said: No such complaint has reached the War Office, and I am unable to give any explanation further than that already afforded in reply to previous questions on the subject. The Government do not propose to annul the contract.
Mr. Remnant: Before the Government fixed a reserve price in this case, had its own valuer placed the value of the licence of this house at £7,500?
Mr. Bottomley: Before he concluded the sale of this property, was the right hon. gentleman personally acquainted with the terms of the Licensing Bill?
Mr. Haldane: The property was put up in the ordinary course. It was well known to the public that the Government proposed to deal with the whole question of licensing (Ministerial cheers).
Mr. J. Ward: Is it usual for purchasers of Government property under the War Office when they make a bad bargain to expect compensation? (Ministerial cheers).
Mr. Lyttelton: Does the right hon. gentleman think that the intention of the Government to impose a time-limit should have had a material effect in this transaction, and that its failure to disclose this fact was not a material omission; and whether, under the circumstances, the right hon. gentleman considers it fair that the War Office should retain the whole of the purchase money, while it is quite clear that the purchaser *cries of “Speech,” and “Order.“)
Mr. Haldane: I have already said that no complaint has reached the War Office from the purchaser, and if there had been any complaint he would have found it very difficult to formulate it in any intelligible language (Opposition
laughter and Ministerial cheers).Mr. Bottomley: Has not the right hon. gentleman, in common with other members of the House, received a printed complaint from the purchaser?
Mr. Haldane: I have received an immense mass of printed matter about the Licensing Bill, but none from this purchaser.
Mr. Lupton: Has the purchaser definitely asked to be relieved of his bargain?
Mr. Haldane: Not that I am aware of.
— Hampshire Chronicle, Saturday 28 March, 1908
Todo
Proofread below
Quote
LICENSING QUESTION AND REPLY.
To the Editor of the SHEPTON MALLET JOURNAL AND CITY OF WELLS REPORTER._
DEAR SIR,—I accept the challenge which you published in last week’s Journal. Your correspondents (for the Licensed Victuallers’ agent’s glove covers more than one hand), state that the purchaser of the “Coach and Horses” at Hilsea for £10,000 was defrauded by the Government of £7,500; because that house, after the introduction of the Licensing Bill would only be worth £2,500.
Now, Sir William Dupree, who bought the house declares that:—“I have no grievance over the purchase of the house,” and he has refused to name any price at which he will sell it.
Again, not only up to 1904, but up to last Friday, April the 10th, 1908, as the law now stands, a license is the personal holder of the license, his name is commonly painted over the door, and at the latter date, by a decision at the Clerkenwell sessions:—The renewal of the license of the “Three Colts” public house, rated to be worth £13,500, was refused without compensation, because the holder of the license did not reside on the premises, had no real business there, and only casually visited the house.
Finally, in the alleged case of the death duties being overcharged on £850, instead of £750,—the sum paid would have been refunded upon the production of proof of over-payment. The childish repetition of the charges made in your columns on the 27th March can be confuted by anyone who compares my published letters to you with the distorted version of them in the letters you published over the signatures “G.” and “A. J. Harris.”
I claim that the statements I have made are reasonably confirmed by the above facts.
Yours faithfully,
JOHN HIGGINS.Pylle, Somerset, 13/4/1908.
— Shepton Mallet Journal, Friday 17 April, 1908
1908 Pink’s Pictorial
Todo
Track it down, because it might contain a new image of the Coach and Horses
There’s at least one copy of this extant, in a library somewhere, because I’ve spoken to a historian who has used it as a source.
Quote
“PINK’S PICTORIAL”
“What do you think of Pink’s Pictorial?” asks the Editor of the new illustrated monthly magazine. We reply that it is a very creditable performance and a welcome addition to the local literature. It invades no one’s field, and yet covers much ground of interest to the antiquarian, the historian, and the general student of men and things. In this number the first of a series of illustrated articles upon “Celebrated neighbours” is devoted to Mr. W. L. Wyllie, R.A., there is a description of Cosham Fair, Government House, Portsmouth is pictured and described, the now more than ever famous “Coach and Horses” is shown, and the story of its sale retold, and a right of way grievance at Hayling Island is pictorially represented. For frontispiece there is an excellent portrait of the new Commander-in-Chief.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Friday 10 April, 1908
1908 Barmaid job wanted
Quote
WANTED, a Situation as a Barmaid; good references, country preferred.—Direct Coach and Horses, Hilsea, Cosham, Hants. Telephone, 8 Cosham
— Portsmouth Evening News, Tuesday 16 June, 1908
Note
A telephone number… 8!
1906, Planning permission
Todo
Proofread below
Quote
ALTERATIONS OF PUBLIC HOUSES.
Plans were presented by Mr. E. C. Hand, on behalf of Messrs. Nalder and Collyer, of Croydon, for alterations to the St. George’s Commercial Hotel, St. George’s square, it being desired to put the bar back a few feet.
Mr. A. E. Cogswell then submitted a series of three plans. The first two were in respect to the Western public-houses, St. James’-street, Portsea, and the Mile End Tavern, Commercial-road, Messrs. Pike, Spicer, and Co., being the owners, In regard to the Western it is proposed to make the present addition into a smoking-room and turn the smoking-room into a saloon-bar, two internal doors, previously screwed up, being opened. At the Mile End Tavern the front of the house is to be improved by the use of tiling and different wood.
With respect to the “Coach and Horses,” Hilsea, owners the Portsmouth United Breweries, Mr. Cogswell said there was a large room adjacent to the bar, and it was proposed to throw it into the bar and form, in accordance with the practice of this firm, one large bar with nests of seats.
Mr. Grigsby: You do not propose to do anything to destroy its historic interest?—(A laugh.)—Mr. Cogswell: No, sir. We also ask to extend the verandah round the whole extent of the house.
All four plans were passed.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Wednesday 11 November 1908
1908 Coach and Horses mural
Todo
Proofread below
Quote
Hampshire has played a somewhat prominent part in the matter of the Licensing Bill. In the early history of that measure the “Coach and Horses” at Hilsea won fame, and is so proud of its noteriety that a celebrated cartoon has been adopted as the sign of the house. Yesterday Hampshire was doubly represented, for in the House of Commons Mr. Carell Sclater, K.C., the Unionist member for the Basingstoke Division, was the mover of the rejection of the measure; and an hour or two later the mover of the first reading in the House of Lords was Lord Emiley, a wellknown Hampshire Liberal leader, better remembered, perhaps, as Mr. Shaw-Lefevre.
1910 The Dog’s Hind Leg
Todo
Proofread below (there’s a lot of hallucination here).
Quote
COPNOR ROAD.
PROGRESS OF THE IMPROVEMENTS
50 FEET MOTOR WAY TO SOUTHSEA.
The Portsmouth unemployed are now actively engaged in creating out of the Hilsea-Copnor country lane a fine 50ft. motor approach to Southsea. In parts the lane was only 15 feet wide; in other parts it pressed close together two right-angle turnings suggestive of a dog’s hind leg; while in others there were kinks which made it very pretty to the view but bad for main-road traffic.
The enterprise upon which the unemployed are working creditably completes an important improvement, namely, the formation of a 50ft road all the way from Hilsea Barracks to the main London-road at the “Coach and Horses.” Bit by bit the idea has been carried out, and though “bottle-necks” still remain, they are but a mile or two in length. Shortly the public service owners will display that public spirit which will enable even the few to be eliminated.
In order to attract motorists off the main tram road as they enter the town, and so give relief to the present congestion of traffic at week-ends and at holiday times, the entrance at the “Coach and Horses” has been made bell-mouthed, the extreme width measured from the drinking trough parallel to the tram track being one hundred feet. The dangerous corner with the quickest hedge on the north, the scene of many an accident, has gone. So has the subsequent 15ft. road, and the new thoroughfare stretches away before the eye to the copse in which the Garrison Church is hidden away, reaching it by an easy curve which is almost unnoticeable as you pass along; or, rather, which will be, for the work at the curve is still in progress, and, by the way, the mud is truly awful.
THE DOG’S HIND LEG.
It is at this point that the “dog’s hind leg” years ago grew into being. The now fast-disappearing Hilsea-Copnor-road at this point was in olden days merely two country lanes, running roughly north-west and south-east at different parallels out of the old London-road. This old London-road ran from Cosham to Portsmouth practically in a bee-line, but at the point where it crossed over the main road the Lines defended made a diversion in the form of an irregular hour, and this how is the present main road. All that now remains of the ancient London-road out of Portsmouth is the cul-de-sac running straight ahead and away from the main road north of the R.F.A. Barracks, ending in fields alongside Major Hume’s house—the house hidden away to the north of the Garrison Church; and the corresponding cul-de-sac south of Cosham railway gates, at the point where the tram road turns sharp to the south-west.
The straightening-out of this “dog’s hind leg” has been a somewhat costly matter, for in the hind leg lies one of the Water Company’s big mains, and this has necessitated the laying of new pipes in the new road. In all parts the widening process has necessitated the cutting away of one or both hedges, and unfortunately it has also been necessary to cut down six big trees, in addition to a large number of smaller ones, and the observer is bound to confess that what the road will gain in usefulness it will lose, for years at least, in beauty, since the old road was certainly picturesque. New wooden fences, straight runs, and cutaway banks are not a charming substitute for a winding road meandering between hedges and trees.
OLD POND DISAPPEARING.
The well-remembered pond has already been practically filled up, but most of the earth dug away from the banks to widen the road has been used to fill up natural dips and hollows which occurred here and there in the old road, and to fill in the ditches, which have been piped. In some places a give-and-take line has been arranged with the War Department, in others the widening is as much as 10 to 50 feet, until at length Gasworks-lane is reached, which is the limit of the present enterprise, and is in itself the completion of the much larger undertaking involved in the creation of the 50-feet Eastern-Hilsea motor road out of a narrow country lane.
The Borough Engineer (Mr. P. Murch) naturally regards the virtual completion of the scheme with pride. The final objective has always been kept steadily in view, as, for instance, in the building of Copnor-road Bridge and the setting out of the straight road from the Bridge to Milton, to take the place eventually of the present curve in the main road. Many landowners have very fairly, and often generously, met the Corporation. Mr. F. M. Aylen, for instance, gave up a big piece of land from Bursledon-road right to Gas Works-lane, and Win-… Gas Works-lane, and Winchcombe-road; and other portions were acquired from Mr. Stebbing and others. To Mr. Aylen, in particular, too much praise cannot be given, for without his public-spirited action the fine curve at present in process of construction would not have been possible.
OLD ROAD DISAPPEARING.
But the new roadway, the new idea, the new standard, has practically wiped out the old road, the old way of doing things, and the old standard of Portsmouth thoroughfares. Not only has the road been made 50 feet wide, but it has been brought up to modern ideas in every way, and one is bound to confess that, in its way, the new road is very fine. For though it lacks the picturesque beauty of the old road, it has, on the other hand, to make up for that, an air of usefulness and dignity which cannot but appeal to those who have to make use of it. The old road was not good for motor traffic, and that the new road will be.
The new road, too, gives a much better idea of the space and extent of the surrounding country, and in spite of the removal of the trees, one gets a much better idea of the lay of the land and the general configuration of the district. There are those who regret that the old road has been done away with, but, as the “Copnor Courier” says, “after all, we live in a changing world, and we cannot afford to keep the old landmarks just because they are old.” The new road is a great improvement, and the sooner it is completed the better.
— Hampshire Telegraph, Saturday 19 February, 1910
1912 Boy scouts
Todo
proofread below (there’s a lot of hallucination here).
Quote
A FIELD DAY IN THE TOWN.
The following rules have been drawn up for the field day in Portsmouth to-morrow:—
Motorists and cyclists to meet at the Town Hall-square at 2.30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 10th.
All to wear a distinguishing white armlet. All Scout cyclists will be attached to the B.S.A.A. and also meet at the Town Hall-square.
Scouts will assemble at the “Coach and Horses,” Hilsea, at 2.45. The object of the Scouts is to get as near as possible to the top of Palmerston-road, Southsea. Scouts will work in patrols of eight as far as may be. They may not go through any street blocked by a defender. They must turn back and try another street.
No defender may pass Scouts from the rear. Should he by accident find himself in rear of Scouts he must work round till he discovers a clear route to get in front of them again. This rule must be strictly observed.
Should the Scouts get as far as the semi-circle made by the railway the proceedings will be considered a draw; beyond that, a Scout victory.
At 4.15 every patrol leader is to make a note of his position, and Scouts will mass at the following places, where cyclists will meet them to obtain reports:—Lion-terrace; Fratton Station (and Fratton Bridge); top of Palmerston-road, Common.
The motorists and bicyclists will meet at 4.30 outside the “Parade” Hotel, Southsea Common.
No Scouts may use vehicles of any kind. The motorists and cyclists aide may be on foot if they like.
Spies allowed both sides. All “punctures” to vehicles to last 15 minutes.
PORTSMOUTH BOY SCOUTS.
District Orders by District Scoutmaster
W. S. Kerwood.
Saturday, 10th Feb., 1912.
Field Day.—The troops of the district will parade at the “Coach and Horses,” Hilsea, at 2.15 p.m., to take part in the monthly field day to-day (Saturday, 10th inst.). S.M. Prichard will be in command, and detailed instructions will be issued at the rendezvous.
Test Certificate.—The examiners have certified that Leader N. Galpin, 191st Troop, has satisfactorily passed the first class test, to date 6th January.
GEO. BRYAN, W.S.M.,
Dist. Adjutant P.B.S.— Hampshire Telegraph, Friday 09 February, 1912
Note
I can’t help wondering, when reading this, how many of these kids ended up dead in the mud a couple of years later.
1912 Sheep drowned
Todo
Proofread below.
Quote
PORTSMOUTH CUT OFF.
EXPERIENCE AT HILSEA.
TRAMS AND MOTORS HELD UP.
The exciting incidents of Boxing Day will indelibly imprint the recollection of Christmas, 1912, upon the memory of Cosham and Hilsea residents. There is no record in living memory, nor, so far as can be ascertained in the pages of the local history, of such a remarkably flood as that which formed so effectual a bar over the only road out of the borough as to practically isolate Portsmouth from the mainland.
When the gale was at its height the water running through Port Creek overflowed the bank and flowed up-hill to the slope of the Ports Bridge approach; it became locked in the hollow under the Arch, reaching a depth of 5ft., and extending from the Ports Bridge to beyond the Coach and Horses on the Portsmouth side, while on the Cosham side of the bridge there were also extensive floods.
The last tram ran through the flood a little before one o’clock, and one which happened then to be on the Cosham side was forced to remain there all night, the tram-men having to return to Portsmouth by train. For some time the water was so deep that only high horsed vehicles could pass through, and even they sometimes hesitated, as the water came up to the tracets, and in several instances flooded the bottoms of the cars.
This morning there was still a couple of feet of water at the deepest part, and at nine o’clock there were three motor vehicles, which had attempted to get through, helpless, with exhausted engines and blocked pipes, being hauled back clear of the flood. With this prospect before it, it was at nine o’clock that the tram service was resumed. Up to 12 o’clock it was still impossible for the trams to pass along. The Coach and Horses, which it will be recalled, is situated on a considerably higher level than the roadway, had its cellars flooded to a depth of about 3ft.
The surrounding fields, one of which has lately been planted for market gardening, were flooded, and much damage was occasioned.
SHEEP DROWNED.
An unfortunate incident of the flood at Hilsea is the loss by drowning of a number of sheep belonging to Mr. George Mills, the well-known cattle dealer. About a hundred sheep were penned in hurdles on the Grammar School ground, and though the majority of them have been recovered, it is certain that a number have perished in the floods.
It appears that the sheep were close to the spot where the bank gave way and allowed the water to break through, and they were scattered by the inflowing current. Some of them were later found drowned, but others of the flock lot must have met the same fate.
Over a hundred acres of grass land in the vicinity of the Farlington Racecourse are inundated with water, and immense damage done to the grazing land. Fortunately no cattle appear to have suffered. All along the shore by the racecourse the bank was much damaged, and 40 or 50 men were this morning engaged in making good the damage. The occupants of a cottage on the Hilsea Grammar School ground were completely flooded out.
FIRE BRIGADE AT WORK.
In order to turn the water back into its native channels, and as a necessary precaution against the effects of stagnation, a contingent of the Portsmouth Fire Brigade proceeded to Hilsea in the early hours this morning, and engaged in the novel and interesting work of dealing with the floods.
The effect was slow, but satisfactory.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Friday 27 December, 1912
1913 Boy scouts
Todo
Proofread below.
Quote
PORTSMOUTH BOY SCOUTS.
SATURDAY’S FIELD DAY.
Meet for both sides: “Coach and Horses,” Hilsea, Saturday next, March 8th. Scouts will leave the “Coach and Horses” at 2.30. Motorists and cyclists may not leave till 3 p.m., as 2.45 is ample time for B.S.A. arrivals.
Scouts will take up positions anywhere outside the semi-circle Wymering Bridge, Fort Widley, Fort Purbrook, Farlington Church. Every Scout will be worth one point, Scoutmasters ditto.
Every individual on the B.S.A.A. side will be worth ten points; their object being to carry through a number of despatches to certain places without being intercepted by a superior number of Scouts. They may go singly or in groups, but it is important to note that only one despatch may be carried by any one group, and that the number of despatches which have to be run will be one for every individual present; and that at 4.15 any despatches left at the “Coach and Horses” will be handed over to a Scoutmaster and be considered captured. Also, whenever a group starts with a despatch, the whole group must go together to the destination of the despatch. Any despatch runner may leave his machine and journey on foot, provided that he makes no attempt to conceal the white handkerchief on his arm. He may cross any road he likes, provided he does not cross the main road, which is out of bounds for both sides. Any despatch runner may drop a passenger to carry a despatch part way on foot and pick him up again further on.
The places to which despatches are to be carried are roughly in or beyond the semi-circle made by Portchester, Purbrook and Bedhampton. On arriving at his destination each despatch runner must get someone to initial his despatch, preferably at the local post office or public house. The despatch is then immune from capture. It is to be retained and given up at the “George” (top of Portsdown) to the umpire at the close of the proceedings (4.30). His runner, having delivered his despatch, should, if time admits, go back to the “Coach and Horses” for a fresh despatch.
When a despatch runner is met by a superior force of Scouts, if he sights them within ten yards, he is at liberty to turn back and try some other route. Otherwise he is to hand his despatch over to the Scouts. No concealing of despatches is allowed. He should then return to Hilsea and get a fresh despatch.
The despatches will be in sealed envelopes, which must not be opened by anyone except the umpire. They will vary in value from 0 to 50 points.
Operations will close at 4.30. No despatch not handed to the umpire at the “George” by 4.45 will be counted. Victory will go to whichever side has most points to its credit.
Spies are allowed either side, but no puncture cards.
Special note.—Should the weather be very cold or damp the scheme may be altered so that despatches are run into Southsea. The following has also been agreed to: Should it rain continuously in Portsmouth between twelve and one on the day of any field day, then the field day will be postponed to the following Saturday (March 15th, in this case).
— Hampshire Telegraph, Friday 07 March, 1913
Note
The “play as training for war” undertones seem a lot clearer here than they were a year earlier. I have to wonder if they were expecting it, by this point.
1914, Motor mishap
Quote
MOTOR MISHAP AT HILSEA.
Milton Lady taken to Hospital.
There was a motor car accident a little distance from the “Coach and Horses,” on the road to Cosham, this afternoon, as the result of which two ladies were thrown out, and one was rather badly cut about the face.
Mrs. Kathleen Symons and Miss Kathleen Masters, of 5, Milton-road, Portsmouth, the former 61 years of age, were being driven towards Cosham, when it is understood something went wrong with the steering gear, for the car ran into the bank by the side of the road, also coming in contact with a tramcar standard.
The police motor ambulance was summoned, and conveyed the two ladies to the Royal Portsmouth Hospital. The elder (Mrs. Symons) as stated, sustained a serious cut on the side of her face, and was also suffering from shock. She was detained. Her companion was fortunately not hurt beyond being considerably shaken.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Monday 01 June, 1914
1915, For sale
Quote
FOR SALE, Contractor’s Plant, three brick carts, three sets cart horse harness, 50 navvy barrows, useful scaffolding, etc.—Apply at once, Contractor’s Yard, Hilsea, next to Coach and Horses.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Saturday 08 May, 1915
1915, Help wanted
Quote
WANTED at once. Potman.—Apply Coach and Horses London-road, Hilsea.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Saturday 22 May, 1915
1916, Pups for sale
Quote
TWO Irish Terrier Dog Pups, 9 weeks, well bred, 10s 6d.—Coach and Horses, Hilsea.
— Portsmouth Evening News, Wednesday 20 December, 1916
1917, Motorbike crash
Todo
Find source in BNA and link it
Quote
A MOTOR-CYCLE SPILL — On Sunday afternoon there was a motor-cycle accident near the “Coach and Horses” Hotel at Hilsea, in which three persons were involved. It appears that the bicycle belongs to Mr. Egbert W. Batchelor, butcher, of Arundel-street, who was seated in the side-car attached. Miss Ruby Martin, of Adames-road, Kingston, was driving the machine, and seated on the carrier behind was Mr George Colehorn, plumber, of Sydenham-terrace, Fratton. When turning at the back of the “Coach and Horses” Hotel” Miss Martin came round too sharply, with the result that the machine turned over, throwing out all the occupants. Miss Martin sustained a dislocation of the right shouldtr and a slight abrasion of the facel Mr. Butchelor also had his face slightly grazed, and Mr. Colborn escaped with shock. They were attended to at the Y.M.C.A. hut near by, and P.C. Hayott subsequently conveyed all three in the police motor ambulance to the Royal Portsmouth Hospital. Here they received attention from Dr. Pamplin, house surgeon, and afterwards they proceeded to their homes.
— Hampshire Telegraph, Friday 16 February, 1917