William Barnes ran the Fox and Grapes during the 1830s-40s, used mainly by the Irish community who lived in the area, this was born out by court cases such as ‘Up to a dozen Irish in the house drinking after time.” Mrs Barnes claimed they were all lodgers.
1834 Barnes assaulted Joshua Freeman who had called in the beerhouse totry and fetch his son out, the court allowed them to settle themselves
March 1836 Charles Finn, Irishman who kept a lodging house on nearby Abbey St was charged by the landlady of the Fox & Grapes with creating a disturbance and breaking some glass. Finn pleaded guilty saying it was customary on St Patricks Day to get as drunk as possible. Finn was fined 5/-. The prosecutor warned him not to get drunk again on St Patricks Day, but what he knew of Finn previously he was apt to keep up with drink on any of the other Saints day as well.
Two other cases in 1837: The first in June, when James Hill known as ‘unfortunate Jemmy’ was charged with assaulting Mr Corbett alias ‘Black Jack’. The report went on: ‘The pair with their respective parties were engaged in taking ‘the crack’ in the Fox and Goose, by way of showing their friendship for each other knocked up a fight in which Black Jack, owing to his daylights being extinguished managed to come off second best. After a shoal of witnesses, (every mothers’ son of whom were Irish) indulged the magistrates with their version of the events, the Mayor ordered Jemmy to pay 5/- fine with 5/- costs, which was so little to the liking to the latter that he shouted “ I never will pay, I’ll appeal to a higher court” much to the amusement and loud laughter from the court.’
The other case from the same year saw William Barnes, the landlord charge George Antill, an Irishman who together with his brothers were well known to the court, of assault. The landlord had reminded Antill he still owed for the eight to ten pints that he had drunk without paying. Antill appeared in court with two black eyes, declaring, ‘I never touched him – I am as meek as a lamb.’
Fined 2/6 or ten days in prison. At the same court, the Flinn’s family were discharged after promising not to drink rum again – not even on St Patrick’s Day. The Mayor asked the two younger Flinn’s if they too would behave well, the younger replying, “Oh yes your worship, if we don’t get drunk.’
Landlord Barnes was in trouble again when later in 1837 he was assaulted by two Irish men who had been refused drink as they already had had enough, Barnes was the struck with a poker and tongs, Barnes wife had her cap took off and gown torn, the police were called, on being arrested several more “of the finest pisantry” joined in a free for all, one Sampson Cartwiright rushed into the melee shouting ‘Englishmen are you going to let a policeman be murdered by the Irish’ which resulted in several more joining in, whilst a girl ran to summon more police. In Court one Irish man said he didn’t consider it a row as no limbs were broken. The magistrates after being informed that landlord Barnes wasn’t seriously injured went lenient on them fining each 5 shillings or 14 days, They all seemed highly delighted at escaping a heavier sentence and they exhibited very lively gratitude.
Licensees of the Fox and Grapes after the Barnes’ include:
c.1850 James Roberts, who was fined for unlawfully refusing to billet a recruit. c.1862 Elizabeth Read
c.1869 George King.
In 1872, the beer house was put up for sale, together with its brew house.
1876 William Barnard
1879 William Kirk
1892 Thomas Burdett
1895 Charles Cross
1900 Thomas Wilson, who was still listed as a brewer in 1906. The Fox and Grapes closed sometime shortly after.
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