Photo of map above showing both the Britannia and Marquis of Granby. Everards Brewery – that stood opposite – owned the Britannia in its later days. Prior it seems that it was owned by John Bell & Co, who also owned the nearby Marquis of Granby Everards surrendered the licence for a new beer house off on Paget Street on the 5th of April 1912.
Thomas Farrer was victualler in 1815, Joseph Garner in the 1820s-30. 1840’s Wm Orton to Thomas Hallam 1848. In the 1850s, it was run by John Yates whose widow, Mary took over on his death in 1857. One Mr Spencer was recorded in 1865 as occupier.
1873, the Britannia was auctioned by Tarratts. Accommodation including spacious vaults, 22×12 ft with plate glass window, handsomely fitted smoke room, tap, parlour, capital kitchen and large clubroom. Joseph Flavell became licensee.
The pub was put up for sale again in 1877.
By February 1878, Ellen Faulks had purchased the pub. She proposed to make extensive changes, so auctioned off the brewing plant, f&f etc. and equipped the pub with new fittings. It didn’t last long as within a year she went into liquidation so the pub was again on the market complete with its new refurbishment.
The new owner seemed to be Joseph Willars, and he also became licensee. he was also overseer of the parish. Alf Tilley later took over the reigns at around this time Everards bought the freehold. The court records show from here until its closure the Britannia’s landlords were: 1894, Edward Lander. A schoolboy John Shears in 1898 who lived in Castle St stole 8/6 from the pub after bringing an empty bottle back, due to his tender years the magistrates decided to bound his father over. Edward died 1906, then in 1906, Lizzie Lander held the licence. 1907, Charles —–?; 1910, Ernest Preston and 1912, Fred Preston, until it closed.
The Britannia suffered the same fate as nearby Marquis of Granby of demolition to eventually make way for a knitwear factory, to be known as Heritage House
Finally closed on April 5th 1912.