Off Bedford Street and crosses Dryden Street, off Belgrave Rd. Latterly named Old Milton Street, so as not to confuse with another Milton Street. Recorded in 1839 with J. Harrison victualler.
March 1854 advert:
‘TO BE LET A small old-licensed public house, good garden and skittle alley, known by the sign of New Town Arms Milton St, incoming £80 rent £19-10 shillings per annum.’
A couple of interesting court cases. In November 1851, John Goffy, the landlord, was assaulted when Joseph Parker came in with some others. After drinking some ale, they began to vomit and urinate on the barroom floor. Goffy was forced to call for assistance from the police to help eject the men. After they were forced out, a knock came at the door. Goffy asked who it was: ‘Police’ came the reply, and on opening the door the landlord was immediately assaulted by Joseph Parker. On appearing at court Parker was also charged with assaulting another man who he threatened to ‘stick him in Belgrave Gate and make a mile post of him.’ Parker was fined 17/6 or twenty four days in prison.
In December 1858, the victualler, Robert Bindley, was charged by a PC for having his house open at quarter to five on a Sunday afternoon. Bindley and witnesses said he didn’t open the pub until St Margaret’s Church struck 5 o’ clock. The court took the view that the church clock took precedence over the PCs watch and dismissed the case.
In 1867, the pub was recorded as brewing its own ale. Bought by Thomas Salts of Burton, subsequently Bass circa 1899.
Bass offered to surrender the licence in March 1939 and remove it to the newly built Ivy Plant. This was refused, as was a renewal of the New Town Arms licence later that year. The licence was referred to compensation, which Bass surrendered in 1940.
Date unknown (photos above), but New Town Arms looks to be still occupied (curtains at windows), so may be prior that date, but it looks as though the rest of this side is awaiting demolition. The other photo shows the other side of Old Milton Street in 1964.
The photo above is from the Denis Callow collection shows opposite side (even numbers), of Old Milton Street to New Town Arms circa 1954. Some of the houses seem to be still occupied, maybe the odd numbers side was demolished much earlier.