The Oddfellows Arms was first located in no. 13 Yeoman Street, which was then moved to no. 25.
In 1840, John Day was licensee, a cabinet maker by trade. In September 1842, Day fined 10/- for after hours drinking – his first offence. In April 1843, Day was charged with allowing gaming in his beerhouse. John Day had been out, on returning found some men playing ‘all fours’ card game. The landlord reprimanded them, particularly Cornelius Goodrich who was smoking over the bagatelle table. As Goodrich persisted in his behaviour John Day pulled him away and put him out. Goodrich then claimed compensation for the tear in his coat. That was dismissed but Day was found guilty of allowing gaming and again fined 10/-.
In July 1843, John Day was assaulted by two customers but he failed to turn up in court. By 1845, Day had moved to Albion Hill to carry on his cabinet making. Elizabeth Potter was now in charge of the Oddfellows.
In early 1850, Elizabeth and Thomas Wicks started a family interest that was to last fifty years. Thomas died in 1861 – leaving Elizabeth with four children – but Elizabeth was to remarry, this time to George Cummings in 1865.
They stayed together at the Oddfellows until Elizabeth’s death in 1898. Elizabeth Cummings was buried with her former husband, Thomas Wicks, in Welford Rd cemetery. Also buried in the same plot was a nine month old boy, Thomas, the son of Elizabeth and Thomas Wicks (1854), and their daughter Mary Ann Wicks, aged two years seven months. She died in 1863, and must have been conceived just prior to her father’s death.
Around Elizabeth’s death in 1898, the Oddfellows was purchased by LBM Brewery. George Cummings, Elizabeth’s second husband, died aged about seventy five in 1904.
The death of George Cummings heralded the final days of the Oddfellows. Edward Onions had taken over prior to Cummings’ death.
In 1906, the licence justices referred The Oddfellows to the compensation board for refusal of the renewal of its licence.
There were objections to its closure. One Mr Clifford objected that the committee should sit in judgement on the decision as the pub was situated near the wholesale market. Ind Coope, now the owners, offered to rebuild the premises, admitting it was in a dilapidated state. One regular said he would miss the pub as his house was in the same yard entrance.
That capped it for the committee as one of their rulings now was no pubs should have the same entrance as their neighbours. The licence was thus refused in April 1906. Ind Coope received £779 in compensation and the tenant £140
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