Chatham Street.
Quite a large area for a side street beerhouse.
In 1820, William Holmes kept an Elephant & Castle (no address given), but by1827 Joseph Morrell was running the Elephant & Castle in York Street. By 1828, it was managed by Charles Goodfellow.
William Webster ran the Elephant & Castle with his wife in 1840. They presided over- what was deemed an ‘unruly house’ with many youngsters using the beerhouse. When Webster tried to transfer his licence to the Dun Cow in Knighton circa 1843, the licensing authorities turned down his application due to the way he had run the Elephant & Castle.
This included a prize fight between Richard Noon and William Butt, arranged in the Elephant & Castle, and to be fought at the Saffron Lane cock-pit (a popular venue for such fights). Over 100 people attended but the fight was interrupted by the police. The crowd dispersed, with Noon and Butt being charged. The precise part played by William Webster was unclear but it was sufficient for the authorities to refuse his licence renewal.
After Webster’s controversial tenure, matters seemed to calm down with the arrival of Jonathan Warner. He entertained seventy people for dinner on the formation of a new lodge.
Completing the licensees list: Miles Sawbridge, circa 1850. Thomas Mayes, circa 1853. Henry Turner, circa1864. Joseph Headly, circa1870. William Toone, circa 1874.
Charles Ward followed in 1879. In November 1882, Ward was charged with encouraging drunkenness. When a PC entered the Elephant & Castle, he found Ward pretending to play a violin with a poker, egging on a customer to dance until he went sprawling across a table. Ward was fined £2, or one month’s imprisonment.
George Seal, circa 1888. Sarah Seal on George’s death. Joseph Billing, circa1892. SAmuel —–1894. Ann Ward 1894. William Hartopp, 1890.
An inquest was held at the Elephant & Castle on Tom Carnell (January 1890), who decided to commit suicide by swallowing some rat poison.
John Clarke, 1906. Finally there was Thomas Ford in 1914, when the licence was refused and referred to compensation.
Ind Coope awarded £1056 in compensation Tom Ford the tenant £250.
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