Liquor Merchant John Aldous of Harleston married Miss Gedney of
Mendham, May 1816.
All those persons indebted to the firm of James and John Aldous, Wine
and Spirituous Liquor Merchants were requested to settle their
debts immediately - 19th January 1831.
8th June 1831 - The Brewing utensils including coppers, underbeck,
barrels, dray and assorted requisites were to be Sold by Auction since
Mr. John Aldous was declining the Trade.
See the
TROWEL & HAMMER
which apparently formed part of the same premises, a beerhouseen
offered for sale, Wednesday, 31st May 1843. The property of John
Aldous.
Offered for sale 27th October 1854.
Well-frequented.
Standing at the entrance of the town from Bungay, and near the
proposed site of the Railway Station.
Licence register from 1932 only has premises recorded as
`Spirit & Wine OFF Licence, formerly the GRAPES, late EVERSONS'
~
At the Petty Sessions held in Harleston on Friday 14th February 1907 it was
heard that customer James Ringer of Starston was charged with stealing £1 from the
Bar during the evening of 1st February 1907. Eventually it was accepted that
the money had been taken in error and Ringer was bound over for six months
and ordered to pay costs of £1/1s.
Given as one of the only two free houses in town, Friday 5th March 1908.
Licence referred at the Adjourned Licensing meeting held Friday 26th
February 1909. It was said that the Two Brewers and Duke William were within
100 yards, The Queens Arms and Cardinals Hat were within 200 yards and the
Swan, Railway Tavern, Hope and Green Dragon were within 300 yards. The
customers were mainly working men whilst the women customers were above
average. The accommodation was up to average but there was none for women.
There was no provision for supplying eatables and no accommodation for
horses or carriages. Mr. Everson was only at home in the evenings. Mr.
Henshaw being generally in charge as a manager.
In support of licence renewal it was said that Mr. Everson and his family
had carried on at the house for over 100 years. The only complaint was the
current one of being redundant to the needs of Harleston. The business did
not rely upon Harleston but mostly from customers from the country. The
place, including a wholesale wine and spirit merchant's business was managed
properly. It would be an act of cruelty to take away the licence since there
was a big business being done, in fact larger than in the majority of the
other houses.
Licence refused at Compensation Authority meetings of
21st and 23rd June 1909.
It was considered to be an alehouse, licensed for 6
days only with opening hours of 8:00am to 8:00pm Monday to Friday and up to
10:00pm on Saturday.
Owned and run by John A. Everson.
Registered
conditions were that it must remain closed during the whole of Sunday and
close 1 hour earlier at night.
Monday 9th February 1931 - Mr. Charles Clifford Bussey, wine merchant
at the
premises formerly known as the Grapes, applied for a licence to sell
cider, for consumption off the premises, in quantities of less than
4½ gallons or 4 dozen reputed pints, as was allowed under his existing
licence.
The police pointed out that although they had no objection to the sale
of single bottles by retail, the full licence of the Grapes had been
removed after hearings at Court and eventually Somerset House, at a
cost in excess of £3,000.
The Bench decided there was no real need, and dismissed the
application.
