At the East Dereham Petty Session held on Friday 8th September 1882, Mr. Edward Sparkes of Mattishall applied for the removal of the licence of the Crown & Anchor to a new building.
Mr. Sparkes stated that he had carried out the business of a wine merchant in Norwich for 30 years without complaint and that he was the owner of a building being erected at that time and it was there that he wished to relocate the Crown & Anchor. It was said that the new building was some 13 yards away from the fully licensed SWAN and 30 yards from the GEORGE, but wine could not be obtained that house, although it had the licence provision. The existing Crown & Anchor was 180 yards from the new building.
A petition signed by 74 residents, including the Vicar and the only nonconformist clergyman in the village, considered that the place had sufficient licensed houses. They they were informed that there would not be any more licensed houses in the neighbourhood and the new building would be closed at eight p.m. and have a six day licence. Mr. Sparkes wanted the license for his wine trade.
The Magistrates granted the application.

Note: Mr. Edward Sparkes is recorded as a farmer, landowner and maltster, living at Malt House Farm, Mattishall, from at least 1869 to 1896. He is also recorded as a wine & spirit merchant in the years 1877 to 1888.

(It appears that although Mr. Sparkes may have intended to carry out his wine trade at the new building, the Crown & Anchor continued trading at the old premises.  He died 16th June 1898, aged 81. See  mattishall-village.co.uk for further history of Mr. Sparkes.)

Mr Charles Pearce, owner of the Cooper Brown brewery applied at the Brewster Sessions February 1898 seeking to move the licence to new premises.
The previous owner of the Crown & Anchor, a Mr Sparkes (Reported as Clarke) had built the new house which was said by `virtually all' to be more suitable.
It was stated that the original house was selling
2 barrels of beer and 2 gallons of spirit per week.

The request to move to the new premises was refused.

Referred for Compensation 09.03.1923
licence expired 19.04.1924

House sold 1923