SPREAD EAGLE - GAYWOOD

April 1987

Listed 1774

Given as Bowling Green, Gaywood Road 1836.

On the evening of Tuesday 25th February 1840, a very large waggon, with six horses, belonging to the Earl of Leicester, arrived at the Spread Eagle, on way from Holkham to the Earl's seat in Derbyshire. The load included plate, linen, servant's clothes and a great variety of valuable articles. The waggon and contents were placed in the paddock behind the public house and one of the attendants took his station in the waggon to take charge of the goods. At about midnight he came running towards the house, giving alarm of fire. The contents of the waggon were on fire. Persons arriving from the theatre and landlord Mr. Cutting endeavoured to extinguish the flames. Fortunately a pump was nearby and plenty of pails were in the brew office. Their exertions soon extinguished the fire, but not before several of the boxes, and their contents were destroyed. Much of the valuable property must have been destroyed. The greatest praise was given to Mr. Cutting. The fire believed to have started when the man guarding the waggon fell asleep, failing to extinguish the candle he had lit in a lantern. The Waggon proceeded on its journey the following day with the property rescued from the flames.

2nd April 1859 - John Haylock, late of Ely, informed his Friends that he had entered the Inn. He described the house as one of the most comfortable houses with decidedly the best Bowling Green in the neighbourhood. Facilities included excellent Stabling, Lock-up Coach houses, Covered-in Skittle Alley, Quiet Ground, &c.... *Agist supplied to Cattle Dealers; and Dinner at the shortest notice.
* Agist - take in and feed.

It was reported 23rd July 1859 that Mrs Eleanor Porter had been before the court several times as an insolvent. (First examination had taken place on 18th May 1859). She had borrowed £300 to enter into business which was doing a prosperous trade, but for some reason, the lender Mr. Laws, Liquor merchant, had one day, demanded that the cash be repaid the next day. This could not be done, "so everything was swept off under a bill of sale, which left her at the mercy of her creditors." On Wednesday 13th July 1859, Mr. Laws withdrew his opposition to the final order of insolvency, which was granted.

Transferred into Kings Lynn, Kettlewell Borough,1880

John Haylock passed through the Insolvency Court in 1859 and served six months in Cambridge gaol having paid his creditors some £200 in order to avoid a sentence of up to eighteen months. He fully repaid his creditors some time after being discharged from gaol.

In 1865 & 1875 as as well as being licensee of the SPREAD EAGLE, he is described as Mail contractor to Her Majesty's Government & by special appointment to H.R.H. the Prince of Wales.

In 1866 he had been accused by licensee John Joseph Curtis (SHOULDER of MUTTON, Kings Lynn.) of taking ten sovereigns from his purse. In consequence Haylock took action of slander against Curtis. After a lengthy hearing, with Walker, one of the witnesses for Curtis, being quoted as previously being imprisoned for fraud and the other, Gagen having been previously discharged from the employ of Haylock, the jury found in favour of Haylock.

£25 damages were awarded.