May 1998

c1936

29th January 1791 - John Thompson offered a Reward of Ten Guineas and all reasonable charges for recovery of, or information on, a Leather Bag containing several Letters and Accounts of Consequence which had been lost between Watton and Hingham on Friday 14th January 1791.
Mr. Thompson, at the Kings Arms, Watton, described as "Watton, Shipdham and Swaffham Carrier."
By 19th February 1791 the reward was Twenty Guineas.
A list of twenty serial numbers of mostly £10 notes (One of £50) was published that day. (Total value £236 11s 3d)
On 14th May 1791 the bag and contents were still missing and a request made that the cashing of any of the notes to be immediately reported.

Licensee Henry Clark was recorded as an Insolvent Debtor, February 1832. His occupation given as late Tailor and Publican, and licensed to Let Horses and Gigs.

Rent in May 1837 was £15 per annum.


Mr. J. Wortley distributed his annual gift of tea, etc., to 24 widows during the last week of December 1866.

Said to have been rebuilt in 1923.

As the representative of the Watton and District Licensed Victuallers' Association, Edward Lovewell applied to the magistrates on Friday 10th March 1939, for an extension, for all Watton Houses, from 10 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. during June , July, August and September.
With the light evenings, men were busy working in their gardens, allotments, haysel <sic> and corn harvests. Such extensions had been granted in 21 divisions and boroughs in Norfolk.
The local churches all opposed the proposal and said that if civilians wanted a late drink they could take home a bottle. The existence of an aerodrome within the area was a definite reason for being against the application.
Application refused.