Original house bequeathed to Henry Towler, and his brothers and sisters, by their father in 1805.

At some time before 1750 had been known under the sign of the GREEN MAN, then the GREYHOUND before becoming the LEATHER BOTTLE.

Known as the OLD WEETING BOTTLE, the property was well known to drovers and cattle salesmen in Norfolk and adjoining counties, and had been established in the parish for more than half a century.

On Wednesday 23rd October 1844 Henry Towler appealed against the decision of the magistrates to not to grant him a licence at the previous sessions. The magistrates had refused to grant a licence owing to the disputed ownership of the house. Three or four families lived in the house, Mr. Augerstein owned four-sixths of the house, Mr. Towler one-sixth, his brother one-sixth. Those occupying the house were, Mr. Henry Towler, Mr. Challis, who had also applied for a licence and another person.
The Court upheld the decision not to award a licence.

Closed in 1844, the house stood empty and fell into decay and was ` a sight pitiable to behold'.

The late John Angerstein, Esq., of Weeting Hall had purchased four of the shareholders interests `many years since', (When Henry Towler and his siblings were minors), and in 1844 his son took joint possession and closed the house.
In 1846 Henry Towler and his brother filed a bill in the Court of Chancery, having failed to effect an amicable arrangement, whereby their shares were separated and decreed to be owned by Henry Towler and his heirs.
Towler then built a new house on the site of the old and gained a new licence at the Mundford Sessions 2nd August 1849.
M. Angerstein had, through his representative, unavailingly opposed the application and at the same time applied on behalf of a tenant, to licence a house then used as a `Tom and Jerry'. ** see below

Property sold to Arthur Morse of Swaffham Brewery in 1853. He died in 1856 and his executors sold the property to Major General Angerstein in October 1858.

As the BOTTLE 1851, 1854 & 1858


Not identified after Sale by Auction Friday 9th July 1858.