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Original house dated from 16thC. No brewer identified on the 1845 Magistrates list of public houses. St Andrews Hall Plain 1842 - Wine, Spirit & Porter Shop Listed at St Andrews Hill 1845 & 1888. Named as the CITY ARMS SPIRIT VAULTS 1856. Offered To Let, June 1861, with Immediate possession. Apply Seaman, Grimmer & Co. On Tuesday 18th September 1862 it was heard that William Peacock had entered the City Arms the previous day, in the company of two females of loose character and asked the landlord, Mr. Widdows for change of a half sovereign. After some hesitation, Mr. Widdows had taken the coin and tested it between his teeth. The coin bent and was so considered counterfeit. The police were called and Mr. Peacock spent the night behind bars before his court appearance. During that morning, before the case was heard, Mr. Widdows had taken the coin to (a banker?) be tested. There he was advised, that the higher the quality of gold, the easier it was to bend it. His test had proved it genuine rather than false. Police sergeant Osborne said he had advised charges being made since Mr. Peacock had refused to give his name and it had been reported that he had been seen in the company of several bad characters during the night. The Deputy Mayor said that Mr. Peacock could leave the court without any imputation resting on his character and without a stain on it. For Sale by Auction June 1865. Then in the occupation of Mr. Charles Widdows as undertenant to Messrs. Grimmer. Location given as on the corner of St. Andrews Plain. The Offices attached then in occupation of Mr. Sharpe, Solicitor and Mr. Hunter, Auctioneer. The House being in occupation of Mr. Stannard, Artist. All fronting St. Andrews Hall. Charles Widdows made an application, on Monday 24th August 1891, for a music, singing and dancing licence. He desired the dancing licence for the private dancing classes taught by his daughters. The singing and music licence for the accommodation of members of three benefit societies that met at the house. He had held the licence for twenty nine years without complaint. The licence was granted but it was said that no licence was required for the dancing classes. Licence refused 22nd August 1899. It was pointed out at the August 1899 Sessions that a licence could not be renewed if the premises had substantially changed. In this case the original area of 1,163 square feet of the old City Arms had been reduced to 564 square feet. It was reported that at the Brewster Sessions held Tuesday 22nd August 1899, the licence once held for many years by Bandmaster Widdowson, was refused. A portion of the house had been demolished for the purposes of the tramway then under construction. It was proposed to rebuild the house on similar lines. At the Adjourned Annual Licensing Meeting on Friday 29th September1899 licence renewal was sought. It was heard that that the house was used by the East Anglian Piscatorial Club, the East Anglian Horticultural Club, the Norwich and Norfolk Horticultural Society and by those engaged at the Festival and at various concerts at the St. Andrew's Hall. It was largely used by the London band and the Festival Chorus and a number of Visitors stayed at the house during the Festival while travellers were also accommodated. The Tramways Company had paid £900 for the bricks and mortar and the site of unlicensed premises (From Grimmer & Co.) and £1673 for the City Arms, without licence. A total of £2,573, which was considered to be a uncommonly good bargain. In addition, the brewers, Messrs Lacon, were to receive £1,000 should the licence not be retained. During the four days that the Chorus was practising for the Festival both the City Arms and FESTIVAL HOUSE were watched. During that time, 71 people from St. Andrew's Hall used the Festival house whilst 127 went to the City Arms. The customers who went to the Festival House were said to be of a different class to those found at the City Arms. The Churchwardens advised that the City Arms had existed for hundreds of years and they had never opposed the licence. When Messrs Bullards placed a `full-blown' public house nearby, the Churchwardens made no objection. Approval given to the City Arms licence being removed to premises then being completed. Name transferred by 1901 to the site of the former CABINETMAKERS ARMS. |
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On 12th June 1861, Samuel Woolsey, a
former landlord of the CITY ARMS INN,
St. Andrew's was arrested with debts of £714 15s and credits of £57 10s 8d. He
was declared insolvent and dismissed. Mr. Woolsey has been found as licensee of
the BULL INN, Market Place from at
least 1842 to 1854 and also at the EXCHANGE
COFFEE
HOUSE, Market Place from 1845 to 1851. It seems likely that he
was at this house somewhere in the period 1854 - 1856?
The death of Charles Widdows was announced Friday 8th April 1904.
He had been `laid aside by illness for some time'.
Well known as a former bandmaster of the V.B.N.B. and a music teacher.
A member of the Royal Philharmonic Society for many years.
He possessed a Volunteer long service medal.
Age `at over 80 years.'
( In August 1899 he was reported to be `Bandmaster of the 1st Norfolk Rifle
Volunteers, the Police and of a band that he had got up by himself.')