Adjoined the PUNCH HOUSE

One of 40 houses named as being engaged for the Reception of Freeholders for Sir John Woodhouse and Sir Edward Astley's Friends on the Day of Election, Wednesday 14th April 1784.

For Sale by Auction Tuesday, 4th May 1813. Comprising a drinking-room, parlour, kitchen, large dining or club-room, three bed rooms, two attics and two capital arched vaults or cellars. Also a small Shop adjoining. Strangely the house is described as the HALF-MOON, or CHURCH STILE, but the two are recorded separately long before and well after 1813.
On 4th August 1813 the GOLDEN KEY was For Sale by Auction and said to adjoin the HALF MOON on the Upper Side of the Market.

Mr. Amiss was in occupation Saturday 18th May 1844 when a young man named Fiske, from Sprowston, had two pots of beer at the house, but left without paying, having given a pair of boots to Mr. Amiss. The boots were said to be the property of James Futter, also of Sprowston. Fiske was discharged Monday May 20th since no felonious intent was proven.

Thomas Fish, late occupier of the HALF MOON, was charged 28th June 1850 of having received 31 lbs weight of candles, knowing them to be stolen. On March 28th 1850, Fish was still at the house when it was searched by Inspector Peck and a quantity of candles were discovered. Merchant and tallow-chandler James Hardy of St. Stephens claimed that the candles were stolen from him and identified the wrapping paper as the same as used by him, the cotton used as a wick was peculiar to his product since it consisted of thirteen threads and nobody would have retailed such a product in the wrapping paper found. (Paper was part of a badly printed Latin and Greek Lexicon). After much debate the jury returned a verdict of `Not Guilty'.

On Wednesday 24th August 1852 it was heard that on the night of Saturday 21st August several constables had to attend a great disturbance at the house, which broke out several times between the hours of eleven o'clock at night and four o'clock the following morning.
There had previously been frequent complaints about the running of the house from neighbours. Mr. Gayton had previously been warned about allowing disorderly persons to assemble at his house, by constables, several times.
Mr. Guyton paid the fine of £1 3s 6d which included costs.

Licence provisionally refused 07.02.1922 and referred to Compensation.
Closed under Compensation 06.01.1923.
Sold to Norwich Corporation for demolition.

See GOLDEN KEY