HN10/368/Sun6

Brief for the owner and licensee in the matter of the licence of the Sun Inn, Felmersham, Beds, the property of Morris & Company (Ampthill) Ltd holden at the Court House, Sharnbrook (Sharnbrook Petty Sessional Division of Bedfordshire) and drawn up by Mr. C.E. Dyer. Includes the following information: - Background to the case and the temporary refusal to renew the license: 'licensee is Mary Ann Hilton who, and her late husband, have held the license of the house for upwards of 33 years during which period not a single complaint of any description has been made as to the conduct of the house' 'a renewal of the license has been refused by the Annual Licensing Meeting on the ground that such licence is redundant and not necessary for the requirements of the neighbourhood'. - Background to the other three fully licensed houses in Felmersham and one in the neighbouring hamlet of Radwell ' The Six Ringers and the Swan both belong to Messrs Jarvis & Co. of Bedford whilst the Plough is the property of Messrs Newland & Nash. The Licensing Justices also put back the license of the Sun and the Six Ringers will come up for consideration. The Sun Inn is situated in the centre of the village at the junction of the roads leading to Milton Ernest, Carlton and Pavenham, and has better accommodation than either of the other houses It is also considered to be the best house in the village. The Water Lily Lodge of the Three Gardeners Friendly Society had its headquarters there and monthly meetings are held there, there are nearly 300 members belonging to the club as there is not another place in the village where the meetings could be held. The tenant Mrs Hilton has been a widow for about 15 years and came to the house with her late husband on her marriage 34 years ago. She is greatly respected in the village and neighbourhood and does a great deal of catering If it is considered that there are too many houses in the village why these two were chosen and not the Plough is inconceivable'. - Statement of Mary Ann Hilton ' When the club is not used for meetings I use it for dinners, tea parties, shooting parties, harvest home suppers, cricket suppers and weddings'. - Statement of George Croxton Walker, auctioneer & valuer of Bedford. (See: HN10/368/Sun3) Includes assessments of the four different licensed premises: Sun Inn: gross: 23/-/-; rateable: 18/10/-; Six Ringers: gross: 17/0/0; rateable: 13/-/-; Plough: gross: 19/-/-; rateable 14/-/-; Swan: gross: 22/-/-; rateable: 17/10/-. - Statement of Andrew Hawkins Tanqueray, director of Morris & Company (Ampthill) Ltd, brewers, the Sun Inn being the property of his company. - Statement of Charles Robinson of Felmersham, farmer ' I have lived in Felmersham all my life and consider that the Sun Inn is the best licensed house in the village and if the license is taken away it will cause a great deal of inconvenience. I am a member of the Water Lily Club which makes its headquarters the Inn. Monthly meetings are held in the club room and if the licence is taken away there is no other suitable place in the village. There is a great deal of catering done at the house - harvest home suppers, cricket and football meetings and the house is used greatly at the ram sale. - Statement of Thomas James Goodman of Felmersham, farm bailiff for H.H. Green esquire J.P 'I have been in Felmersham working for Mr Green for upwards of 21 years if the license is taken away there is no other house in the village which could be be used for the purpose'. - Statement of Arthur Pacey of Felmersham, builder.. 'I have lived in Felmersham for upwards of 12 years and have known the Sun Inn all my life I consider it the best licensed house in the village'. - Statement of Frederick Thomas of Felmersham, farmer's manager ' I consider that it is the main house in the village and is necessary for the requirements of the village'.

7 Mar 1913

From: 1913 To: 1913

item

Morris & Company (Ampthill) Limited,
Dyer, C.E.,
Jarvis & Company,
Newland & Nash,
Walker, George Croxton,
Tanqueray, Andrew Hawkins,
Robinson, Charles,
Goodman, Thomas James,
Green, H.H.,
Pacey, Arthur,
Thomas, Frederick

Felmersham Six Ringers, Felmersham Plough Inn, Radwell Swan, G.C. & Company Walker, case notes, suits, Sharnbrook Petty Sessions, Water Lily Lodge Benefit Society, Jarvis & Company, Newland & Nash, Director, farmer, farm bailiff, builder, Felmersham Sun, MILTON ERNEST, CARLTON, PAVENHAM, AMPTHILL