Billericay pub history index
A listing of historical public houses, Taverns, Inns, Beer Houses and Hotels in Essex.
The Crown has the most history and the longest running of the pubs and Inns in Billericay. The Crown was in existence as mentioned in the rental of 1563, along with the Swan and George; and occupied the site later occupied by Laylands main shop in 1962. It was still there in 1593, but then moved to the site occupied by Clarkes the Butchers, in 1962, and adjacent properties.
The old Crown Archway is still in existence on this site, as are the stables and outbuildings, which extend on either side of the Crown yard, now a short cut to Chapel street.
In 1761 there is a record of men from Essex and Kent playing cricket here; and the Chelmsford Chronicle of August 1771 discusses a match between Temple Mills, in Essex and men from the same county, for £20.
In 1769 the licensees were Elizabeth Hirst; and then Aaron Mobbs, in 1772.
The Crown was also favoured for business lunches; and the Chelmsford Chronicle of February 1787 records when Mrs Birch of Northfleet entertains at the Annual Lime Feast at the Crown, in Billericay, on Shrove Tuesday.
The Crown was a typical coaching Inn, and had its most prosperous times between 1800 and 1840. Two coaches left every day to London, and two to Rochford and Southend, plus a weekly service to Chelmsford.
Patrons were able to sample water cress from its own water cress beds in Chapel street, and also pure water pumped from its own wells. For stronger refreshment, the Crown had its own brewery, in Crown Yard. There was a ballroom for entertainment, and for driving around town, you could hire a horse and gig.
The Crown was also the posting office and the excise office. To ensure the guests their privacy, a Crown Tap was opened for the employess and locals of the town. This later became the Coach and Horses, at the lower end of the Yard. There was also a malt house and a counting house, wine vaults, store rooms and stables.
The Crown was also the meeting place for many town organisations, with an Assembly Room standing on the site of the Council Chamber until 1831, when it was demolished to make way for the present building (1962). The Inn was so prosperous it was thought it would never close, but then along came the opening of the Eastern Counties Railway in 1889 and there was a sharp decline in coaching, with an attempt to add new coaches to run to connect with trains at Brentwood, but this also doomed to failure.
The Crown struggled on for some years, and is last mentioned in 1859, and shortly afterwards it closed its door for ever. BUT, the name continued as it was used for a beerhouse on the site of Stanwoods (1962.), and here it remained until the 1880s when it was transferred to the current site. On the 1st January 1889, the first passenger train ran to Billericay, and the proprietors of the Crown, who were hoping to get some trade from this, opened the typically Victorian public house that still stands today by the station.
This seems to have started as the Crown Beerhouse at 123-126 High Street, in the early years of the 19th century.
In around 1890 a full licence was obtained and the pub moved to the newly built No. 2 High Street to become the Crown Hotel. The original premises survived in retail use until 1963, when they were demolished. The Crown still survives, although Hotel has been dropped from its title.
Crown, High Street, Billericay - in 1936
Crown, High Street, Billericay
Crown (Hotel), 2 High Street, Billericay, Essex in May 2008
Kindly provided by Stephen Harris
Residents at this address
Some early owners of the Crown are John Hamper in 1615; Pinkerton in 1706; John Hurst in 1765; In 1835 to 1840, is William Low, George Nottage, & Capt. Brown.
Alehouse Recognizances held by the Essex Record Office list Licensees as John Hurst in 1765; Elizabeth Hoist from 1769 to 1770; Aaron Mobbs between 1772 and 1785; Sarah Mobbs in 1786; George Gray from 1787 to 1791; Matthias Moul from 1792 to 1800; John Coultas in 1801; Ann Coultas in 1802 and 1803; John Fairchild in 1804; then James Osborne from 1805 to 1810; and John Goodman from 1811 1827; William Moore Junior is here in 1828,
By the 1839 Pigots directory we have William Rolph & William Whale, and in 1848; Barry Charles Moody, 1859. (All the preceding information applies to the period when the "Crown" occupied the site now Clarke's Butchers etc.)
George Perkins is here in 1890; Edward Hardy, in 1895; Samuel W. Stowers in 1899, 1902; William Finden in 1906 and 1908; and Charles E.Bessostry in 1912 and 1914.
The licensee in 1769 was recorded on the Alehouse Recognizances as Elizabeth Hirst, at the Crown.
The licensee in 1772 was recorded on the Alehouse Recognizances as Aaron Mobbs, at the Crown.
The licensee in 1806 was recorded on the Alehouse Recognizances as James Osborn, at the Crown.
1823-4/John Goodman/Post & Excise Officer/../../Pigots
1828/William More Jun./Licensee/../../Alehouse Recognizances*
1828-9/John Goodman/../../../Pigots
1839/William Whale/Horse & Gig Owner/../../Pigots
1845/William Rolph/../../../Post Office
1845/William Rolph/../../../Post Office
1848/William Rolph/../../../Whites
1851/William Rolph/Brewer/../../Post Office
1851/Sarah Baker/widow, licensed victualler/44/Billericay, Essex/Census ***
1851/Mahala Baker/daughter, dressmaker/17/Billericay, Essex/Census
1851/William Catt/lodger, blacksmith/49/Swilland, Suffolk/Census
1851/Mary A Catt/lodger, his wife/45/Alphamstone, Essex/Census
1851/Charles Catt/their son/16/Billericay, Essex/Census
1851/Harry Catt/their son/14/Springfield, Essex/Census
1851/Samuel Catt/their son/12/Chelmsford, Essex/Census
1851/James Catt/their son/07/Chelmsford, Essex/Census
1855/Mrs. S. Baker/../../../Kellys**
1881/George Perkins/Beer Retailer/29/Great Waltham, Essex/Census
1881/Elizabeth Perkins/Wife/30/British Subject, France/Census
1882/George Perkins/Beer Retailer/../../Kellys
1886/George Perkins/Beer Retailer/../../Kellys
Note: Premises not named between 1881 & 1886
1894/George Perkins/Wine & Spirit Merchant/../../Kellys
1895/George Perkins/../../../Kellys
1898/Edward Hardey/../../../Kellys
1899/Edward Hardey/../../../Kellys
1901/Samuel W Stowers/Licensed Victualler/31/Burnham, Essex/Census
1901/Emily Stowers/Wife/31/Southminster, Essex/Census
1901/Walter H Stowers/Son/5/Bradwell on Sea, Essex/Census
1901/William C Stowers/Son/4/Bradwell on Sea, Essex/Census
1901/Harriett Halls/General Servant/15/Billericay, Essex/Census
1901/Geo Archibald Brown/Groom/32/Witham, Essex/Census
1902/Samuel W Stowers/../../../Kellys
1908/William Rodwell Finden/Jobmaster/../../Kellys
1911/Charles Edward Bescoby/Jobmaster/41/Romford, Essex/Census
1911/Edith Margueritte Bescoby/Wife, Licensed Victualler/31/Caterham Valley, Surrey/Census
1911/Dudley William Finden/Stepson/1/Billericay, Essex/Census
1911/Alfred Sadler/Father in Law, Former Licensed Victualler/69/Heybridge, Essex/Census
1911/Constance Eileen Long/Barmaid/21/London, Middlesex/Census
1911/Agnes Kathleen Williams/Barmaid/18/London/Census
1912/Charles Edward Bescoby/Jobmaster/../../Kellys
1917/Frederick James Hawkins/../../../Kellys
1925/Mrs. M. Taylor/../../../Kellys
1929 - 1963/F G Potter/../../../Freehold
1933/Frederick George Potter/Manager/../../Kellys
1937/Frederick George Potter/Manager/../../Kellys
In 1939 at The Crown Hotel are
Frederick George Potter, a Licensed Victualler, born 12th January 1890
Carmen L Potter, born 11th July 1906
Letitia C Peowrie, Widow, born 2nd July 1866
May 1964/K G Beer/../../../Freehold
* Provided by Mike Smith
** Provided
by the Pubs, Inns and Taverns Index for England, 1801-1900
*** Provided by John Mead
Provided by Stephen Harris