Billericay pub history index
A listing of historical public houses, Taverns, Inns, Beer Houses and Hotels in Essex.
This is the same pub as the Coach & Horses, which is also listed separately under Billericay. I have seen two theories of the Crown Taps origin, one suggesting that it was established in 1817, and the first licensee was Richard Osborn. It appears to have been so-named because it stood to the rear of the original Crown beerhouse and in Chapel street to the trear of Crown yard. It was renamed the Coach & Horses in the 1860s and rebuilt in its present form around 1928-1935. ***
Residents at this address
The Crown Tap, which is later the Coach & Horses :
Alehouse Recognizances at the Essex Record Office list licensees of the Crown Tap as Richard Osborn from 1817 to 1820; Mary Bowler (Widow) from 1821 1824; John Hammond from 1826 to 1827; John Beldham in 1828; then directories list Thomas Prigg in 1839; William Piper in 1848; Mrs. Sarah Baker in 1855 and John Thorogood in 1859 and 1862.
1828/ John Beldham/Licensee/../../Alehouse Recognizances**
1839/Thomas Dent /../../../Pigots
1845/John Orbell/Painter & Glazier/../../Home Counties*
1848/William Piper /../../../Whites
1862/John Thorogood/../../../Kellys
* Provided by Eric Orbell, who informs that John was born circa 1800 in Brandon, Norfolk and that by 1871 he was the local agent for the SPCK and the Bible Society. John died in Billericay in 1872.
** Provided by Mike Smith
*** Provided by Stephen Harris