Bocking pub history index
The Cardinals Cap was in business before the mid-16th century and ceased trading when the site was redeveloped in 1855.
In 1622 John Luffkyn leaves his house in Bocking, the Cardinal’s Cap, to his wife Joanne then to his grandson Lawrence Palmer. The Public Record Office has a Court Roll from the 15th century which refers to “le Cardynales”. A Session Roll from 1624 refers to “the messuage there called by the name of the ‘Cardinall’s Hatt’ and hath been for above three score years (i.e. before 1564) accounted an inn and entertained travelers as well as horsemen and horses.”
In 1692 the inn called the Cardinalls Capp was occupied by Richard Wortham, who was named as a landlord in Session rolls of 1681 and 1685, and sold by Lawrence Palmer to William Osborne. In 1714 the tenement called the Cardinalls Cap conveyed to Jane Pye. The will of Jane Pye in 1722 bequeaths the Cardinalls Capp to her nephew John Roberts.
In 1756 William Roberts bequeaths the Cardinals Cap to wife Elizabeth. A deed of 1783 refers to the Cardinals Cap as a public house, later a baker’s shop and a tenement formerly a smith’s forge. William Osborne the younger sold the Cardianl’s Cap in 1783 to a Braintree baker William Low who died in 1828 leaving the premises to his wife Mary for life and then to be sold.
By the 1784 Alehouse Recognizances, Mrs. Jane Smith was the victualler at the Cardinals Cap, the Widow of Samuel Smith. In 1806 Abraham Mortier was the publican at the Cardinal’s Cap until his death in 1835. In the tithe record of 1838 the premises were owned by Oliver Gosling and occupied by John Markham, in 1841 the occupant was Stephenson Louth, by 1848 James Digby was the publican until 1855 when it was sold and redeveloped.
A listing of historical public houses, Taverns, Inns, Beer Houses and Hotels in Essex.
Residents at this address
The licensee in 1769 was recorded on the Alehouse Recognizances as Samuel Smith, at the Cardinals Cap.
The licensee in 1772 was recorded on the Alehouse Recognizances as Samuel Smith, at the Cardinals Cap.
The licensee in 1776 was recorded on the Alehouse Recognizances as Samuel Smith, at the Cardinals Cap.
The licensee in 1784 was recorded on the Alehouse Recognizances as Jane Smith, at the Cardinals Cap.
The licensee in 1792 was recorded on the Alehouse Recognizances as Jane Smith Widow, at the Cardinals Cap.
1793/Mrs. Smith/Victualler/../../Census
The licensee in 1806 was recorded on the Alehouse Recognizances as Abraham Mortier Junior, at the Cardinals Cap.
The licensee in 1816 was recorded on the Alehouse Recognizances as Abraham Mortier, at the Cardinals Cap.
The licensee in 1825 was recorded on the Alehouse Recognizances as Abraham Mortier, at the Cardinals Cap.
1828-9/Abraham Mortier/../../../Pigots
1832-3/Abraham Mortier/../../../Pigots
1839/John Markham/../../../Pigots
1840/John Markham/../../../Pigots*
1848/James Digby/../../../Whites
1851/James Digby/Miller/../../Post Office
1851/James Digby/miller and publican/60/Halstead, Essex/Census **
1851/Elizabeth Digby/wife/54/Twinstead, Essex/Census
1851/James Digby/son, fruiterer/27/Tollesbury, Essex/Census
1851/Charles Digby/son, miller and baker/23/Halstead, Essex/Census
1851/Alfred Digby/son, miller/18/Halstead, Essex/Census
1851/Robert Digby/son, scholar/14/Pebmarsh, Essex/Census
1851/Mariann Carter/house servant/34/Coggeshall, Essex/Census
1851/Thomas French/lodger, miller/55/Wixoe, Suffolk/Census
1852/J. Digby/../../../Kellys*
* Provided by the Pubs, Inns and Taverns Index for England, 1801-1900
** Provided by John mead