Great Coggeshall pub history index
Residents at this address
The BIRD-IN-HAND was formerly called the Through Inn, possibly from the fact that there was a right of passage through the house from East Street to Church Street.
As a curious coincidence it may be mentioned that a few years back the name of the tenant of the Bird-in-Hand was Joseph Bird, and that of the owner Richard Bird Holmes. This ornithological sign in this town dates back at least 160 years. A reference to p. 193 will show that it was from this house that one of the last processions of weavers set out in the year 1791, just a century ago. The sign-board formerly had on it a hand holding a bird recalling the proverb :
"A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."
The premises belonged at the time of the dissolution to the Abbot and Convent of Coggeshall.
The house, now four cottages, immediately opposite the Bird-in-Hand, has been known at different times as the BLUE HOUSE and the GEORGE. The upper floor formerly projected, but a brick front was a few years ago introduced to the lower floor, on the top of which can still be seen the carved wooden beam or frieze with the date 1585.
Next to the Bird-in-Hand is a house which, in 1731, was called RICES, but about a century later converted into an Inn called the NEW BIRD-IN-HAND. On the opposite side of the road were houses called STAFFORDS, BURDENS and the DYEHOUSE. (History of Coggeshall to 1884 by George Fred Beaumont )
The licensee in 1769 was recorded on the Alehouse Recognizances as John Gilson, at the Bird in Hand, Great Coggeshall.
The licensee in 1792 was recorded on the Alehouse Recognizances as Robert Alliston, at the Bird in Hand, Great Coggeshall.
The licensee in 1806 and 1810 was recorded on the Alehouse Recognizances as Abraham Tyler, at the Bird in Hand, Great Coggeshall.
The licensee in 1816 was recorded on the Alehouse Recognizances as Abraham Tyler, at the Bird in Hand.
1822/Abraham Tyler/../../../Pigots*
1823-4/Abraham Tyler/../../../Pigots
The licensee in 1825 was recorded on the Alehouse Recognizances as Abraham Tyler, at the Bird in Hand.
1828-9/Abraham Tyler/../../../Pigots
1832-3/Ebenezer Bennett/../../../Pigots
1839/Ebenezer Bennett/../../../Pigots
1840/Ebenezer Bennett/../../../Pigots*
1845/Henry Cook/../../../Post Office
1848/James Sibley Emberson/../../../Whites
1851/James Sibley Emberson/../../../Post Office
1851/James S Emberson/innkeeper/33/Woodham Ferrers, Essex/Census **
1851/Sarah Emberson/sister, housekeeper/34/Woodham Ferrers, Essex/Census
1851/Ann Dean/visitor, annuitant/40/Southminster, Essex/Census
1851/Elizabeth Dean/visitor, annuitant/35/Southminster, Essex/Census
1851/Rebecca Frost/general servant/15/Wakes Colne, Essex/Census
1851/George Juniper/ostler/32/Southminster, Essex/Census
1852/James Sibley Emberson/../../../Kellys*
1855/J S Emberson/../../../Post Office
1862/Joseph Lawrence/../../../Kellys
1867/William Leaper/Brewer, Bird in Hand Brewery/../../Post Office
1870/William Leaper/Brewer, Bird in Hand Brewery/../../Kellys
1871/William Leaper/Brewer, Bird in Hand Brewery/../../Post Office
1874/William Leaper/Brewer & Wine & Spirit Merchant, Bird in Hand
Brewery/../../Kellys
1878/William Leaper/Brewer & Wine & Spirit Merchant, Bird in Hand
Brewery/../../Kellys
1881/Joseph Bird/Innkeeper/44/Whelnothians, Suffolk/Census
1881/Sarah J. Bird/Wife/42/Whelnothians, Suffolk/Census
1882/Richard Messer Holmes/../../../Kellys
1882/Joseph Bird/Manager/../../Kellys
1886/Oliver Shuttleworth/../../../Kellys
1890/Robert Heading/../../../Kellys
1891/Thomas Cussingham/Licensed Victualler/40/St. Hellier, Jersey/Census
1891/Maria Cussingham/Wife/40/Colchester, Essex/Census
1891/Catherine Cussingham/Daughter, Barmaid/21/Colchester, Essex/Census
1891/Jane Cussingham/Daughter/14/?/Census
1891/Barnard Cussingham/Son/11/Reading, Berks/Census
1891/Maria Cussingham/Daughter/8/Reading, Berks/Census
1894/Steward Goodwin Gooch/Coal & Coke Merchant/../../Kellys
1895/Steward Goodwin Gooch/../../../Kellys
1898/John Anness/../../../Kellys
1899/John Anness/../../../Kellys
1901/John C. Anness/Publican/29/Wilby, Suffolk/Census
1901/Florence Anness/Wife/29/Cork, Ireland/Census
1901/Ethel Violet Anness/Daughter/7/Shalford St. Mary, Suffolk/Census
1901/Herbert Henry Anness/Son/3/Coggeshall, Essex/Census
1901/Kate Smith/General Servant/15/Coggeshall, Essex/Census
Note: Premises not named in 1901
1902/John Charles Anness/../../../Kellys
* Provided
by the Pubs, Inns and Taverns Index for England, 1801-1900
** Provided by John Mead