Alehouse Licences

The Wheatsheaf	One in the bundle of Alehouse licences for 1765

Alehouse Licences were granted at the Quarter Sessions and Rushden came under the Wellingborough Division of the County, which included Rushden. Each year they would apply for a licence and records for 1737 - 1828 survive at the Northamptonshire Record Office. There is not a full run for all dates (none for 1750-55 for Wellingborough), and before 1800 the name of the house is rarely given. The applicant would be bound by the court to run an orderly house and would also have to find another person (or two) to stand surety for them. In 1800 John Corby and John Mason stood surety for each other. Later, licencing was dealt with at the Petty Sessions held at Wellingborough Division

Here are the details for a selected sample of the years, of the Rushden applications -

In 1737 John Corby applied and was bonded for £20 and James Dyson & John Hawks of Chelveston stood surety for him in the sum of £10.

On 09 Sep 1755 John Corby applied and was bonded for £10 and William Fox of Rushden and John Ekins of Raunds stood surety for him in the sum of £5 each.
On 09 Sep 1755 Samuel Dickins applied and was bonded for £10 and Edward Green of Ringstead and Austin Prat of Raunds stood surety for him in the sum of £5 each.
On 09 Sep 1755 William Fox applied and was bonded for £10 and John Ekins of Rushden and Robert Beyer of Raunds stood surety for him in the sum of £5 each.

On 03 Sep 1765 William Fox applied and was bonded for £10 and Thomas Foster of Chelveston stood surety for him in the sum of £10.
On 03 Sep 1765 John Corby applied and was bonded for £10 and Thomas Foster of Chelveston stood surety for him in the sum of £10.
On 03 Sep 1765 William Blossom applied and was bonded for £10 and Richard Spencer & Thomas Bentley both of Irchester stood surety for him in the sum of £5 each. (see image at top of page - reproduced by kind permission of Northamptonshire Record Office)

On 22 Sep 1780 John Corby applied and was bonded for £10 and John Chamberlin of Wellingborough stood surety for him in the sum of £10.
On 22 Sep 1780 John Serjant applied and was bonded for £10 and John Chamberlin of Wellingborough stood surety for him in the sum of £10.

In 1800 John Corby applied and was bound for £10 and John Mason of Rushden stood surety for him in the sum of £10.
In 1800 John Mason applied and was bound for £10 and John Corby of Rushden stood surety for him in the sum of £10.
Unfortunately the name of the alehouse is not recorded.

In 1828 John Linnitt was at the "Wheat Sheaf" and was bound for £30, Thomas Chettle of Rushden stood surety for him in the sum of £20.
John Corby was at the "Swan" and was bound for £30, John Rye of Rushden stood surety for him in the sum of £20.
Thomas Whiting was at the "Waggon & Horses" and was bound for £30, John Rye of Rushden stood surety for him in the sum of £20.

In the 1841 Census Mary Whiting was an Inn Keeper in High Street & Samuel Corby was a Maltster in High Street.

The Petty Sessions Court at Wellingborough was responsible for the Licensing of Beerhouses and Billiard Rooms. Some were allowed to sell beer to be drunk on the premises, others for beer to be consumed off the premises. The record for 1891-95 shows these licensed premises in Rushden.
Licenced for	Owner	Licencee	Transfer to tenant or occupier	type
beerhouse	William Jones Simons of Bournemouth	William C Wills	Leonard Astles - 24 Aug 1891	off sales
beerhouse	A C B Praed	Thomas Brealey		off sales
beerhouse & sweets	Allfrey & Lovell	Frederick Eyte		on
beerhouse & sweets	Rebecca Parnell at the "Compass"	Rebecca Parnell		on
wine & sweets	Herbert Sartoris Esq	Robert Octavius Butcher		off sales
beerhouse	Emanuel Woodward	Emanuel Woodward		off sales
beerhouse	A C B Praed	Joseph Robinson		off sales
beerhouse	A C B Praed	James Bailey		off sales
beerhouse	Robinson Burton	Robinson Burton		off sales
beerhouse	W J East of Milton	Thomas Bland		off sales
beerhouse	William Chettle	William Chettle		off sales
wine, spirits & sweets	George Jordan	George Jordan		off sales
Also at this court a licence was granted for a billiard room at the Rushden Coffee Tavern - 22 Sep 1893.

Northampton Mercury 4th Oct 1873 Mr Cook on behalf of Henry Parnell asked for a transfer of the licence from Mr Martin, keeper of the “Compass” Beerhouse to be transferred to an Inn. “The house had been kept for 40 years by the late Mr Parsilow without any complaint against it and it was the wish of the principal inhabitants of the village that it should be continued and the licence revised in favour of the applicant who is son-in-law of the late landlord”.

NRO Ref: Alehouse Licences Wellingborough Division