The Warrior Arms, 3 Norman Road, St Leonards on Sea

The Piper public house on the corner of Western and Norman roads is well known. It was formerly named the Norman Hotel. Few, however, know that the adjacent 3 Norman Road was formerly a beerhouse, the Warrior Arms. Like its neighbours it has three floors, except for an additional level where a dormer window in the roof faces the road.

Its early history is mysterious. I strongly suspect that it was at first called the Mason’s Arms, to be distinguished from the beerhouse of that name which was on the High Street in Hastings old town. It was quite difficult to research and much is obscure about it.

David Russell’s Register of Licencees of Hastings and St Leonards 1500-2010 contains lists by public house, taken from the actual licences as issued annually. While it must have been a huge amount of work to compile I have noticed that it sometimes leaves out licence holders and the years cited do not always match the newspaper evidence. This source willI be referred to as Russell in this account. The sole entry by Russell for the ‘Mason’s Arms (St Leonards)’ is Alfred Tapp in 1855.

The Hastings and St Leonards News, 14 September 1855, had Tapp being before the magistrates for selling gin without a spirits license. As it was the first complaint he was only cautioned.

The same, 5 October 1855, had an advert for its sale. Free of course meant that it was not tied to a brewery.

To Publicans & Beer-House Keepers.

TO BE LET, with immediate possession, a commodious and well-arranged FREE BEER-HOUSE situate in Norman road East, St Leonards-on-Sea, and known as “THE MASON’S ARMS.”

This offers an excellent opportunity to an attentive and enterprising person, being in the immediate neighbourhood of Warrior-square, where several first-class buildings are being erected and other works going on. Coming-in moderate.

Apply to Mr PEGGE, Auctioneer, &c., Hastings.

It being close to Warrior Square would tally with 3 Norman Road. Norman Road was for many years separated into West and East portions.

The same, 1 February 1856, stated that the beerhouse was to be sold on its premises, 13 Norman Road East, on the 8 February.

In the 1861 census 13 Norman Road East was a builder’s office, preceded by no. 14 which was in turn preceded by the Norman Hotel, first for the road. This suggests that it was the current no. 5, or the Norman Hotel site was formerly two addresses (its current look is a 1930s rebuild). I cannot trace an obvious candidate for Alfred Tapp.

The first license holder for the Warrior’s Arms given by Russell is John Stancombe, for1877-82. The Hastings and Bexhill Independent, 14 August 1877, lists a license transfer of a beerhouse at 14 Norman Road from John Stancombe to John Needham, so may have about the same time moved from one beerhouse (which was a new one to me) to no. 3. The newspapers did not always record license transfers, and also searching newspapers is reliant on the search engine being able to read scanned text, which is often difficult to read anyway.

There was a macabre mention in a report on a drowning in the Hastings & St Leonards News, 29 June 1878. The inquest was held at the Warrior Arms and as was usual until the 1920s the jury had to view the corpse. In this case it must have meant a short walk. Edward Philpot, a local marble polisher, had drowned off Eversfield Place and his dying body, borne on a boat-board, had been taken to the Norman Hotel, where the landlord had refused it on the grounds that he had no room, so it was taken next door into the Warrior Arms instead.

There is a mention of a barrowman wetting his whistle in the beerhouse in the Hastings & St Leonards Times, 6 November 1880:

George Wyers was charged with having, on the 12^th inst., allowed his barrow to stand in Norman Road, St Leonards, without anyone to look after it, longer than was necessary for loading and unloading.

Defendant pleaded not guilty.

Police-constable Markwick proved that defendant’s barrow remained, without anyone to look to it, for half-an-hour on the day in question. Defendant was in the Warrior Arms.

[Question] By defendant: You were not just coming out of the Warrior Arms when I entered.

By Mr Langham: Defendant was sitting drinking in the house.

Defendant: If I have done anything wrong I am very sorry for it.

He was fined 5s and costs.

In the 1881 census at 3 Norman Road (no. 1 being inhabited by a potman) was the following household:

John Stancombe, head, M[arried], 37, publican, born Devonshire Widdcomb

Jane do, wife, M, 38, born Scotland

George B. do, son, 2, born Sussex St Leonards

Kate do, dau, 1, born Sussex St Leonards

Margaret Brodie, sister in law, S[ingle], 26, born Scotland

Laura Otowell, servant, 13, servant general, born Sussex Hastings

The couple had married on the 19 August 1877 at St Leonards church. He was of 3 Norman Road, tobacconist, son of a tailor. She was a servant, of Chute, Wiltshire, daughter of a lockkeeper. It was not unusual for a publican to have another trade, but is indeed odd. In the 1891 census he was running the Hebe Hotel in New Shoreham.

Russell cited John Vincent for 1882-88. His arrival was recorded in a rare advert for a public house, in the Hastings and St Leonards Observer, 30 December 1882. Billiards and pool were available as well as beers from Bass and Watney’s, which means that it was not a tied house.

I could not trace Vincent.

For 1888 alone Russell cites Charles Allsop. This is an unusual surname, and he is probably the man at 37 Salisbury Road, St Leonards, in the 1891 census, whose trade was a billiard marker. He was 29, born Brentwood, while his wife Clara was a dressmaker. They had married in 1883 in Greenwich when he was a waiter at the Royal Naval College. Both parties had a farmer as father.

Allsop was rapidly followed by William Davall for 1889-91. This man appears to have led a colourful life.

In 1871 at Clerkenwell William Alfred Davall had married, as a bookbinder, son of William, bookbinder, Alice Barker, the daughter of a carman. He appears as a voter at 12 Western Road in the electoral registers during 1878-89. He qualified as he owned that property. The Hastings & St Leonards Observer, 15 June 1878, had an advert for his trade there as a bookbinder and gilder, stating that he had been six years with Messrs. Daniel & Co.

Alice, his wife, died in 1879 in Hastings. His son Alfred Samuel was born at the same time.

In the 1881 census his family was at 42 Havelock Road, Hastings. He was 31, running a lodging house, born London. He had a new wife, Charlotte (although I could not trace a marriage), and two children. The Hastings & St Leonards Observer, 29 April 1882, reported on Enger, Valler & Co. v Davall. The plaintiffs were auctioneers who were claiming a £15 fee for selling the lease of the same 42 Havelock Road. Mrs Baker had paid £148 as ‘purchase money’ and was to pay £75 annually in rent. The magistrates decided that the company had not in fact been responsible for the sale, and Davall was awarded his costs.

On taking on the Warrior Arms Davall rapidly got into trouble. The London Gazette, 21 October 1890, stated that he had filed a bankruptcy petition on the 17 October 1890, giving his trades as beerhouse and billiard room keeper, bookbinder, and leather gilder. His addresses were The Warrior Arms, 3 Norman Road, and 12 Western Road.

The Hastings & St Leonards Observer, 15 November 1890, had a brief advert for the sale of the possessions at 3 Norman Road, mentioning his ‘public billiard rooms’ as well as the Warrior Inn. This comprised fixtures, fittings, utensils, billiard table and furniture, to be sold as a going concern. To me it implies that it was still a free beerhouse if he could sell so much.

He got into even more trouble as reported in the Hastings & St Leonards News, 28 November 1890. He was supposed to turn up to a hearing on his financial affairs in Hastings. On enquiring the judge was told that he had ‘absconded.’ I traced his death to Sydney, Australia in 1923. He had married there again in 1896; I do not know what happened to Charlotte.

Russell cites Thomas Goddard for 1891. He was in fact the trustee appointed to supervise the bankruptcy. He was followed in 1891 by Peter Morris.

The census on the 5 April 1891 listed this household at 3 Norman Road:

Peter Morris, head, married, 46, licensed victualler, born Sussex Guestling

Lenora Morris, wife, 52, born Sussex Heathfield

Robert Morris, son, 24, house painter, born Sussex Ewhurst

Lenora Morris, dau, 17, domestic servant, born Sussex Ore

Elizabeth Morris, dau, 14, scholar, born Sussex St Leonards

Thomas P. Morris, son, 12, scholar, born Sussex St Leonards

Frederick J. Morris, son, 9, scholar, born Sussex Rye

Morris was the son of an agricultural labourer. In the 1881 census he was a licensed victualler on Cinque Ports Street in Rye. In the 1901 census he was a carpenter, and employer, at Harold Road, Hastings.

Russell has him followed, again in 1891, by John Bowrah. I cannot trace him other than noting that in the Hastings & St Leonards News, 21 August 1891, John Bowra of 3 Norman Road applied for a billiards licence. This was granted.

For 1892-93, Russell cites Arthur Simons. The Hastings & St Leonards Observer, 27 January 1894, calls the Warrior Arms landlord Arthur Simmons. He had not paid his rates, and failed to appear at a hearing. He claimed that due to an accident he had had to keep to his bed. He was released from custody and committed for six weeks, suspended for a month.

Russell cites for 1894 Thomas Whillier. The same man, presumably, appeared in the Hastings & St Leonards News, 21 August 1891 when he applied for a license for a hotel at Bopeep, opposite the South Saxons Cricket Ground. Both Mr Hall of the Bopeep Hotel and the Rector of St Leonards opposed, and it was not granted, despite a petition in its favour. In the 1891 census at 2 Ivy Villas, St Leonards, he was a 33-year-old builder, born Portsmouth, with wife Sarah and six children. In the 1901 census he was on Queens Road, Hastings, as a carpenter.

The rapid turnover of licensees continued. Russell cites for 1894 William King, and for 1895 Arthur Keeble. The Hastings & St Leonards Advertiser, 1 August 1895, recorded a meeting at the Warrior Arms of the local Licensed Victuallers Association, with Keeble as host.

For 1896-98 Russell cites William Stretton. The Hastings & St Leonards Observer, 11 January 1896, stated that the license of the Warrior Arms had been transferred from Arthur Reginald Keeble to William Richard Stretton.

The Hastings & St Leonards Observer, 9 May 1896, had a long account of a fire which began on the Friday evening in stables in Edinburgh Mews, which was entered by an archway on Western Road, ‘just above’ the Norman Hotel. It raged for two hours, and alarmed some shopkeepers on Norman Road, who as a precaution began to evacuate their premises. Two houses were burnt out as well as stalls etc., but no one died or was seriously injured. While the Fire Brigade fought the fire, a strong detachment of police held back a watching crowd of over a thousand. We are told that

An out-building at the Warrior Arms was demolished, and the windows at the back were smashed.

Russell cites Robert Collins as licensee in 1898, and Arthur Room in 1900, followed by Henry Woolston in 1900-01. The Hastings & St Leonards Observer, 10 November 1900, reported on Woolston taking over, saying that he had been previously for three years at ‘West’s Cellars.’ From newspaper mentions he was an efficient marker in billiards.

The 31 March 1901 census had this household at 3 Norman Road:

Henry Woolston, head, M, 40, beer retailer, own account, born Herts Bishop’s Stortford

Amelia A. Woolston, wife, 40, born New Zealand Auckland

Gladys C.R. Woolston, dau, 8, born New Zealand Christchurch

Mary A.R. Barnes, serv, S, 16, born Sussex Ewhurst

Amelia was born in 1861 at Auckland. Her father, a commercial clerk (later a rates collector) who was born in Middlesex, returned to England in the late 1860s (but died in Invercargill, New Zealand in 1899). In the 1871 census the family was at Enfield, eldest of three New Zealand-born daughters. She married Henry Woolston in 1885 in Battersea. He was a licensed victualler, while she had no occupation stated.

In the 1881 census at Battersea Woolston had been an inn servant, aged 20, for his father’s beerhouse. In the 1891 census at Bow he was a licensed victualler. In 1892 they had emigrated to New Zealand, where Gladys was born at Christchurch, but had obviously returned. In the 1911 census they were at Staplehurst where Henry was a poultry farmer. They emigrated to Australia in 1922; Amelia died in Queensland in 1933, and Henry in Queensland in 1945.

The Hastings & St Leonards Observer, 15 June 1901, had much on the decorations put up to welcome soldiers back from the Boer War. The account included this statement:

The balcony of flowers at the Warrior Arms was prettily decorated with red, white and blue bunting.

For 1902-03 Russell cites Herbert Wilde. The Hastings & St Leonards Observer, 28 March 1903, has an unpleasant account of an inquest into the death of a lodger on the third floor, where the dormer is. Sidney Walters, age 32, had been employed as a porter by the Alexandra Hotel on the seafront but had been sacked for insobriety. Lillie Wild, wife of the landlord Herbert, discovered the suicide’s body in his room. He had been staying there for a week.

In 1903-04, George Miles. Then, finally, after 13 publicans since 1891, there was the final publican, Martha Horley, in 1905. A swift turnover of publicans usually means problems with keeping an orderly public house, but under Horley’s rule I found the solitary instance of trouble.

In the 1911 census at Hove Martha Horley, 61, widow, married 12 years, who had had five children, of whom four were alive, born Surrey, was a visitor to Minnie Horley. This census asked intrusive questions. She was staying with Minnie Horley, 75, widow, born Stroud, Kent, who had been married 53 years, 12 children, 7 still alive. This is probably the right Mrs Martha Horley. In the 1901 census she had been in St Pancras, living on her own means, with son Reginald.

1905 was the first year of what was called licensing reform under the Licensing Act 1904. It was felt that there were too many public houses struggling to survive, which led to vice. Licensing Justices met at the local town hall to hear evidence why a public house should be allowed to stay open, or else receive compensation if closed (and if so how much, and to whom). The money came not from taxation but from a duty imposed on all publicans, who at least benefited if some of the opposition were closed down. This law, passed by the Conservative government, was denounced by temperance advocates as a ‘brewers’ bill’ because of their compensation, and is thought by some to have helped the Liberal landslide in the 1906 General Election. Apparently the brewers grumbled as well !

The Hastings & St Leonards Observer, 4 March 1905, reported on the (rather brief, to my mind) discussion of seven St Leonards pubs, with the Warrior Arms the first such.

The Chief Constable pointed out that the Warrior Arms was a beerhouse, situate next door to a [fully] licensed house (the Norman Hotel), which did a good trade. The house belonged to Messrs. Chandler and Co., and was now under management. He also said that evidence would be given that the customers were those who were considered “undesirables” by the proprietors of other licensed houses.

Mr Lawson Lewis appeared on behalf of the owners.

According to the evidence of Superintendent Markwick, the Warrior Arms formerly did a fair trade. The trade had continued to get worse till it was “next to nothing.” People convicted of drunkenness and theft were amongst the customers.

Replying to Mr Lawson Lewis, witness said there was not a shadow of doubt that “the trade of the Warrior was now at its lowest ebb.”

Inspector Clapson generally corroborated the evidence of the Superintendent.

Asked by Mr Lewis to particularise the kind of people using the house, the Inspector replied that they were “loose and idle people, such as generally stand at street corners.”

Martha Horley (the licensee), called by Mr Lewis, produced figures relative to the business, and these were handed up to the Bench. She asserted that trade was improving every week.

Cross-examined by the Chief Constable witness said she was manageress for the brewers. She was a stranger to the place but the customers appeared to her to be respectable. She admitted she had been victimised by a customer, and had to prosecute.

Mr Lawson Lewis argued that a licensee could not be held responsible because a person convicted of an offence had been seen in the house, and urged that such a circumstance should not have weight with the Justices. He contended there was nothing to be urged against the renewal of the license which could not be fairly urged against any other existing licence in the neighbourhood.

The Hastings & St Leonards Advertiser, 22 May 1905, reported that the Warrior Arms and four other public houses in St Leonards had been referred to the Compensation Authority. It was mentioned that the Warrior Arms was open six days in the week. This meant that it did not trade on Sundays in exchange for a cheaper license.

The Hastings & St Leonards Observer, 8 July 1905, showed that Mrs Horley had initially expected to get some compensation money.

The Magistrates’ Clerk said that there was no claim in respect of the Warrior Arms. Mrs Horley had withdrawn her claim to share in the compensation, as being manager only for Chandler’s, Wiltshire Brewery, Ltd., who were entitled to compensation.

Agreements with respect to compensation were sanctioned by the Authority, the amounts to be paid being: — Warrior Arms, £500…

£500 was equivalent to about £55,000 today.

With the advert for the sale of 3 Norman Road in the South Eastern Advertiser, 29 July 1905, we at last have a good description of what it was like inside.

The sale was reported in the Hastings & St Leonards Observer, 12 August 1905. It was knocked down for £950 to John Joseph Muller of Highgate Road, London. Muller was probably a landlord rather than intending to live there.

On the 5 October 1906 the Council approved planning application DH/C/6/1/7497, ‘Alterations.’ I have not seen it at The Keep, Falmer.

The remainder of this post will briefly summarise some of the later occupants, including an important photographer.

In the 1911 census, 3 Norman Road was said to have eight rooms in all. The first household had six rooms:

Stephen Pierce, head, married, 68, picture frame maker and artists colorman, employer, home, born Sussex Hastings

Louisa Pierce, wife, married, 50, born London Finsbury Park

Stephen Rowland Pierce, son, 14, pupil to architect and surveyor, born Sussex Hastings

In one room:

Jane Cressingham, head, 70, S, retired lady’s maid, born Sussex Framfield

In one room:

Grace Silver, head, 44, S, nursery governess (disengaged), born London Chelsea

On the 6 September 1912 DH/C/6/1/8192, again ‘Alterations’, was ‘disapproved.’ A revised application was passed on the 1 November 1912, DH/C/6/1/8209. On the 5 November 1915 DH/C/6/1/8461, ‘Additions’, was passed.

In the 1921 census there was a single household of nine persons in seven rooms:

Croyle, Angus Norman, head, married, 49, born Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, photographer & photo materials dealer, tobacconist, at home

Croyle, Matilda, wife, 40, born Fairlight, Ore, Sussex, photographer’s assistant, Croyle Photographic

plus five children, all born St Leonards, and two servants

Croyle is widely considered second only to Fred Judge as a local photographer. Addenda: the present occupant has told me that the name the Lanternist comes from Croyle. He would hire himself out to public venues with a magic lantern to display his photography.

In the 1881 census at Sydenham, Kent his father was a retired banker at just age 43. He married in 1898, St Paul’s church, St Leonards, Matilda Freeland, when he was of 56 Warrior Square. In the 1901 census they were at 9 East Ascent, and in the 1911 census at 11 Norman Road. The ‘at home’ above means he ran his business from home and so there was a shop. However, 3 Norman Road appears to have been his main shop. Many examples of his work are on the Internet, including local scenes. His firm specialised in rapidly making postcards of, for example, weather events such as lightning storms. He died in 1950 at 87 Sedlescombe Road North.

On the 30 September 1939 there was the ‘Register’, a list in street order of all civilians in the UK compiled for rationing purposes. There were two households.

Court Lewis [born] 21 Sept 72, M[arried], maker & seller of wooden domestic & garden articles

Court Marion 31 July 77, M, unpaid household duties

Cuddington Flora 18 July 72, S[ingle], paid household duties

Glazbrook Edward M.S. 6 July 86, S, pianist retired musical qualified

[new household]

Stacey Hugh V. 8 Mar 84, S, general clerk electrical engineer

On the 17 May 1954 there was another application, DH/C/40/54/255, ‘Shop front’. There was a further similar application in 1962.