The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-10-04 00:00:00

ADJOURNED LICENSING DAY.

Tuesday last was the day appointed for the
adjourned liceasuig day ; the magistrates present
were—Major Fletcher, R. L. Freer, H. 0. Firm-
and W. C. Firmstone.

The following licenses were granted :—John
Bridgwater, grocer, Craclley, to sell spirits and
wines on the premises; John Stevens, grocer,
CrsAlley, to sell sweet wines ; S. Field, Stourbridge,
to sell sweet wines; Richard Harper, Craclley,
beerhouse-keeper, to sell spirits.
William Farmer, Belbroughton, applied for a
spirit license, and was supported by Mr. Perry,
and opposed by Mr. Collis, on behalf of Mrs. Bate,
owner, and Mr. Fox, landlord of the Talbot, who
said that the notice was bad.—Mr. King said
technically the license was not a transfer, but a
removal.—Mr. Collis contended that the notice
was bad, inasmuch as the applicant had not stated
his trade and occupation. This objection was
aver-ruled as the Bench did not consider the
Application was for a transfer; but for a removal.
opplieant then proved that he formerly kept the
Queen's Head, but gave it up to be pulled down
for the erection of schools. He had built suitable
premises which were rated at £l7 per year. The
house contained six bedrooms, with every other
convenience, good stabling and Icoach-house. Mr.
B. Wooldridge proved the plan of the premises,
which he said was correct. This being the case,
Mr. Collis said that he should call witnesses to
prove that there was no necessity for another
public-house, there was already a large house
which was suitable for every accommodation.
That the population had decreased, and the grant-
ing of the license would materially effect the
business of the Talbot. Mr. Fox, landlord of the
Talbot, said he had lived at the Talbot for 18
years, and pays £47 per year. There were four

old licensed houses in the parish, but only two in
the village. Have stabling for 15 or 16 horses, 7
bed rooms, anda large club room. There are also
four heerhouses in the parish.—The application '
was granted.
William Tait, beerhouae-keeper, applied for a
spirit license. Mr. Homfray, supported the
application, and said that applicant kept the
Crown Inn; large mines had recently been opened
in the district and more accommodation was re-
quired. There was no house very near, and when 1
persons wanted any spirits they could not be had. '
here was also an increase of population and two
houses had given up old licenses.—Mr. Perry ap-
peared on behalf of Mr. Hughes, landlord of the
Holly Bush, to oppose. The Bench considered
there was sufficient accommodation, and refused
the application.
Edward Hawkswood, of the Hayes, applied for
a six days' spirit license, and was supported by
Mr. Homfray. Mi. Collis appeared to oppose on
behalf of William Morgan, who he said lived
nearly opposite, and was also applying for an old
license. Mr. Perry also opposed. Mr. Homfray
said good accommodation was required as there
was not a respectable house along the road from
Stourbridge to Halesowen. There were plenty of
small public-houses, but not fit for a gentleman
or a mining agentto put up his horse. As regards
I the house of Morgan, who was applying for a
I license, it was not to be compared with the house
he was applying for a license. Mr. Whitton, sur-
veyor, was called, and said there was plenty of
accommodation including up and down stairs, and
stabling for three horses. Cross-examined by Mr.
Perry Witness admitted there were a number of
other public-houses within a short distance.—
Thomas Attwood, landlord of the house, said that
he built the house for a public-house and that it
would not let for a private house, and that there
was a great want of further accommodation. If a
gentleman wanted a glass of wine he could not
get it without going to Stourbridge. Cross-ex-
amined by Mr. Perry Witness said the applicant
was the tenant; but he had agreed with him not
to charge rent, if he did not obtain the license.—
Mr. Hawkswood said that he had possession of the
premises for three months, and asked for a license
to sell for six days'. It was here suggested that
the application of Mr. Morgan should be heard
before the decision was given in Hawkswood's
case.—Mr. Collis, appeared to support the applica-
tion, and said that he must say that greater accom-
modation required, and went on to show that
there was better accommodation than at Mr.
Attwood's, and should prove that. Wm. Morgan
said that he had stable room for six horses, and
plenty of accommodation. Three clubs were held
at the house, two of Free Gardeners and a sick
club.—Samuel Leonard, surveyor, proved the plan
and said there were 5 rooms up stairs and four
down, with a good club room and plenty of stable
accommodation.—Mr. Perry said he oppose both
Hawkswood and Morgan.—The Bench decided to
refuse them both. _ _ -

The next application was that of Mr. Joseph
Hazeldine, who was supported by Mr. Stokes, and
opposed by Mr. Collis, on behalf of the Talbot
Hotel Company Limited; and Mr. Perry on behalf
of Mr. Allen, of the Mitre, and Mr. Clark, of the
Saracens Head. Mr. Stokes, in opening the ease,
said that formerly Mr. Hazeldine kept the Mitre
Inn, but while there he bought the Vine Hotel ;
but previous to leaving the Mitre, had entered
into a mutual contract, that the incoming tenant
should not keep a butcher's shop and Mr. Hazel-
dine not to open the Vine for a period of five years.
Mr. Hazeldine went to the Vine and for some
time kept up the license, until he was told that
the license could not be obtained unless it was
I opened for a public-house. Mr. Hazeldine had
kept his part of the contract like a honourable
man. The Vine is well knoa in history and can
be found in Scott's history of Stourbridge, so that
it was one of the first hotels in Stourbridge, and
has been for more than a hundred years. He
should put in Court a memorial signed by some of
the leading tradesmen and farmers in the district
and for miles round. It is also signed by magis-
trates, a mayor, and a number of shareholders of
the Talbot Hotel Company, and also by a director;
so that his friend Mr. Collis had not a locus standi
inopposing for the Talbot Hotel Company. He
should prove that Mr. Hazeldine had kept the
Mitre Inn for twelve years and his father before
him—Mr. Perry, was appearing for Mr. Allen and
he could not help saying that it appeared to him to
be very ungrateful.—Mr. Hazeldine was then swore,
and corroborated what Mr. Stokes had said.—Mr.
Collis, addressed the Bench opposition to the
application, and said that the Talbot Company had
laid out £1,500 to snake more aecounnodation for
the public, and if the license was grouted it would
be an injustice to them, and that the house was not
wanted.—Mr. Bridges was called, and said that he
had stable room at the Talbot to bait 100 horses ;
there was 21 stall stable and 9 loose boxes. Could
make up 13 bed rooms and 3 double ones.—Mr.
Perry also addressed the Bench against the applica-
tion.—The Bench retired to consider their verdict.
On coming into Court, Major Fletcher said the
Bench had decided to grant the application.
Thomas Hill, beerseller, of Cradley, applied for an
old license, which was supported by Mr. Petry, but
the magistrates refused the application.
William Maybury, beerhouse-keeper, Churchill,
also applied for an old license. Mr. Perry, who
supported the application, said the lamPord of the
Talbot Inn, Churchill, and Mr. Lowe, a neighbour of
the applicant's, who was a much too zealous teeto-
taller, appeared to oppose the application. After
hearing the case the justices declined to grant the
license. The same person also applied for a wine
license, which was refused.
John Waldron, beerseller, of Clent, and George
Partridge, beer-seller, Cratiley, applied for old
licenses, both of which were refused.
Major Fletcher, in reply to a memorial presented
by Mr. Perry for an extension of hours, which was
not entertained, said he hoped that by the next
' annual licensing session the discretionary power of
fixing the hours of closing would have been taken
out of the hands of the ruag,istrates, and fixed uni-
fonnly by law.
The following persons attended before the Court,
and were cautioned for having been tined during the
year for infringing the Lieensiug Act
Gardener sett., the Royal Oak, Lye ;Thos. Gardener,
the New Inn, Lye; Prescilla Brettell, Rose and
Crown, Hay Green ;Wilijiun Rogers, the Triangle, !
Wollaston (license endorsed) ' • David Robinson, the
Cottage Inn, Beauty Bank, Stonrbridge ; William
Gardener, Shovel Inn, Lye; John Wooldridge,
Duke York, Lye; Benjamin Davis, the Old Pipe,
Stonrbridge ; William Adams, Blue Ball, Cradley ;
Mary Jam-via, the Vine Inn, Clent ; James Bevan,
Rose and Crown, Coventry-street. In this case Mr.
Freeman complained of Bevan harbouring prostitutes
at his house, and said he had cautioned him several
times. Mr. Bevan said it was impossible to keep
them out. Defendant was cautioned—Mr. Freeman
also called the attention of the Bench to a bowling
alley kept by Mr. Allen, of the Mitre Inn. He said
that he had received several complaints of the nui-
sance, and on a former occasion Mr. Allen had pro-
mised the Bench to do away with it. Mr. Allen, in
defence, said that it had not been used much the last
three months, and then by his own family ; but as
it was complained of he would do away with it. The
Bench recommended him to do so.