NOTTINGHAM PUBLICANS

I was interested to read Simon Fowler’s ‘Record Masterclass’ on Victuallers’ Licences in the January issue. I am pleased to say that back in 1994 the Nottinghamshire Family History Society published a list of nearly 2,000 such licences that were issued in the Borough of Nottingham between 1756 and 1769. Each entry lists the landlord and the name of the public house in question, along with the names of two sureties and their occupations. Then there are added insights such as one landlady who was “ill” on 24 May 1757, “very ill” on 22 May 1760, “lame” on 26 May 1761, and then “ill” for each licensing session for each of the following four years! Her son eventually took over.

An average of 135 public houses are listed each year; visitors like Celia Fiennes who visited Nottingham back in 1697 commented on Nottingham’s fine ales – a reputation well-deserved because of the excellent brewing and storage facilities offered by its huge network of sandstone caves. Many of Nottingham’s older public houses still retain these cave cellars today.

Our volume has recently been republished in response to a request from the local branch of the Campaign for Real Ale. Members of the society ( nottsfhs.org) have free access to PDF copies of all of our publications.

Peter Hammond, president of Nottinghamshire Family History Society

EDITOR REPLIES: Thanks for flagging up this useful resource Peter!