On the 12th April 1856, Police Sergeant Johnson visited a house in Row 24 at between two and three in the morning. Finding the premises locked, he went to the Victoria Tap (at 3, Charlotte Street), knocked and called Eagleton for the key as it was his private house in Row 24. At the house in Row 24, Mary Ann Higgins was found in bed with a man. Other women were in another room.
On Saturday 3rd May 1856 the Sergeant again visited the house at between two and three in the morning and again found it locked. He roused Eagleton and obtained the key.
He knocked before entering and immediately the lights went out. Once inside he was met by Mrs. Taylor and discovered five men in bed with five women. There were four bedrooms.
Mary Ann Higgins, an unfortunate girl who lived in the house of Mrs. Taylor in Blue Anchor Row said that she paid Mrs. Taylor for the use of the Row 24 house.
Mr. Eagleton had (rented) the house for seven or eight years but since 17th March 1856, he had hired the house to Mrs Taylor. Mr. Eagleton had previously charged 5s a week for her use of the house, but kindly allowed the girls to still sit in his house.
Mary Ann Beaumont, another of the girls residing in the house, gave a similar story.
Eagling and Taylor were remanded on bail, each to provide sureties of £25 and themselves in £50, to answer the charge at the next Sessions.
<By September 1856 the Victoria Tap was trading as the RAMPANT HORSE, a separate business to the Victoria Tavern....... but the Victoria Tap still given 1878??>

At the licensing sessions September 1863, this house was described by one of the magistrates as really a brothel of the very foulest description. The application to transfer the licence from Thomas Palmer to Robert Brunsby was refused.
See also BRITISH LION, FOUNDRY ARMS, SIR SAMUEL HOOD and WHITE HORSE.

The wine and spirit licence of the VICTORIA TAP, Charlotte Street, was transferred to the LADY HAVEN TAVERN 22nd August 1878.The licence was lost in 1880 owing to being a poorly conducted house.