NORFOLK PUBLIC HOUSES

Family & Commercial Hotel

Excise Office in early 1800's

The coach the `Regulator' called every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9:00am on route from Holt to London.
The coach returned every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 6:00pm.

The Mortgagees offered the property for sale 4th August 1859.
` A frontage of 95 feet; The ground floor comprising -
Commercial Room, Sitting Room, Smoking Room, with entrance from the yard; Bar, Store Rooms, Kitchen, Back Kitchen, Dairy & Cellars;
The Second Floor - Large Dining Room or Market Room, 5 Bedrooms, Linen Closet & 2 Attics; Stable comprising - New white brick 5 Stall & 2 Loose Box Stable with lofty Corn Chamber over; An 8 Stall Stable, a 6 Stall Stable, a 4 Stall Posting stable, 11 Loose Boxes, Coach House, Hay Cutting House, Wood Houses, Blacksmiths Shop, Shoeing place, Piggeries, Cow House for 9 cows, Open Shed, Large Yard in which is an excellent Pit of Water.
In the occupation of Mr George Jacobs, an extensive horse dealer under a lease of 14 years from 11th October 1853 at the annual rent of £60. For which the Lessee covenants to purchase from the Lessor ALL BEER, ALE, PORTER, STOUT, WINE, FOREIGN or BRITISH SPIRITS, LIQUORS OR COMPOUNDS which he shall sell......from the said Public Inn.

George Jacobs was an internationally known horse breeder and dealer.
The kings of Austria and Italy were among his customers.
The Crown stables could accommodate some 200 horses and a further 150 could be stabled at other premises. 20 ostlers and a farrier were employed. The horses were sold in 1892 when Mr. Jacobs was confined to bed by old age.

Part of the stables were converted to the towns first motor garage in 1919. By the 1930's the Crown yard contained a motor garage, petrol pumps and a car showroom. By the 1960's this showroom became the Rendezvous Cafe to be later destroyed by fire.