GEORGE INN - ST STEPHEN

Offered To Let 15th April 1710.
Apply to Mr. Fremoult, Brewer.

Philip Browne, many years servant to Mr. Thomas Tilbury, acquainted his Friends and the Public, 1st February 1777, that he had taken the George. He had laid in a fresh stock of Neat Wines, Spirituous Liquors of all Sorts and Fremoult's fine Nog.

One of 40 houses named as being engaged for the Reception of Freeholders for Sir John Woodhouse and Sir Edward Astley's Friends on the Day of Election, Wednesday 14th April 1784.

The Norfolk Chronicle of 11th October 1794 records that Sarah Brown informed her friends that she..`Intends carrying on the business of her late husband, Philip Brown.'

William Riches announced 16th July 1796 that he had fitted up the Inn in the neatest manner and stocked with Good Old Wines and Spirituous Liquors of the best quality.

The household effects of William Riches were to be sold 1st March 1808. Sale included eleven beds with various hangings, mahogany chests of drawers, chairs, tables, pier and other glasses and other articles of useful furniture. George Rampley advised that he would take over the house immediately after the sale.

Labourer Thomas Lovewell, labourer, was found guilty of assault Wednesday 23rd June 1869. On the Monday night he had entered the George Inn, in the company of others, and ordered some beer, but upon being asked who would pay for it, he struck the person serving the drink. He then hit licensee Granville Parker, knocking him to the ground. Martha Riches, housekeeper of the establishment was punched in the face, causing a mass of bruises.
Lovewell was sentenced to one month's imprisonment, with hard labour and a further fourteen days should the costs not be paid. A further sentence of one month was added for the assault on the housekeeper, again with fourteen days should the costs not be paid.

Offered To Let June 1852 with Immediate possession.
Apply Messrs. Steward, Patteson, Finch & Co.

Tuesday 2nd September 1862 - Mr. Woodhouse was charged with allowing a disturbance, upsetting the neighbourhood, on 26th August. He was further accused of being drunk at the time and of not doing anything to quell the disturbance. Between twenty and thirty men and women, many of the latter being prostitutes, had been discovered fighting in the house at about 1:30 am and it went on until 3:30 am. It was said that the house was a perfect nuisance to the neighbourhood and several respectable inhabitants had previously complained. Dancing was allowed in a long room and boys and girls mixed with some of the lowest characters and most notorious thieves in the town.
Some rooms in the yard were let to prostitutes and one prostitute lived in the house.

The Chief Constable objected to licence renewal at the February 1906 Sessions. `The construction of the house made it difficult to supervise by the tenant, owing to the distance from the living room to the bar. There was a workshop at the rear where the tenant worked as a shoemaker. There were 15 other licensed houses within 200 yards'.

Closed under Compensation 08.02.1907.

(S&P records state that the house was actually sold in October 1906)