Introduction

This is taken from a booklet that was commissioned by the ex landlord, Vernon Somers (but known by all the locals as Mad Ernie) to commemorate the fact that on 23^rd July 1993 he had been the landlord of the Shakespeare for 13 years. He had already planned a party for that day, as he was sure that he was the longest serving proprietor of the pub since it was built in the 1970's. Unfortunately research has shown that poor Ernie was premature on his celebrity party. It is now known that a Mrs Deborah Morgan took over the licence from Herbert Duggan on the 9^th April 1923 and held it until the 30^th May 1938. Therefore Deborah's tenancy lasted 5,530 days, old Ernie still had 782 days before he could boast that he was the longest serving tenant of the Shakespeare.

The booklet was been printed so that customers may read a little about the history of the Shakespeare, which over the years has become famous for its hospitality and good 1960's music.

We will start with Mr G M Thomas in the year 1870 and end with Mad Ernie who is looking forward to his grand party in 1995.

So get a drink from the bar, take a seat, and you can read about the history of the pub in Totterdown that is keeping up the old tradition of being "A True Local Pub"

Ernie's tenancy lasted until July 2003 when he retired due to ill health, not only did he become the longest tenant of the Shakespeare, his 23 year stint made him the longest serving tenant of a individual pub in the History of Bristol. He can still be found terrorizing the streets of Totterdown on his motability scooter !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Early Years

The first landlord, that can be found, is a G M Thomas. He is listed in a Bristol Trade Directory of 1871, which was compiled the previous year. The Directory lists the Shakespeare as being at number 1 Osbourne Terrace. Mr. Thomas is surprisingly listed as a greengrocer from the Shakespeare. What is known is that his occupancy did not last long, as the census carried out on the 2nd April 1871 shows that the Mitchell family were in residence. The document lists the household as follows :-

• Thomas G Mitchell    age 45   ships carpenter and Licensed Victualler
• Lucy Mitchell    age 43   Wife
• John H Mitchell    age 19   Son   General Labourer
• Charles Mitchell    age 10 Son   Scholar
• Mary Spear    age 86   Wife's Mother
• Also listed in the same property is a Mrs and Mrs Newton.

By 1881 the Mitchells and the Newtons had moved on and the Hopers had taken over, they are listed in the census of that year as :-

• Benjamin Hooper    age 56 Painter
• Alice Hooper    age 38 Wife

The Ashmead map shows the Shakespeare opposite the King William Public House (now the Glasnost Restaurant) Back then (1870's) the King William (or the King Bill as it was better known) was a public house as it held a full drinking licence, but the Shakespeare only held a beer and cider licence.

Ashmead Map 1870's

We have read that in 1881 the occupants of the Shakespeare were Benjamin and Alice Hooper, but by 1891 they had moved to 15 Henry Street. Alice was still living there until at least 1902, according to a Bristol Directory of that year.

The census for 1891 was taken on the night of the 5^th April, and lists street by street all persons that slept that night in each house.

At 1 Henry Street (the Shakespeare) we find new tenants, Arthur and Sarah Whitehouse. They had living with them two siblings Nora and Arthur. Arthur (senior) was a brush maker, aged 25. Under the column "where born" Arthur answered "Query, NK – Not Known". His wife Sarah knew her place of birth, which was Bristol, Gloucester. She is described as being a servant in a "Beer House". It is not recommended that you refer to the present day landlady by the same title.

It is not known how much Arthur and Sarah were charging for a pint of beer back in 1891, but an old trade directory compiled in the same year states that Charles Garton & Co., of Lawrence Hill Bristol were selling :-

• Bitter Ale 1 Shilling per Gallon
• Golden Ale 1 Shilling & 2d per Gallon
• Pale Ale 1 Shilling & 6d per Gallon

Arthur and Sarah's customers would probably have lived locally, some possibly from Henry Street; according to Wright's Directory the inhabitants of the street were as follows :-

Wrights Directory 1890 - Occupants of Henry Street, Totterdown

• 1. A. Whitehouse, Shakespeare Hotel, b.r.
• 2 Charles Barnes - Greengrocer
• 3 James H. Haine
• 4 George Stradling
• 5 Lewis Field
• 6 George Yendol
• 7 Sidney Hazel, plumber
• 9 George Bowden
• 10 Harry Wallis
• 11 James Newton
• 12 William Henry Rowe
• 13 John Harding, grocer and joiner
• 14 William Sansom
• 15 Benjamin Hooper
• 16 William Rowsell
• 17 Robert Orchard
• 18 Mrs Connelly
• 19 Edwin Tagfoot
• 20 Richard Nash
• 21 James Helps
• 22 Tom Foot
• 23 John Richards
• 24 Henry Gibbs, general shop

As you can see back in 1890 the Shakespeare was referred to as a Hotel.

Benjamin Hooper, of number 15 may well have been a customer as he was the old landlord of the Shakespeare back in 1881.

Five buildings are recorded that do not have street numbers. Research has shown that these buildings can be identified as follows :-

• Industrial Co-operative Supplies Ltd now Cabot Tyres
• Alen Knight now 1 Windsor Street
• New Found Out still New Found Out
• Coal and Oil Dealer now Edwards TV
• Boot and Shoe Maker now 76 William Street

Edwards TV was in the past, 1 Windsor Place as can be seen above the doorway of the shop.

John Chorley's tenancy was coming to a close when on February 19^th 1912 plans were deposited to alter the Shakespeare. The plans can now be inspected at the Bristol Records Office, under the reference Volume 60 Folio 69. Unfortunately the plans cannot be photocopied, therefore drawings have been made and these reproduced below.

The first plan indicates how the building looked before the planning application of 1912. The second plan shows the alteration as it was proposed. It is almost certain that these proposals were carried out, as there are still some locals alive, who can remember the hostelry as it is shown on the suggested 1912 plan.

The third diagram shows the Shakespeare in 1986 prior to alterations made by Mad Ernie. The final diagram shows the current layout of the Public House as tendered to the licensing authority July 2005.

It is probable that two trades were carried out back in 1912, as the plans show stables and a cart shed at the rear of the building. The alterations carried out in 1912 were :-

• The staircase was altered so that the side door could give entrance to the 'Bottle and Jug'
• The Servery gave access to the Bar, Smoke Room and Bagatelle room
• An outbuilding was constructed for use as a Gents toilet
• A new doorway was put in, giving access from Henry Street

Landlords and Landladies from 1904 to 1940's

Document number 29387/167 in the Bristol Record Office, lists the licensees of the Shakespeare from 1904 to 1940 as follows :-

• 8^th Feb 1904 to 1^st Jul 1909 Sarah Duggan
• 1^st Jul 1909 to 4^th Mar 1912 John Chorley
• 4^th Mar 1912 to 7^th Apr Samuel Reed
• 7^th Apr 1913 to 6^th Apr 1914 Henry Charles
• 6^th Apr 1914 to 5^th Oct 1922 William House
• 5^th Oct 1914 to 6^th Jul 1922 Alfred Duggan
• 6^th Jul 1922 to 9^th Apr 1923 Herbert Duggan
• 9^th Apr 1923 to 30^th May 1938 Deborah Morgan
• 30^th May 1938 to 2^nd Apr 1940 Austin Hooper
• House Closed 2^nd April 1940

It is a little surprising that three persons with the uncommon surname Duggan are listed.

The records are to some extent confusing as under the listings for the King William's licensees, it states 'House Closed 2^nd April 1940', and the licence transferred to the Shakespeare, which according to the same record, itself closed on the same date. If the house did in fact close, it was opened again 1942, still under the management of Austin Hooper.

It would be interesting to know if Austin Hooper was related to Benjamin and Alice Hooper that ran the pub back in 1881.

From Post war to the 1980's

As the records finish for the list of licensees’ in the Bristol Records Office on April 2^nd 1940, all postwar information is based on the electoral roll, Trade Directories or information from the locals of Totterdown.

It should be noted that the Electoral Rolls are compiled in the October prior to the year that is printed on the spine of the book, therefore the date quoted is always the date that the roll was compiled.

The Electoral Roll of 1945 tells us that in that year Austin Hooper was still in charge of the pub, it also tells us all the persons over the age of 21 that lived at 1 Henry Street. So, listed with Austin is his wife Daisy, Doreen Newman and Henry Roberts.

By 1947 the Hooper's reign had ended, the landlord and landlady were now Doris and George Sparring.

In 1950 a Trade Directory lists Frederick Beavis as the landlord. But two years later in 1952, the Electoral Roll does not list Frederick but it does show his wife Gertrude Beavis and a Bridget O'Meare, in residence.

By 1955 Henry and Florence Lapham would have been your hosts at the Shakespeare. Some of the locals can still recall the evening that Henry went outside to get some coal for the fire; he never returned, he was found dead in his own back yard. His wife Florence, kept the licence for a number of years after her husband's death.

In 1971 the house was under the management of Herbert and Winifred Hodge. Some of the locals can still remember their blind son Byron. For some reason Byron preferred to drink in the 'men only bar' at the Oxford Hotel in Oxford Street, he rarely drank in his parents pub.

In 1971 some of Herbert and Win's customers would have come from Henry Street, a listing of them is given below :-

Henry Street, Totterdown

For most of the 1970's the Shakespeare was dominated by the Markhams. Alan and Constance Markham ran the pub from 1971 until 1976, with a little help from their daughter Gillian.

By 1977 Michael and Linda Jowell had moved in. But their tenancy did not last long as by 1978 the Ashfords had taken over. Bryan and Jennifer Ashford ran the pub until the present landlord took over on July 23^rd 1980.

Detective Work

The Shakespeare has changed over the years, but with a little detective work you can still see much its past history.

The shape of the old bars and rooms can still be traced to this day. Just look up and you can still see the supports that have been put in when old walls were removed.

Why not use the maps and plans to see how the old pub looked in years gone by, compared with today ?

In the small garden you can still make out the shape of the old coal-house that poor Henry Lapham died in.

The area that now houses the pool table was. As we have read, the stables. This room had, in the past, no window overlooking William Street. From the outside you can see that the present day window is different to all the others.

If after reading about the past landlords and landladies of the establishment, you think you can see the ghost of one of them sat in the corner, it could be that you have had one too many: and it may well be time to hit the road.

We have nearly come to the end of the history of the Shakespeare, but as they say ’Today is tomorrow's history’. So on then next page we will read about the present tenants.

The Present Day

On the evening ofFebruary 9^th 19*1, a party was held in the Shakespeare, to commemorate the engagement of Vernon Somers and Joan Dowse; was this also an engagement party of the couple with the Shakespeare, as they are now married not only to each other but to the pub as well.

During research for this booklet, the Electoral Roll for 1965 was consulted. The document shows that in that year Florence Lapham was the only person living in the Shakespeare who was eligible to vote. But just two pages further on, was the listing for 148 Oxford Street. This property backs on to the pub. It lists William, Violet, Geoffrey and Joan Dowse. Did Joan Dowse, back in 1965, ever in her wildest dreams, think that one day she would become the landlady of the Public House at the bottom of her garden.

First published July 1993
PMC Partnership
76, Hill Street
Totterdown
Bristol
BS3 4TR

Tel (0272) 710609

Copyright held by Dave Price

Thanks are given to The Bristol Records Office for all their help. Also to Brain Drew, Frank Smith, Joan and Vernon Somers, Tony Naylor, Isobel Cooper, Andrew Main and JAQUELINE.

Due to ill health Ernie was forced to retire from the trade.

Hilary Mildren (ne Ellis), an employee of Ernie's took over the pub. She was married to Vince Mildren a talented local musician, they separated with Hilary remaining landlady of the pub. Established as an architect she sold the Shakespeare to pursue other business ventures.

On Sept 5^th 2003 the tenancy was transferred to Warwick Newton. Hilary Mildren had left details of previous employees who might help out if he encountered any difficulties. On the Saturday of the Warwick's first weekend a staff member phoned to say they could not make it to work. Warwick called Emma who was on Hilary's list of helpful people. Emma came to work at the pub that evening. She later commented that she thought Warwick would did not have a clue and probably would not last five minutes. Emma lived at 22 Cambridge Street which is 17 paces from the door of the Shakespeare's flat.

It has often been reported that between September and December 2003 Warwick was seen making the 17 steps either to or from 22 Cambridge Street on a very regular basis. Eventually the trek became too much and he persuaded the gorgeous Miss Anstee to move into the Shakespeare .

Christmas day 2004 on humble knee Warwick asks Emma to marry him, she agrees, the date is set for September 1^St 2005