The Fox Inn before 1920
I believe the first record of the Fox Inn is mentioned in the
Cambridge record office under public houses and the licensed victualler. An
index card states the place which is then called the King’s Head followed with
the names of the landlords. The first landlord is William Travis 1822, then
Joseph Hughes 1823, John Elborn 1823, then the name Charles Young appears with
dates 1823 to 1828. Charles Young’s name appears again in the Thriplow Church
Baptism book with his wife Sarah. His first son Henry was baptised on the 12 of
Oct. 1829 and then their daughter Hannah was on the 7 May 1831; both entries
quote him as a publican.
The 1841 Census shows Charles Young as a farmer aged 45 yrs and his wife Sarah
as 43 yrs old. His son of the same name is listed as an agricultural labourer
(aged 20 yrs) with his wife who is called Elizabeth (aged 20 yrs). On the
Inclosure map of 1840 Charles Young’s property extends from Norman Gambie’s
(No.41 Church Street) to Pauline Hopkin’s (No. 39).as well as several pieces of
land in the fields of Thriplow, so it would seem that he was a small farmer as
well as publican. By 1847 Charles Young junior is mentioned as a beer retailer
in the Cambridgeshire Post Office directory, but there is no mention of the name
of the public house. So at this stage did it change from being the King’s Head
to the Fox and Brush Inn? His father however is quoted as being a farmer in the
same directory. The 1851 census show that Charles Young junior is the publican
of the Fox and Brush Inn with his wife Elizabeth and their eldest daughter Sarah
(aged 12 yrs) is employed at home .Their eldest son Allan (10 yrs old), and
Emily (7 yrs old) are scholars, Frederick is 2 yrs old with the youngest Elliot
who is 1 month old.
In 1854 on March 25th the Cambridge Chronicle quotes an inquest that had taken
place at the Fox and Brush Inn. Records show that during the 19th Century a
number of public houses were used for inquests. The following article appeared
in the ‘Cambridge Chronicle’:
Triplow-. An inquest was held on Wednesday last, the 22nd. instant at the Fox
and Brush Inn ,by Frederick Barlow, Esq., Coroner for the county, on the body of
William Fowler aged about 61 years , who died on the day previous at the house
in which the inquest was held, Verdict, “Died by the visitation of God”.
The next time Charles Young junior is mentioned is in a Kelly’s directory of
1858. He is listed as a Beer Retailer and Carrier who went to Cambridge on
Saturdays at 7.am. The last entry for Charles Young is in a 1867 Directory of
Cambridgeshire which mentions the same information as 1858. After a gap of 6
years Charles Bunn is listed in Kelly’s directory of 1873 as a Beer Retailer. By
1876 Kelly’s directory the public house is called the Fox Inn.
In 1878 there had been a change and Frederick Perrin .was now running the Fox.
The following quote from the Herts & Cambs Reporter states a rather amusing
incident from the Melbourn Petty Sessions:
Henry Anderson of Thriplow was charged with being found drunk in the Brushing
the Fox alehouse in Thriplow on 26th December last (Boxing Day) . The charge was
proved by P.C. John Jacobs -convicted and ordered to pay fine and costs,17s.6d.,
within 14 days; in default ,to be imprisoned for 14 days hard labour.
Frederick Perrin, landlord of the Brushing the Fox alehouse, at Thriplow was
charged with permitting drunkenness in his own house on the 26th December
last-P.C. John Jacobs, on being sworn, said: “on the 26th December last I was on
duty in Thriplow ,and on hearing a noise I visited the defendant’s alehouse,
called Brushing the Fox. I there found a very disorderly company and one man
(Henry Anderson) drunk. I spoke to the landlord about his company and the way
his house was conducted and he said he could not help it. How could he stop it?
I told him to stop his tap, but it was not stopped whilst I was there. I was
there 5 minutes only. I did not see there drunkenness in the house then, but
there would be if more beer was drawn. Anderson was the only man I could swear
to be drunk.”-For the defence Arthur Smith was sworn, and said: “I did not see
Anderson in the house. I heard P. C. Jacobs come in speak to the landlord about
the house and stopping the tap. I was only there about 10 minutes; I went in
about quarter past 3. George Perrin was sworn, and said “I am nephew to the
defendant. I was in his house on the 26th December last when P. C. Jacobs came
in. I saw Anderson there then and he was neither sober nor drunk. I don’t know
how much beer he had. He tried to sing, or at least he join in a chorus; he
could sing; he could walk. When the police-constable came in he said, “What sort
of party have you got here, are they drunk?” The landlord said, “They are not
drunk.” The police-constable then said “if they were not drunk then they soon
would be and he stopped the tap”. The house was cleared after Jacobs left.-
Convicted and ordered, to pay fine and costs, 1 pound 13 shillings & 6
pence.-Paid.
In the next year, 1879, Frederick Perrin is quoted in the Kelly’s directory as
the Inn keeper. Also his name appears in the ‘Herts & Cambs Reporter’ dated
March 31st 1879 under the Melbourn Petty Sessions again in the following
“Drunk & Refusing to Quit” Henry Anderson & Elizabeth Flack, both of Thriplow,
were summoned to answer the information of Frederick Perrin, alehouse keeper, of
Thriplow, for being drunk in his house and refusing to quit on being requested
to do so by complainant on the 23rd March .Flack did not appear, and the service
of summons on her having been proved by P.C. Jacobs, the case against the 2
defendants was proceeded with. Frederick Perrin said: “on the 23rd March both
defendants came into my house about 8 o’clock at night; they asked me for a pint
of beer”. “I saw they were the worse for drink and I would not serve them, and
told them why I would not do so”. Anderson said to me, “Am I drunk”, and I told
him whether drunk or not they would not have beer in my house that night”. “Both
defendants then swore at me and used very foul language”. “I ordered them out of
the house but they would not go for half-an-hour”. “Defendants were both drunk”.
George Perrin, cousin to the complainant corroborated. Both defendants were
convicted and each ordered to pay forthwith fine and costs 5 pounds, and in
default to the imprisoned and kept to hard labour for one calendar month.
Anderson, not paying, was at once committed accordingly, and a warrant was
ordered to be issued at once against Flack who bore a very loose character.
Frederick Perrin’s name is last found mentioned in Kelly’s directory dated 1916
as the publican of the Fox Inn. By 1920 the last person to be the tenant of the
Fox Inn was a Mr George Henry Smith. His name appears in the following quote
again from the Herts & Cambs Reporter dated the 12th. March 1920 -
FOX INN DESTROYED BY FIRE.
A serious fire broke out at 4.30 pm on Saturday at the Fox public house, Church
Street, Thriplow, and as a result the house was burned to the ground. It was an
old fashioned house built with claybats, and had a thatched roof, and four good
bedrooms above. The fire was evidently caused by a defective wood beam crossing
over the top of the fireplace in the taproom .As this was the only fireplace
used on the previous day and evening until 10 pm., the beam must of caught fire
and smouldered during the night, and then spread upwards to the unoccupied
bedroom above.
It appears that a horsekeeper named Allan Flack, who resides near by, went to
feed the horses at Mr. J. O. Vinter’s farm about 4. 15 a.m, passing by the front
of the public-house, and on his return at 4. 45 am, discovered the thatched roof
on the back part of the house to be in flames. Owing to the high wind at the
time the flames soon spread to the whole of the roof, and before sufficient help
could be obtained the whole of the roof fell through into the bedrooms, and soon
set the floors,etc, alight. Flack at once called the tenant, Mr. George Henry
Smith, who rushed downstairs, finding the place so well alight, returned
upstairs, awoke his nephew and two little nieces, and at once got them out of
the house for safety. Mrs. Smith happened to be away at the time, visiting some
friends in London.
There was no quantity of water in the vicinity of the house, and no brigade
nearer than Royston. Word was however sent to the police at Melbourn and
Arrington at once, and Inspector Salmon, P.S. Martin and P.C. Housden, were soon
on the spot, and, helped by many of the villagers, succeeded in preventing the
flames spreading to the outbuildings and other property in the immediate
neighbourhood. Mr. W. Quarrie, the manager to the owners, Messrs. J.& J. E.
Phillips, Ltd., Royston, was also early on the scene. Fortunately the wind,
which was still very high, was blowing right across the house from front to
back, otherwise further damage must have occurred. The occupants had a very
narrow escape, and could only partly dress before getting away.
The tenant had his furniture and fittings, etc., insured, and the house was
insured by the owners in the County Fire Office.
Footnote. On researching the above public house I did find more inquests that
had been held there over the years, but I have left them out to try and keep the
subject as manageable as possible. There are some chronological gaps as to who
was the landlord at different periods, but unfortunately the records are not
consistent
So if anybody does have any further information, I would then be in a position
to complete the jigsaw. So for the moment this is the end of the road for the
Fox Inn.
Geoff Axe
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