The King’s Arms

THE KINGS ARMS

35-39 High Street Newport TF10 7AT.

Currently  Evenett & Bishop Opticians  (35) and Newport Kebab House (39)

Licensed premises from before 1813 to c.1889

 

 

 

In 1879 the inn was advertised as: A spacious front shop with 2 bay windows,:a flour shop and office underneath which are good cellars. Also that old licensed and well accustomed inn call the “Kings Arms” with commercial rooms, billiard room, bars, 8  bedrooms, WC closets, capital arched cellar; together with an excellent flour mill containing 16-horse-power steam engine, boiler in thorough repair (fitted with recent improvements), 4 pairs French stones, dressing machine, smutters etc. drying kilns, garners, seed warehouse, slaughter house, loose box, stabling for 12  horses, excellent yard.

The evidence suggests that the front building of no.35 was a 17th century three storey timber-framed building with a jettied first floor. The rear buildings on the ground floor of no 35  formed the largest part of the inn. The inn was chiefly on the south side. The large central carriageway, which was certainly in existence in 1838, is seen in detail in a print from 1857 (top right), led to a large yard, which had a substantial steam mill in it (now all demolished).  At the moment, there is no written evidence of this being a coaching inn, other than the  large central coach way.

Again, we have no recorded history that the inn had a brew house. The beer was probably brewed by a Lockley family member at the Old Bell (No 25) nearby.

During the 19th century the inn functions became significantly reduced as, under the Lockley family, the buildings were used increasingly for other trades such as butchers, grocers,  blacksmiths, the steam mill and stabling for 12 horses.

 

Below : A stone block from the steam mill . Now  on display at front of Crown Mews.

 

Today , there is little evidence remaining of the functioning of an inn. Inside, we have no indication of the position of the bar or the orientation of the cellars, of which we know there were two.   We do know that there was, and still is, a large room on the first floor of no.35, which was used for dances and supper evening; seating at least 77.  Under the Lockley family, it was called an hotel and had 8 bedrooms.

An Advert for the Quadrille Party 1885

South Extension with Function Rooms

The Lockley  family owned  both the left and right sides. (35 and 39)  when Martin took over the business in 1861.  Below: We see one  of his trade tokens (Shropshire Museum service)