Historicaleigh: Dual Purpose Pubs

August 29, 2016 by Carole Mulroney

Pubs have always been a focal point of local life and it seems local death as well.

On 11 March 1870 the Chelmsford Chronicle reported that after an horrific railway accident, the inquest into the death of a little boy, Henry Cotgrove, killed by a train, was held at the Crooked Billet. The poor child was deaf and didn't hear the train coming.

The following week on 18 March the same paper reported on a further inquest for the little lad this time held at the Bell.

In 1783 the Vestry meeting took place at the Waterman's Arms and in 1785 at the Queen's Head (both long gone). Parish meetings also took place on occasion in a local hostelry, although this is not allowed nowadays, and there are also records of the Ship being used for inquests.