South Town, Cheltenham - 200 Years of Local Trading History
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  • South Town
  • Interactive Map
    • Tivoli map >
      • An Introduction to Tivoli
      • Tivoli Triangle >
        • 2a) Severn Furnishing
        • 3a) ATC Floors and Doors
        • 4) Tivoli Stores
        • 5) Tivoli Butchers
        • 6) W. L. Langsbury
        • 7) The Tivoli Pub
      • Tivoli Street >
        • 8) Patrick Oliver Antiques
        • 9) St. Stephens Sports and Social Club
        • 10) W.A. Williams clock repairs
        • 11a) Nick's Barber Shop
        • 11b) Helene Hair and Sun
      • Andover Road (West side) >
        • 12a) Catherine Colebrook
        • 12b) Cheltenham Hot Tubs and Spas
        • 13) Tivoli Trading
        • 14) Hard Pressed for Time
        • 15) Read Maurice Estate Agents
        • 16) Century 21 Cheltenham
        • 17) Maison Chaplais
        • 18) Vale Kitchens
        • 19) Tivoli Wines
      • Lypiatt Street Area >
        • 20) Tivoli Glass
        • 21) Groves Batteries
        • 22) Prinbox Works
        • 23) The Royal Union
        • 24) St. Stephen's Anglican Church
        • 25) www.glos.info
    • The Suffolks map >
      • An Introduction to The Suffolks
      • Suffolk Parade area >
        • 1) The Beehive
        • 2) Roylan Cycles
        • 3) Ebury Interiors
        • 4) Suffolk Barbers
        • 6) Capability
        • 5) Moss Prints
        • 7) Suffolk Rock
        • 8) Gorgeous Hair
        • 9) The Retreat
        • 10) Charlie Allen's Canine Comforts
        • 11) Zizzi
        • 12) India Lounge
        • 13) Vallenders
        • 14) 14 Suffolk Parade
      • Suffolk Parade (Daffodil Street to Suffolk Road) >
        • 16) Cheltenham Festivals
        • 17) Cheltine
        • 18) Falcon Estates
        • 19) The Suffolk Anthology
        • 20) The Daffodil
        • 21) Chef's Pantry
        • 22) The Copy Shop
        • 23) The Triton Gallery
        • 24) Edward Cox Goldsmith
        • 25) David Hayward Design
        • 26a) The Giltwood Gallery
        • 26b) David John Barbers
        • 27) Spice Fusion
        • 28) Bodega Spa
        • 29) Bodega
      • Suffolk Road (Suffolk Parade to Bath Road) >
        • 30) RJ Spicer Jewellery
        • 31) Atelier 19
        • 32) Centrepiece
        • 33) Paco Delgado
        • 34) Daniel Keenan Interiors
        • 35) Cheltenham Computer Centre
        • 36) Signature Barber's
        • 37) Cotswold Physiotherapy Centre
      • Suffolk Road, south side (east of Suffolk Villas) >
        • 38) HSBC
        • 39) 2 Suffolk Road
        • 40) My Face
        • 41) Ko Hairdressing
        • 42) B Ten Tandoori
        • 43) Siam Smile
        • 44) Antique Restoration
        • 45) Mo22 Gallery/Turtle Framing
        • 46) The Guild Hairdressing
        • 47a/b) QEC Militaria and Cotswold Dental Lab
        • 48) Le Champignon Sauvage
        • 49) The House Clearance Shop
      • Suffolk Road, west of Suffolk Villas (south side) >
        • 49a) 32-38 Suffolk Road
        • 50) The Suffolk Arms
        • 51) Holistic Health Centre
        • 52) Eden Health and Beauty Spa
        • 53) Newcombe Residential Lettings
        • 54) Baker & Graze
        • 55) Fifty Lounge Bar
        • 56) bhoomi
        • 57) Armada Exports
      • Great Norwood Street (Suffolk Rd. to Bath Terr.) >
        • Part 1 >
          • 58) Cheltenham Balti
          • 59) El Barbero
          • 60) Cygnini
          • 61) Cafe Boho
          • 62) Tea at Ten
        • Part 2 >
          • 63) Revamp
          • 64) Bloomers
          • 65) Mint
          • 66) Hounam
          • 67) Gilchrist
      • Great Norwood St (Bath Terr. to Andover Rd.) >
        • Part 1 >
          • 68) The Shoe Repairer
          • 69) MacDonald vets
          • 70) Leckhampton Chiropractic Clinic
          • 71) Antique & Modern Fireplaces
          • 72) ShoeMed
          • 73) Sam Oldfield Photography
          • 74) Graeme Wright Hairdressing
        • Part 2 >
          • 75) Wonder Food
          • 76) Llewellyn-Smith & Co.
          • 77) Goose Chase Quilting
          • 79) The Jolly Brewmaster
          • 80) The Stick Club
          • 81) Cleevely Motors
          • 82) UK NARIC
          • 83) Falcon Residential Lettings
    • Bath Road map >
      • Bath Road (North) >
        • Suffolk Road to Victoria Place >
          • 80) Thirlestaine House
          • 1) Christian Science Reading Room
          • 2) Moran's
        • Kew Place to Clare Street >
          • 3) Perry Bishop
          • 4) Subway
          • 5) Cheltenham Independent Eyecare Centre
          • 6) Indian Brasserie
          • 7) Andy's and Co.
          • 8) The Natural Grocery Store
        • Victoria Retreat to Bath Terrace >
          • 9) V.W. Lane
          • 10) Cheltenham Nutrition Centre
          • 11) Sainsbury's
          • 12) Rowlands Pharmacy
          • 13) Balti Walla
          • 14) Age UK
          • 15) Nat West Bank
        • Clare Street to Exmouth Street >
          • 16) Coral
          • 17) Bath Road Butchers
          • 18) 162-164 Bath Road
          • 19) Big Fish
          • 20) Dodwells Direct
          • 21) Post Office
          • 22) Cotswold Care Hospice
          • 23) Andrews Estate Agents
          • 24) Newman & Bloodworths
          • 25) Norville Opticians
          • 26) Parsons
        • Bath Terrace to Upper Bath Street >
          • 27) Bath Road Cards
          • 28) Domino's
          • 29) Bath Road Beers
          • 30) Sue Ryder Care
        • Upper Bath Street to St. Phillip's Street >
          • 32) 163 Bath Road
          • 33) Toasties
          • 34) The Exmouth Arms
      • Bath Road (South) >
        • Exmouth Street to Hermitage Street >
          • 35) MY Coffee
          • 36) The Co-Operative
          • 37) Jane's Pantry
          • 38) British Red Cross
          • 39) Red Cross Bookshop
          • 40) Thompson Dry Cleaners
          • 41) The Curious Cafe
          • 42) Burger Star
          • 43) Ella Hairdressing Salon
          • 44) Lee Longland
        • St. Phillip's Street to Suffolk Street >
          • 45) Bargain Booze
          • 45a) Lucy's Cafe
          • 46) Emporium
          • 47) Beauty Box
          • 48) Lloyds Bank
        • Hermitage Street to Francis Street >
          • 49) Adcock Shoes
          • 50) Flames Restaurant
          • 51) Ocean Fayre
          • 52) Hair Systems
          • 53) 226 Bath Road
          • 54) Linc
          • 55) Inside Out
          • 56) Five Alls
        • Suffolk Street to Gratton Road >
          • 57) The Cheltenham Clinic
        • Francis Street to Norwood Roundabout >
          • 58) The Corner Shop
          • 59) Happy Gathering
          • 60) Jim's Barber Shop
          • 61) Timpson
          • 62) Robi's Indian Takeaway
          • 63) The Brown Jug
          • 64) Rowlands Pharmacy
        • Grafton Road to Shurdington Road >
          • 65) Rosa Blue
          • 66) Brew & Bake
          • 67) Twig Clothing
        • Norwood Roundabout >
          • 68) Daisychain Benevolent Fund
          • 69) Fat Flyers
          • 70) Cook
          • 71) Roots and Fruits
          • 72) Bath Road Market
          • 73) The Norwood Arms
        • Shurdington Road >
          • 74) Norwood Interiors
          • 75) The Record Shop
          • 76) Peter Ball and Co.
        • Norwood Road >
          • 77) Paul Malvern
          • 78) Shurdington Stores
          • 79) Studio 19
  • Tramroad
    • The Norwood Triangle Project
  • Local Memories
    • Percy Nash Fruit and Flowers
    • E.C. Waltham, Butchers
    • Armada Antiques
    • R.E. Caudle, Fruiterer
    • E.C. Waltham horsemeat article
    • E.C. Waltham Golden Jubilee article
    • E.C. Waltham 60 Years feature
    • Gilbey Cooles, Ironmonger
    • Thomas's Newsagents 9 Suffolk Parade
    • Leckhampton Dairies
    • Burrows Newsagents, 54 Tivoli Street
    • Gurnsey Cottages
    • V.W. Lane, Butchers
    • R.R. Skemp
    • Banks Bakers & Confectioners, 17 Suffolk Parade
    • Big Fish
    • Robert Young's
    • The Five Alls
    • Dolman's Chemists
    • Bath Road Butchers
  • Books
  • Local School Projects
    • 2011 Local Trading History Project
  • Cheltenham Connect
  • Contact
  • Links

The Suffolks │50  previous / next │main map / suffolks map


​40 Suffolk Road

PicturePhoto Courtesy of Geoff North
​​​Unlike today, it was quite common in the 19th century for public houses to be used for auctions and even Coroner's inquests. One of the earliest house auctions was held here at the Suffolk Arms on 31st May 1827, in the reign of George IV, but the Inn was actually built in 1824. The Suffolk Road was then known as Commercial Road and this hostelry was often referred to as a hotel. In 1828, the Inn was taken over by Anthony Major who advertised "well-aired beds and every accommodation for Commercial Gentlemen". He had replaced the earlier landlord, Mr Twining, and was himself soon replaced by John Thache, who only lasted until 1833. The lease often came up for renewal and landlords changed frequently.

PictureCheltenham Chronicle, 13th October 1836
On Saturday 13th October 1836 the then landlord, Mr Stamford, had a dramatic riding accident and seems fortunate to have survived, as the accompanying newspaper report shows.   

Picture
​By 1837, just a few months before Queen Victoria was crowned, the Inn changed hands and was taken over by Charles Scott, who advertised well-aired beds and good stabling for his guest's horses. He sold beer in glazed stoneware bottles, such as the one illustrated here, which was a porter bottle (photo courtesy of Steve Lawrey). 

The pub was advertised to let in 1850 and by 1851 Richard Bill became the landlord. A newspaper report of September 1853 concerns the sudden death of Mr Prinn, a coachman to a private house, whilst he played skittles in the grounds of the Suffolk Arms. Until the pub was refurbished in 2017 there was still an indoor skittles alley.   


​By 1889 the landlord, Mr Dawes, was advertising Smoking Concerts at the Inn on Wednesday and Friday evenings in the winter season. Smoking concerts were popular in Victorian times and consisted of live performances, usually of music, before a men-only audience. The evening would include political discussion, whilst the men smoked and listened to the music. These events continued to be held at the Inn well into the 20th century.
In April 1896 Edward Stephens, who claimed to be delivering milk to the Inn, was fined 10 shillings (50 pence) for not having proper control of his horse and cart. Apparently he had left the rig outside for half an hour without chaining the wheel to prevent the horse driving away.

From about 1900 social gatherings at the Inn included meetings of the South Ward Conservative Air Gun club, for which this was their headquarters, and a skittles club, which was very active. By the 1920s there were also cricket, angling and dividend (savings) clubs based here, indicating how people regarded their local pub as a social and community centre. Darts was also a popular competitive game. ​
​
By far the longest serving licensee was Edward Simpson who was here from 1925-1955. In October 1939, with the outbreak of war and the fear of bombing raids, he was unfortunately fined 10 shillings for failing to obscure lights under the Defence Regulations. These matters were taken very seriously; just over a year later an air raid killed 23 people in Cheltenham and left 600 homeless.  
​  
In August 1946 the Suffolk Arms held their first annual summer outing, with two coaches following a route through the Forest of Dean to Monmouth and Symonds Yat. Apparently a good time was had by all despite the wet weather.
Click on this icon to download a list of many of the licensees of the Suffolk Arms.
suffolk_arms_licensees.xlsx
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Public house tokens were widely used in Britain from about 1845 to 1914. They were typically made of brass and had a variety of uses. The one shown below was probably used at the Suffolk Arms to buy beer as a way of recompensing the landlord for the use of the skittles alley. 
Picture
Front
Picture
Reverse

​Researcher: Stuart Manton (October 2015)
​

The Suffolk Arms

Suffolk Arms
For more information click here.
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  • Home
  • South Town
  • Interactive Map
    • Tivoli map >
      • An Introduction to Tivoli
      • Tivoli Triangle >
        • 2a) Severn Furnishing
        • 3a) ATC Floors and Doors
        • 4) Tivoli Stores
        • 5) Tivoli Butchers
        • 6) W. L. Langsbury
        • 7) The Tivoli Pub
      • Tivoli Street >
        • 8) Patrick Oliver Antiques
        • 9) St. Stephens Sports and Social Club
        • 10) W.A. Williams clock repairs
        • 11a) Nick's Barber Shop
        • 11b) Helene Hair and Sun
      • Andover Road (West side) >
        • 12a) Catherine Colebrook
        • 12b) Cheltenham Hot Tubs and Spas
        • 13) Tivoli Trading
        • 14) Hard Pressed for Time
        • 15) Read Maurice Estate Agents
        • 16) Century 21 Cheltenham
        • 17) Maison Chaplais
        • 18) Vale Kitchens
        • 19) Tivoli Wines
      • Lypiatt Street Area >
        • 20) Tivoli Glass
        • 21) Groves Batteries
        • 22) Prinbox Works
        • 23) The Royal Union
        • 24) St. Stephen's Anglican Church
        • 25) www.glos.info
    • The Suffolks map >
      • An Introduction to The Suffolks
      • Suffolk Parade area >
        • 1) The Beehive
        • 2) Roylan Cycles
        • 3) Ebury Interiors
        • 4) Suffolk Barbers
        • 6) Capability
        • 5) Moss Prints
        • 7) Suffolk Rock
        • 8) Gorgeous Hair
        • 9) The Retreat
        • 10) Charlie Allen's Canine Comforts
        • 11) Zizzi
        • 12) India Lounge
        • 13) Vallenders
        • 14) 14 Suffolk Parade
      • Suffolk Parade (Daffodil Street to Suffolk Road) >
        • 16) Cheltenham Festivals
        • 17) Cheltine
        • 18) Falcon Estates
        • 19) The Suffolk Anthology
        • 20) The Daffodil
        • 21) Chef's Pantry
        • 22) The Copy Shop
        • 23) The Triton Gallery
        • 24) Edward Cox Goldsmith
        • 25) David Hayward Design
        • 26a) The Giltwood Gallery
        • 26b) David John Barbers
        • 27) Spice Fusion
        • 28) Bodega Spa
        • 29) Bodega
      • Suffolk Road (Suffolk Parade to Bath Road) >
        • 30) RJ Spicer Jewellery
        • 31) Atelier 19
        • 32) Centrepiece
        • 33) Paco Delgado
        • 34) Daniel Keenan Interiors
        • 35) Cheltenham Computer Centre
        • 36) Signature Barber's
        • 37) Cotswold Physiotherapy Centre
      • Suffolk Road, south side (east of Suffolk Villas) >
        • 38) HSBC
        • 39) 2 Suffolk Road
        • 40) My Face
        • 41) Ko Hairdressing
        • 42) B Ten Tandoori
        • 43) Siam Smile
        • 44) Antique Restoration
        • 45) Mo22 Gallery/Turtle Framing
        • 46) The Guild Hairdressing
        • 47a/b) QEC Militaria and Cotswold Dental Lab
        • 48) Le Champignon Sauvage
        • 49) The House Clearance Shop
      • Suffolk Road, west of Suffolk Villas (south side) >
        • 49a) 32-38 Suffolk Road
        • 50) The Suffolk Arms
        • 51) Holistic Health Centre
        • 52) Eden Health and Beauty Spa
        • 53) Newcombe Residential Lettings
        • 54) Baker & Graze
        • 55) Fifty Lounge Bar
        • 56) bhoomi
        • 57) Armada Exports
      • Great Norwood Street (Suffolk Rd. to Bath Terr.) >
        • Part 1 >
          • 58) Cheltenham Balti
          • 59) El Barbero
          • 60) Cygnini
          • 61) Cafe Boho
          • 62) Tea at Ten
        • Part 2 >
          • 63) Revamp
          • 64) Bloomers
          • 65) Mint
          • 66) Hounam
          • 67) Gilchrist
      • Great Norwood St (Bath Terr. to Andover Rd.) >
        • Part 1 >
          • 68) The Shoe Repairer
          • 69) MacDonald vets
          • 70) Leckhampton Chiropractic Clinic
          • 71) Antique & Modern Fireplaces
          • 72) ShoeMed
          • 73) Sam Oldfield Photography
          • 74) Graeme Wright Hairdressing
        • Part 2 >
          • 75) Wonder Food
          • 76) Llewellyn-Smith & Co.
          • 77) Goose Chase Quilting
          • 79) The Jolly Brewmaster
          • 80) The Stick Club
          • 81) Cleevely Motors
          • 82) UK NARIC
          • 83) Falcon Residential Lettings
    • Bath Road map >
      • Bath Road (North) >
        • Suffolk Road to Victoria Place >
          • 80) Thirlestaine House
          • 1) Christian Science Reading Room
          • 2) Moran's
        • Kew Place to Clare Street >
          • 3) Perry Bishop
          • 4) Subway
          • 5) Cheltenham Independent Eyecare Centre
          • 6) Indian Brasserie
          • 7) Andy's and Co.
          • 8) The Natural Grocery Store
        • Victoria Retreat to Bath Terrace >
          • 9) V.W. Lane
          • 10) Cheltenham Nutrition Centre
          • 11) Sainsbury's
          • 12) Rowlands Pharmacy
          • 13) Balti Walla
          • 14) Age UK
          • 15) Nat West Bank
        • Clare Street to Exmouth Street >
          • 16) Coral
          • 17) Bath Road Butchers
          • 18) 162-164 Bath Road
          • 19) Big Fish
          • 20) Dodwells Direct
          • 21) Post Office
          • 22) Cotswold Care Hospice
          • 23) Andrews Estate Agents
          • 24) Newman & Bloodworths
          • 25) Norville Opticians
          • 26) Parsons
        • Bath Terrace to Upper Bath Street >
          • 27) Bath Road Cards
          • 28) Domino's
          • 29) Bath Road Beers
          • 30) Sue Ryder Care
        • Upper Bath Street to St. Phillip's Street >
          • 32) 163 Bath Road
          • 33) Toasties
          • 34) The Exmouth Arms
      • Bath Road (South) >
        • Exmouth Street to Hermitage Street >
          • 35) MY Coffee
          • 36) The Co-Operative
          • 37) Jane's Pantry
          • 38) British Red Cross
          • 39) Red Cross Bookshop
          • 40) Thompson Dry Cleaners
          • 41) The Curious Cafe
          • 42) Burger Star
          • 43) Ella Hairdressing Salon
          • 44) Lee Longland
        • St. Phillip's Street to Suffolk Street >
          • 45) Bargain Booze
          • 45a) Lucy's Cafe
          • 46) Emporium
          • 47) Beauty Box
          • 48) Lloyds Bank
        • Hermitage Street to Francis Street >
          • 49) Adcock Shoes
          • 50) Flames Restaurant
          • 51) Ocean Fayre
          • 52) Hair Systems
          • 53) 226 Bath Road
          • 54) Linc
          • 55) Inside Out
          • 56) Five Alls
        • Suffolk Street to Gratton Road >
          • 57) The Cheltenham Clinic
        • Francis Street to Norwood Roundabout >
          • 58) The Corner Shop
          • 59) Happy Gathering
          • 60) Jim's Barber Shop
          • 61) Timpson
          • 62) Robi's Indian Takeaway
          • 63) The Brown Jug
          • 64) Rowlands Pharmacy
        • Grafton Road to Shurdington Road >
          • 65) Rosa Blue
          • 66) Brew & Bake
          • 67) Twig Clothing
        • Norwood Roundabout >
          • 68) Daisychain Benevolent Fund
          • 69) Fat Flyers
          • 70) Cook
          • 71) Roots and Fruits
          • 72) Bath Road Market
          • 73) The Norwood Arms
        • Shurdington Road >
          • 74) Norwood Interiors
          • 75) The Record Shop
          • 76) Peter Ball and Co.
        • Norwood Road >
          • 77) Paul Malvern
          • 78) Shurdington Stores
          • 79) Studio 19
  • Tramroad
    • The Norwood Triangle Project
  • Local Memories
    • Percy Nash Fruit and Flowers
    • E.C. Waltham, Butchers
    • Armada Antiques
    • R.E. Caudle, Fruiterer
    • E.C. Waltham horsemeat article
    • E.C. Waltham Golden Jubilee article
    • E.C. Waltham 60 Years feature
    • Gilbey Cooles, Ironmonger
    • Thomas's Newsagents 9 Suffolk Parade
    • Leckhampton Dairies
    • Burrows Newsagents, 54 Tivoli Street
    • Gurnsey Cottages
    • V.W. Lane, Butchers
    • R.R. Skemp
    • Banks Bakers & Confectioners, 17 Suffolk Parade
    • Big Fish
    • Robert Young's
    • The Five Alls
    • Dolman's Chemists
    • Bath Road Butchers
  • Books
  • Local School Projects
    • 2011 Local Trading History Project
  • Cheltenham Connect
  • Contact
  • Links