A Pint of History Please

Exploring the History of Ceredigion's Pubs

Details of pub: Golden Eagle, Aberystwyth

Other names:
Address/Location: Mary Street (now lower Terrace Road)
OS Grid Ref: SN5849881651 approx
Opened: c.      
Closed: NOT KNOWN       Type: Pub
Summary: About no. 6 Terrace Road

This is first referred to in 1871. In 1872, the landlord of this beer house, Morgan Davies, was fined £1 with 7 shillings costs for selling drinks after hours and was warned that the fine could have been £10. Later that year, John Lewis was charged with being drunk at the Golden Eagle, but he absconded before the court case on the S. S. Annsboro, on which he was foreman. Two years later he returned to Aberystwyth and was arrested for the offence and was fined 2s 6d (12.5p).
By 1874, Richard Morris was the landlord when a police officer knocked at the door after midnight. Mrs Morris opened the door, and on realising the caller was a policeman, rushed back in. After ‘a good deal of shuffling about, everything was as silent as the grave, and all the lights were put out.’ It turned out that one of the illicit drinkers was a recently appointed policeman ‘who probably did not know better’ and was allowed to resign. The landlord was fined £1 but had his annual licence renewed a few days later.
In 1880, Richard Morris was again charged with selling drinks after hours on a Sunday afternoon, but his defence, that the drinkers had come to tea, as guests and were not customers, was accepted by the court.
In 1884, a police officer was fined 10s (50p) for using his staff [truncheon] on a man he had accused of assaulting him probably at the Golden Eagle.
There were several other charges of drunkenness and selling drinks after hours at the Golden Eagle during 1886, so when Richard Morris applied for his new licence, it was refused on the grounds that ‘the house was of a disorderly character, the habitual resort of prostitutes, … and was not used as an inn, but merely as a tippling house and that the applicant was not a fit and proper person to hold a license. Friends and neighbours signed a petition against the closure, to no avail.


Notes: 1851
census number: 22 Mary Street
occupant: Margaret Morris age: 55 occupation: wife Machynlleth
Source: census, 1851 47

1871
census number: b Mary Street
occupant: Morgan Davies age: 35 occupation: Licenced Victualler Talybont
occupant: Catherine Davies age: 36 occupation: wife Dinas Mawddwy
Source: census, 1871 95

1871
Mary Davies, Mrs
occupation: Public House
Golden Eagle Mary Street
source: Post Office, 1871

1872
INFRINGING THB LICENSING ACT.
Morgan Davies, landlord of the. Golden Eagle, Mary-street, was summoned for having his house open at an illegal hour on the 1st instant. P.C. David Thomas (23) said that about 20 minutes to 1 o'clock last Friday morning be was on duty in Mary-street, when he heard a noise of talking in defendant's house. He knocked at the door, and while waiting for admittance could bear people going into the kitchen. When the door was opened by Mrs. Davies he asked her who was in the house, and she replied only lodgers." Hearing a noise in the passage he turned on his lamp, and saw two men, whom he knew, drunk He told Mrs Davies he should report the case and left. The men live in the town. Defendant said he did not know the men, and thought they came to the house for lodgings. They did not have any drink. The clerk stated that if they were not bona fide lodgers the mere fact of them being on the premises would be enough to convict the defendant. The magistrates fined defendant 20s. and costs, and informed him he was liable to a fine of £10.
AO 9.11.1872

1872
PETTY SESSIONS, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6TH. Before John Davies, and Richard Robert Esqs. An Offending Beerhouse Keeper Morgan Davies, keeper of the Golden Eagle beerhouse, was summoned for having had his house open during prohibited hours.- P.C. D. Thomas said he entered the defendant's house at twenty minutes to one o'clock on Thursday night last, and saw two men who were not lodged, named Charles Morgan Jones and John Lewis, there. The men were drunk. Fined.20s and costs 7s.- John Morgan Jones was fined 2s. 6d., and costs for having been on the premises after closing time. Lewis did not appear, and a warrant was ordered to be issued for his apprehension.
source?

1874
MEDICAL OFFICER'S REPORT. Mr MORRIS JONES read the following report:
Aberystwyth. 8th April, 1874. Mr Mayor and Gentlemen. In presenting you my report for the quarter ending the 31st of March, I have great pleasure in informing you that the Borough has been very free from diseases of zymotic character during that period. As far as I have been able to ascertain there have been but three cases of fever-one, a domestic servant at the Golden Eagle in Mary-street, who was removed to the fever ward at the Workhouse
CN 10.4.1874

1874
PETTY SESSIONS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15. Before the Mayor (Philip Williams, Esq) and John Davies, Esq. Refusing to Admit a constable. P.S. Evans charged Richard Morris, of the Golden Eagle, with this offence on April 7th. P.S. Evans said he was refused admission to the Golden Eagle, in Mary-street, between twelve and one o'clock on the day in question. Mrs Morris came to the door and Sergeant Evans told her who he was, and she ran away, and there was a good deal of shuffling about, and in a short time everything was as silent as the grave, and all the lights were put out. The Superintendent said there was a policeman in the house, and they could have brought a more serious charge against him. The policeman had been allowed to resign, and he had only been in town about a fortnight, and probably did not know better. Mrs Morris, who appeared for the defence, said she was not guilty of harbouring the officer. Fined £1 and costs, the conviction to be recorded on the licence.
CN 17.4.1874

1874
Petty Sessions. Mr Richard Morris applied for a renewal of the licence of the Golden Eagle, Mary-street, and the application was granted. An offence of harbouring a constable and of refusing a constable admission to the house having been recorded against the applicant, he was strictly cautioned against allowing such things to occur in future.
CN 4.9.1874

1874
AN OLD OFFENCE AGAINST THE LICENSING ACT. John Lewis, moulder, Aberystwyth, was charged with having been drunk at the Golden Eagle public-house during illegal hours on the 31st October, 1872. The summons was served at the time by P.C. D. Thomas, but the defendant absconded, and a warrant was ordered to be issued for his apprehension. The defendant was employed as foreman on board the s s. Annsboro and on the foundering of that vessel he came to Aberystwyth, where he was arrested by the police. The Bench fined him 2s. 6d and 5s. costs, allowing him a few days tor payment.
AO 12.9.1874

1875
Golden Eagle, Richard Morris, Inn and Public House, Mary Street, Aberystwyth,
(Worrall’s Directory, 1875)

1875
Richard Morris
occupation: Public House
Golden Eagle Mary Street
source: Slater's 1875

1877
Richard Morris, Mary-street, charged John Roberts, labourer, Moor-lane, with stealing a fowl. —Complainant said he lived in Mary-street and kept the Golden Eagle public house. …
CN 27.4.1877

1880
Keeping Premises Open During Prohibited Hours.
Richard Morris, Golden Eagle, licenced victualler, was charged with keeping his premises open during prohibited hours. Police Constable 35 said that about ten minutes to four last Sunday afternoon, while on duty in Mary-street, he knocked at the door of the Golden Eagle. He heard voices inside and the noise of glasses. In about a minute the door was opened by a lodger. Witness entered the kitchen where he saw Mrs Morris half asleep, and he also observed another lodger. Hearing a noise in the parlour, witness asked who was there, the landlady replied, "Mr Jenkins, a lodger." Witness entered the parlour, and found in addition to Jenkins, Jane Williams, Portland-lane, and Jane Rowlands, North-parade. He asked the two women what they were doing there at that hour. They made no reply, but Jenkins said they were invited there to dinner. On the table there were two glasses and an earthen jug which, though empty, showed signs of having contained beer. On another table was a clean cup, and on the mantel-piece three glasses, one of which contained a small quantity of beer. Jenkins said the beer had been there since dinner time. Witness returned to the kitchen and dinner time. Witness returned to the kitchen and asked Mrs Morris why she allowed the two women there at that hour, and she said “Can't I invite my friends to tea?” She then asked witness to have some beer. By Mr. Hugh Hughes: He did not see anything on the tables in the parlour which would indicate that the parties had recently had dinner? Mr. Hugh Hughes, addressing the Bench, said that, from the peculiar nature of their business, Sunday afternoon was about the only time when publicans could entertain their friends. He would endeavour to prove that last Saturday night Mrs. Morris met the two women and invited them to dinner the following day. They consented, but Mrs. Rowlands did not come in time. Mrs. Williams, however, came in the morning, and assisted Mrs, Morris to cook a goose. Several persons, including the lodgers, sat down to dinner, and the glasses which the constable saw were those which were used at dinner. The dinner was not partaken of till about half-past two. Mrs. Morris (examined) said that eight persons sat down to dinner. Mrs. Rowlands was not there at that time, but she came at three o'clock, and said she was very sorry she could not come earlier. Witness then said she had better stay to tea. No one inside the house was supplied with any liquor after dinner. Jenkins corroborated this statement. Mrs. Williams and Mrs Rowlands spoke to the same effect. The Mayor, after the evidence was heard, said We consider the police were justified in instituting these proceedings in the first instance, and we are agreed that the officer has given his evidence in a straight-forward, intelligible, and highly creditable manner. At the same time, from the evidence given for the defence, we are perfectly satisfied that the two women were in the house as guests, and the other persons as lodgers. The case is, therefore, dismissed. A charge against Jane Rowlands and Jane Williams of being found on licensed premises during prohibited hours was withdrawn.
CN 26.10.1880

1881
census number: 12 Mary Street
occupant: Richard Morris age: 45 occupation: Iron Moulder Aberystwyth
Source: census, 1881 93
1881
census number: 12 Mary Street
occupant: Margaret Morris age: 40 occupation: Llanddewi
Source: census, 1881 93

1883
Charge of Stolen Goods.—Margaret Morris, Golden Eagle, victualler's wife, was charged with having feloniously received from a certain Sarah Morgan three blankets and one counterpane, knowing them to be stolen at Aberystwyth on the 26th October.
CN 9.11.1883

1884
Richard Morris
occupation: Public House
address: Golden Eagle Mary Street
source: Kelly's trade directory, 1884

1884
Gabriel Davies, Brewer-street, hawker, was charged with having been drunk and disorderly on the 8th April. The defendant did not appear. P.C. Phillips (35) said that he was called by Mrs Morris, Golden Eagle, to eject the defendant. He was drunk and accused Mrs Morris of keeping a house of ill-fame. About eight o'clock the same evening he saw the defendant in the street without his coat and waistcoat, He was very disorderly and used abusive language. The defendant was fined 20s. and costs.
CN 18.4.1884

1884
P. C. John Evans (14) summoned Evan Jenkins, Poplar-row, moulder, for having assaulted him on the 7th June. … The Bench … unanimously decided to dismiss the case against Evan Jenkins. They also unanimously agreed that the police officer had exceeded his duty in using the staff and decided to fine him 10s. and costs.
CN 20.6.1884 [Golden Eagle?]

1885
Serious Charge against a Licensed Victualler.
Richard Morris, Golden Eagle Inn, Aberystwyth, licensed victualler, was summoned for having refused to admit a constable to his licensed premises whilst in the execution of his office on May 27th. P.C. James Lewis said that about a quarter to one on Wednesday morning last he was on duty in Mary-street and heard a great noise in the Golden Eagle Inn.
He knocked at the door and someone opened one of the upstairs windows and asked who was there. He informed the man that he was a policeman and wanted to come in. The man then went downstairs. He knocked for about a quarter of an hour, but could not gain admittance. …Edward John Thomas, 20, Mary-street, … Mrs Morris, wife of the defendant, said her husband went to the Golden Eagle about twelve years ago. … The Bench inflicted a fine of £2 and costs.
The same defendant was also charged with having permitted drunkenness on his premises … on Tuesday week [27th May] The defendant was fined £5 including costs.
Three people were find for being drunk on the premises – each fined £10s
CN 12.6.1885

1885
LICENSING SESSIONS.
Richard Morris, Golden Eagle, applied for a renewal of his license. Supt. Lloyd read the notice of objection which was that the house was of a disorderly character, the habitual resort of prostitutes, not wanted for the convenience of the public, the house was not used as an inn, but merely as a tippling house and that the applicant was not a fit and proper person to hold a license. Mr Humphries (Messrs Griff, Jones and Co.) appeared for the applicant. P.C. Lewis (20) and Sergt. Evans gave evidence in support of the charge contained in the notice of objection. A memorial signed by the friends and neighbours of the applicant was put in, and Margaret Morris, wife of the applicant, also gave evidence in support of the application. …
At the adjourned licensing sessions on Thursday the Magistrates refused to grant the renewal of the license of the Golden Eagle Inn, Mary-street.
CN 11.9.1885

1887
The Golden Eagle is marked on the 50 inch OS map in Mary Street, but it is not clear which side of the street it was on.

1887
John Jenkins, Snowdon House, livery stable keeper, sued Mr and Mrs M. Morris, Golden Eagle, Mary-street, for the recovery of £2 2s. 3d. shop goods supplied by D. P. Richards. The plaintiff was the assignee of the book debts of D. P. Richards.
CN 22.4.1887

1891
census number: 21 Mary Street
occupant: Margaret Morris age: 52 occupation: wife Aberystwyth
occupant: Richard Morris age: 55 occupation: Moulder Aberystwyth
Source: census, 1891 225

1890
William Williams, shoe-maker, Golden Eagle Cottage, Mary-street, sued William Hughes Jones, solicitor, for the recovery of £10.
W. P. Owen appeared for the plaintiff and Mr A J. Hughes for the defendant.
Mr Owen stated that Mr Hughes Jones collected the rent of plaintiff's house in Portland-lane and after serving him with a notice to quit brought a case before the Aberystwyth magistrates for ejection. The magistrates made an order to take effect in thirty days, but seven days before the expiration of the thirty days two policemen were sent to plaintiffs house and pitched him and his effects out of the house neck and crop.
On behalf of plaintiff, he (Mr Owen) wrote to Messrs Morgan and Richardson, for whom defendant acted, but they replied that defendant was agent for the collection of the rents to whom they referred plaintiff. Mr Owen contended that defendant had no right to execute the justice order until after the expiration of thirty days and that defendant was therefore responsible for the damage and inconvenience which plaintiff suffered. … After considerable argument, the Judge nonsuited the plaintiff.
CN 19.12.1890

1905
not on 1905 list

Additional information