Robin Hood (Southampton) (2)
Locality | |
---|---|
Coordinate | Near 50.9, -1.404737 |
Adm. div. | Hampshire |
Vicinity | Present Castle Way or West Street, formerly French Street |
Type | Public house |
Interest | Robin Hood name |
Status | Defunct |
First Record | 1775 |
A.k.a. | Robin Hood Inn |
By Henrik Thiil Nielsen, 2022-05-04. Revised by Henrik Thiil Nielsen, 2022-05-08.
A pub named the Robin Hood at 12 French Street in Southampton existed from 1775 or earlier to 1855 or later.
There is now no 12 French Street. At present, this street extends north from Town Quay to about the Medieval Merchant's House on the corner of French Street and Vyse Lane. On a 6" O.S. map of Southampton published in 1871, the stretch of the present Castle Way extending from there to St Michael's Church appears also to be part of French Street, while the stretch of the present Castle Way extending north from the church to the present West Street was evidently considered part of the latter. The 1898 revision of the map has French Street from Town Quay to somewhere near the church so labelled, while the present Castle Way north of there and the present West Street are not named. After WWII, French Street was renumbered and part of it renamed 'Castle Way'.[1] In modern terms, the site of the Robin Hood is probably on 'Castle Way', possibly on West Street.
The earliest record of the pub known to IRHB is found in The Hampshire Chronicle (17 Apr. 1775).[2] An 1805 local guide book lists transport and haulage fares from the pub to various locations.[3] A Southampton businessman named Robert Heather who died in 1820 was the owner of a gin distillery in French Street, part of a spirit import firm, a brewery and 'at least three inns: the Mitre, the Robin Hood and the Fish and Kettle'. He also owned various plots of land, including one in French Street. In view of this, the Robin Hood in question was more likely that in French Street than that in Sholing,[4] which, it should also be noted, is not in evidence before 1871. The publican in 1843 was Jeremiah Viney;[5] in 1853[6] and 1855[7] James Hurdle.
According to The Southampton Herald for 3 June 1837, 'Mr J Woolfe, of Portsea whose vocal abilities, inexhaustible [...] budget of songs, and whose private worth, are well known, will give an entertainment on Wednesday evening next, at the Robin Hood Inn, French Street Southampton. No formal charge will be made and we can ensure [...] all visitors a pleasant evening's entertainment'.[8]
Gazetteers
- Not included in Dobson, R. B., ed.; Taylor, J., ed. Rymes of Robyn Hood: an Introduction to the English Outlaw (London, 1976), pp. 293-311.
Sources
- Anonymous. The Hampshire Chronicle: or, Winchester, Southampton, and Portsmouth Mercury (17 Apr. 1775), p. 1; not seen but cf. Newspaper Archive (£)
- Anonymous. The Southampton Herald for 3 June 1837; not seen but cf. RootsChat.Com > England > England > Hampshire & Isle of Wight > The Pic Nic Theatre
- Cooper, William. Post Office Directory of the Borough of Southampton, and the Neighbourhood Comprised in the Postmaster's Official District (Southampton, 1843), p. 101
- [Kelly, E. R.], compil. Post Office Directory of Hampshire, Wiltshire, and Dorsetshire (London, 1855), Hampshire, p. 301
- Preston, Richard. Richard Evamy: Saddler, Hop Merchant and Property Speculator in Southampton, 1788–1855 ([s.l.], 2015), p. [4]
- Pub History: Southampton 1853 Inn Keepers post office directory
- [Skelton, T.]. The Southampton Guide: being a Description of the Ancient and Present State of That Town and Neighbourhood; Together with the Principal Roads to Different Parts of the Kingdom; Times of Post Going out and Coming in. Also of Coaches, Wagons, Packets, &c. Tide Table; and the Rates and Regulations of Porters, Barrowmen, Boats, &c., Under the New Port Act. Eighteenth Edition, enlarged and improved (Southampton, [1805]), p. 109.
Maps
- 25" O.S. map Hampshire & Isle of Wight LXV.10 (c. 1871; surveyed 1865–67). No copy in NLS
- 25" O.S. map Hampshire & Isle of Wight LXV.10 (1897; rev. 1895) (georeferenced)
- 25" O.S. map Hampshire & Isle of Wight LXV.10 (1897; rev. 1895)
- 25" O.S. map Hampshire & Isle of Wight LXV.10 (1910; rev. 1907)
- 25" O.S. map Hampshire & Isle of Wight LXV.10 (1933; rev. 1931)
- 25" O.S. map Hampshire & Isle of Wight LXV.10 (1934; rev. 1934)
- 6" O.S. map Hampshire & Isle of Wight LXV (1871; surveyed 1866–69)
- 6" O.S. map Hampshire & Isle of Wight LXV.SW (1898; rev. 1895) (georeferenced)
- 6" O.S. map Hampshire & Isle of Wight LXV.SW (1898; rev. 1895)
- 6" O.S. map Hampshire & Isle of Wight LXV.SW (1910; rev. 1907–08)
- 6" O.S. map Hampshire & Isle of Wight LXV.SW (c. 1935; rev. 1931–34)
- 6" O.S. map Hampshire & Isle of Wight LXV.SW (c. 1943; rev. 1938)
- 6" O.S. map Hampshire & Isle of Wight LXV.SW (c. 1946; rev. 1938).
Background
Also see
Notes
- ↑ Closing Pubs of Southampton.
- ↑ Anonymous. The Hampshire Chronicle: or, Winchester, Southampton, and Portsmouth Mercury (17 Apr. 1775), p. 1; not seen but cf. Newspaper Archive (£).
- ↑ [Skelton, T.]. The Southampton Guide: being a Description of the Ancient and Present State of That Town and Neighbourhood; Together with the Principal Roads to Different Parts of the Kingdom; Times of Post Going out and Coming in. Also of Coaches, Wagons, Packets, &c. Tide Table; and the Rates and Regulations of Porters, Barrowmen, Boats, &c., Under the New Port Act. Eighteenth Edition, enlarged and improved (Southampton, [1805]), p. 109.
- ↑ Preston, Richard. Richard Evamy: Saddler, Hop Merchant and Property Speculator in Southampton, 1788–1855 ([s.l.], 2015), p. [4].
- ↑ Cooper, William. Post Office Directory of the Borough of Southampton, and the Neighbourhood Comprised in the Postmaster's Official District (Southampton, 1843), pp. 101, 167 (quater), 168 (bis), 169.
- ↑ Pub History: Southampton 1853 Inn Keepers post office directory.
- ↑ [Kelly, E. R.], compil. Post Office Directory of Hampshire, Wiltshire, and Dorsetshire (London, 1855), Hampshire, pp. 144, 301; Pub History: Public Houses, Inns & Taverns of Hampshire in 1855 - QR.
- ↑ The Southampton Herald (1837-06-03); not seen but cf. RootsChat.Com > England > England > Hampshire & Isle of Wight > The Pic Nic Theatre. We silently emend the first word from 'My' to 'Mr' and have replaced queries with ellipses.