Crown (Billericay)
William Rolph, The Crown Inn, High Street, Billericay, Essex.
The original Crown Inn, the premier coaching house in Billericay, dated from 1563.
In 1823 William Rolph was a "Horse and Gig Owner, Brewer and wine and spirit merchant". He was in partnership for a few years until John Goodman died, having made a Will dated 29th August, 1829, to his wife Mary Ann.
The Billericay Brewery Estate was sold by auction at The Black Boy, Chelmsford, on 29th January, 1830, and included three public houses and some freehold land. The following houses were sold as separate lots:-
- The Black Horse, Pilgrim's Hatch
- The King's Arms, Great Burstead
- The Rising Sun, Billericay
Other licensed houses were:-
- The Eagle and Child, Shenfield
- The Fortune of War, Burstead
- The Gun, Bowers Gifford
- The King's Head, Brentwood
- The Ship, Fobbing
The premises were described thus:-
"The extensive and well arranged Brewhouse, Hop Chamber, Cork Room and two large Vat Rooms, also a Pump of excellent water; there are two Spirit Rooms, and arched Wine Vault, Cooperage and Stabling for 8 horses. Adjoining Back Street is a substantially built Mill-House with Malt Chamber over the same; also convenient Cart Sheds. The Tap which is well situated for trade, has been built within a few years (c.1817) and comprises Tap-Room, Bar Parlour, two sleeping-rooms, Cellar, Kitchen, Woodhouse and a yard in front of same. In the field adjoining the Road is a Spring of excellent Water with a Pump". (eight acres and 29 poles, which also included water-cress beds to supply the hotel customers).
Evidently, four men were employed to pump water from the spring in "Duck Field or Well Field" up the hill and across the road into the brewery. William Rolph was at the Crown which included an upstairs Assembly Room used by the Magistrates Court, in 1848, but by the 1851 census, Louisa Curtis, aged 28 was recorded.
The Crown was last mentioned in 1859, as the license was transferred to new premises built close by the railway station, the first railway train arriving on the 1st January, 1889. The existing Coach and Horses in Chapel Street is situated on the site of the old Crown Tap. The passageway linking with the High Street called "Crown Yard" still retains part of the stables to the brewery, last used as a slaughter house by the adjacent butcher's shop.
From ESSEX BREWERS - The Malting and Hop Industries of the County by Ian P Peaty 1992 now out of print ISBN 978 1 873966 02 4