Rose and Crown, Market Place, Wisbech, 1957 (Lilian Ream)

Rose and Crown, Market Place, Wisbech

History of the Rose and Crown

1435 commenced as inn, probably as ‘Swan’

1475 ‘Pheasant and Trumpet’ built with extensive green around as place of public entertainment.

1601 an old sign with the representation of a horn and pheasant survives.

1700 current structure erected. There is a large ‘Trumpet Hall’ that can accommodate 200 diners.

1792 Royal Mail Coaches left here for the ‘Golden Cross’ West Strand London every day. Cost inside £1 5s, outside 12s 6d.

1816 Charles Laughton proprietor

1828 ‘Hero’ coaches left at 6.30am Monday, Wednesday and Fridays for Piccadilly London arriving about 7pm. The Union Coach connected the town with Norwich; the Hope Sociable connected with Boston.

1845 Ann Goddard proprietress. In 1850 she set up an omnibus service which would run to and from the station.

1852 In the news April was reported ‘Omnibus Nuisance.’ There was a price war between different bis services with each making lots of noise to draw attraction to their service.

1853 Mrs Goddard handed over the running of the business to her son John.

1857 William Tidnam took over. He died in 1895 and his widow took over and then H A Tidnam.

1932 H A Tidnam died.

(source The Inns and Taverns of Wisbech – a survey from the earliest times to 1950 by Arthur Artis Oldham, 1993)