Britannia Inn

aka Plummers Hill Beer House, Plummers Arms Inn

The first mention I can find of beer being sold from this premises is in the 1861 Census, when George Carter is listed as at Beer Seller at Plummers Hill Beer House. George died shortly thereafter, and it isn't entirely clear exactly what happened to the license. By the time of the 1871 census Simon Carter is the Beer Seller at Plummers Hill Beer House. Simon was not (as far as I can tell) directly related to George, but did marry his widow, Sarah, in 1864 - and then in 1867 George's daughter Hepzibah married Simon's son Felix. A slightly complicated family tree!

In Jun of 1875, on the death of his father, the license was transferred to said Felix Carter. Felix Carter remained there until sometime between 1901 and 1905, when he seems to have taken over the Lamb Inn. The license passed to his son Herbert John Carter, before being transferred to (unrelated) Reuben James Carter in 1906, who was the licensee for 26 years. Reuben James Carter was the father of William George Carter, well known Paultonian, who was the landlord of the Victoria Inn for many years. He was also the cousin of Mary Elizabeth Banfield, landlady of the Blackbird for many years.

The last licensee that I have any details of was Reginald F. Ashman, the son-in-law of Reuben James Carter, who took over probably in 1932.

The pub closed in the early 1960s.

Licensees

   ????-1861-1861 George Carter
   ????-1871-1875 Simon Carter
   1875-1901-???? Felix Carter
   ????-1905-1906 Herbert John Carter
   1906-1932 Reuben James Carter
   ????-1935-1939-???? Reginald F. Ashman

Timeline

Date	Detail	Source
07/04/1861	George Carter (age 52) is living with his wife Sarah (age 49) and daughter Hepzibah (age 21) at Plummers Hill. He is a Beer Seller.	1861 Census
19/12/1861	Burial of George Carter	Paulton Parish Records
03/09/1869	Red Lion Hotel, Paulton Inn and Simon Carter of Plummers Hill all mentioned in an article about Paulton Harvest Festival. I think this is before Simon was licensee.	Western Daily Press - 03 September 1869
28/09/1869	George Carter's license was renewed at the annual licensing session. This is confusing since George has died! Perhaps this is actually Simon.	Temple Cloud Petty Sessions
02/04/1871	Simon Carter (age 66) is living at Plummers Hill Beer House with his wife Sarah (age 60), his son Felix (age 34) and daughter Hepzibah (age 31) as well as his grandson George (age 6) and granddaughter Sarah (age 6). He is a Beer House Keeper.	1871 Census