Flying Dutchman
Overview
The story of the Flying Dutchman starts with Thomas Brodribb, born in Paulton in 1836. In the 1861 census, he is living on Brittons Hill with his mother and father. His father died in 1861 and his mother in 1865, and this seems to be the time that Thomas began selling beer from the property (perhaps on inheriting the house?). Thomas continued as licensee until some time in the 1890s, when the license was taken over by Alfred Langridge. He remained there until the license was revoked in 1920. This seems to be a time when many beer licenses in the area were revoked on the grounds of "redundancy". It was felt by the police at least that there were simply too many pubs. Compensation was paid to the owners when this happened.
It does not sound as if it was a very salubrious place. According to a description it "had very poor public accommodation, and no sanitary convenience was provided. The bar was an ordinary room 12ft. 10in by 11ft. 5in., and the taproom was 14ft. 7in. by 9ft. 7in"
Photos
Location
The Flying Dutchman is marked as a Beer House (BH) on this OS map from 1884. This is behind 'Hillside' on Britten's Hill.
Licensees
1865-1892-???? Thomas Brodribb
????-1921 Alfred Langridge
Owners
Timeline
| Date | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1865 | Thomas Brodripp became licensee sometime around here. In an article from 1892, he had been licensee for 27 years. | Bristol Mercury - 23 November 1892 |
| 24/07/1866 | Thomas Brodribb of Paulton - allowing two donkeys to stray on the highway | Temple Cloud Petty Sessions |
| 06/11/1866 | Thomas Brodribb, beerhouse keeper of Paulton, summoned for keeping his beerhouse open during prohibited hours on a Sunday | Temple Cloud Petty Sessions |
| 02/07/1867 | Thomas Brodribb of Paulton - allowing hid donkey to stray onto the highway | Temple Cloud Petty Sessions |
| 28/09/1869 | Thomas Brodribb's license was renewed | Temple Cloud Petty Sessions |
| 02/04/1871 | Thomas Brodribb (age 35) is living with his wife Eliza (age 30) at a Beer House at Brittons. He is a Boiler Maker and Beer House Keeper | 1871 Census |
| 25/09/1877 | Thomas Brodribb, beerseller, accused Giles Pearce of trespass | Temple Cloud Petty Sessions |
| 26/12/1879 | Boxing Day fight at the Flying Dutchman. It started during dancing, one flicked tobacco dust in the others eye. | Temple Cloud Petty Sessions |
| 31/08/1880 | Annual Licensing Session. Complaint from police about Thomas Brodribb of Paulton - caution given. | Temple Cloud Petty Sessions |
| 03/04/1881 | Tom Brodribb (age 45) is living with his wife Eliza (age 40) at Brittons. He is a Beerseller. | 1881 Census |
| 05/04/1891 | Thomas Brodribb (age 54) is living with his wife Eliza (age 49) and his nephew Frederick Grant (age 35) at the "Flying Dutchman". He is a beer seller. | 1891 Census |
| 08/11/1892 | Thomas Brodribb, licensee, was summoned for allowing drunkenness on his premises on Oct 24th - adjourned to the next session. | Temple Cloud Petty Sessions Bristol Times and Mirror - 09 November 1892 |
| 23/11/1892 | Proceedings brought against Thomas Brodribb for allowing drunkenness. He had been licensee for 27 years "without a single complaint". He was cleared. | Bristol Mercury - 23 November 1892 Western Chronicle - 25 November 1892 |
| 24/03/1893 | William Maggs, a young man of Paulton, was summoned for being disorderly and refusing to quit the Flying Dutchman, Paulton, on the 9th of Jan. A fine of 10s and costs was imposed. | Western Chronicle - 27 January 1893 |
| 31/03/1901 | Alfred Langridge (age 41) is living with his mother Eliza (age 67) at the Flying Dutchman. Alfred is an Innkeeper. | 1901 Census |
| 02/03/1920 | License refused - the article discussing the reasons why is a very interesting description of the beer house, and the surrounding area. | Somerset Guardian and Radstock Observer - 05 March 1920 |
| 16/07/1920 | License refused by Somerset Compensation Authority. Owner was the executors of the late W. H. Baxter. Licensee was Alfred Langridge. It had been referred by the Licensing Justices of the Temple Cloud division. | Wells Journal - 16 July 1920 |
| 12/01/1921 | License being lost. Tenant was an old man who would lose his only means of support. Compensation of £638 10s 2d (valuation had been £849 4s) was accepted reluctantly, so the house must have closed after this. | Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser - 12 January 1921 Western Daily Press - 07 January 1921 |