Description from the Western Daily Press - Wednesday 16 February 1898, page 1:
"THE NEPTUNE HOTEL & CITY VAULTS, Which occupy an extremely fine position at the Junction of VICTORIA and TEMPLE STREETS, BRISTOL. The Premises were built especially for the business, are modern in style and of imposing architectural elevation, having a spire in front, with a large Illuminated Clock, and with Entrances from both Streets. The accommodation, comprises large and lofty Bar. Private Luncheon Bar, Wholesale Stores, Billiard Room, Offices, excellent and commodious Beer and Wine Cellars and convenient dwelling accommodation. The situation is in one the busiest thoroughfares in the city, where there is a continuous flow pedestrian and vehicular traffic, and on the main route to the railway station, which is within three minutes' walk. THE EXTENSIVE COUNTER TRADE conducted during the six working days of the week only, is of a highly profitable nature, and a portion of the upper part of the property can let off for Offices, which are in a great demand, without interfering with the business in any way. The Premises are now let to Messrs Allsopp and Sons. Limited, on Lease, for a term expiring 21st December, 1901."
The photograph below from an old postcard was taken after 1901 as the Neptune was by then a Free House.
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The face of the clock was let for
advertising in 1901 and part of the premises let as a shop.
James Keen was born at Painswick, Gloucs. in 1837, originally James Burdock, son of Philip Burdock and Sarah Keen. Philip and Sarah co-habited in Painswick, eventually marrying in 1868. James married Elizabeth Durston at St. Philip's Holy Trinity, Bristol on 1 June 1862. He appears in the 1871 census as a barman living in Colston Ave., St. Mary Redciffe. He set up business with Elizabeth at the Neptune by November 1871. Unfortunately James died 25 Sept. 1877 at Victoria Street, leaving wife Elizabeth running the Hotel for a short time.
Charles James Dawes, a brewery employee and wine merchant's manager, held the license for the Cross Keys after the Keens, after which he moved to the management of the Clifton Club House, 2 Mall Buildings. Charles was born in Syderstone, Norfolk, in 1827, son of Benjamin and Susan. In 1871 he was a wine merchant's manager living in Abbotsham Place, St. Philip's.
Henry Hurman was born in Bridgwater, Somerset, on 12 Feb. 1818, son of Richard Hurman and Hester/Esther Leman who married by license in Chard in 1810. Henry was baptised at St. Nicholas, Bristol on 16 June 1825, along with sisters Dinah, Sarah (b. July 1823), Esther Leman, and brother Edward (b. 5 July 1821). They also had a son Richard in about 1815.
Henry married Charlotte Lloyd of Chedzoy near Bridgwater, by license at Langport, on 28 March 1839.
By the early 1840s the family had moved to London, and in 1851 Henry was a grocer at 8 Oakley Crescent, St. Luke, Finsbury. They had sons Richard (7) and Henry (1) and daughter Charlotte (3), all born in London.
On 20 November 1878, Henry Hurman took the license of the Cross Keys, Victoria Street, Bristol, previously run by Charles James Dawes. Henry was an agent for Allsopp's Burton Ales, his barmaid at the Cross Keys was Annie Beere. There was also a wholesale bar on the premises worked by a Miss Graves, the tavern had three entrances, one on Temple Street. A robbery took place there in June 1884.
Henry announced in the Western Daily Press - Thursday 26 February 1885 page 4, that he had now left the business in Victoria Street. By 1891 he was running a Draper's and Grocer's shop at 295 Gloucester Road, Horfield, Bristol.
Henry died on 21 Nov. 1898 at the Bath and Somerset County Lunatic asylum, Wells, where he had been admitted on the previous 28 April.
| 4 gallon stoneware flagon |   |
| Impressed:
4 / HENRY HURMAN / Wine and Spirit Merchant / Victoria Street /
BRISTOL Potter: Price + Bristol. |
Francis Jobson Vizard was born in 1831, baptised 11 Dec. in Chipping Sodbury son of a Chimney Sweep William Vizard Jnr. and wife Anne. In 1851 Francis was working as Shopman for Albert D. Morton, grocer and wine & spirit merchant, High Street, Chipping Sodbury. Francis married Hester Elizabeth Gibbs at Frampton Cotterell on 12 July 1859, he was a grocer at that time, and his father William had become a china dealer. In 1861 he was a corn, flour and provision merchant in Broad Street, Chipping Sodbury. He had added Wine Merchant to that list by Feb.1866. He was in partnership with older brother William Vizard as a wine, spirit and corn merchant in the High Street, Chipping Sodbury by 1869-1881 (F. J. & W. Vizard). Francis joined 103 Beaufort Lodge of the Freemasons on 5 Oct. 1869. Francis moved to Argyle Street, Eastville, Bristol and took over from Henry Hurman at Victoria Street in 1885, the license of the Cross Keys hotel was transferred on Weds. 6 May 1885. Within two months, however, the business failed and Francis was adjudicated a bankrupt by 23 June when he appeared in the London Gazette. He lost his 21 year old son, Francis Henry, at Oxford, in August 1886.
From the Western Daily Press - Tuesday 03 March 1885 page 4: "CITY WINE AND SPIRIT STORES, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL. 54 & 56 VICTORIA STREET, & TEMPLE STREET, BRISTOL. This Old-established Business, originally carried on by the late Mr. James Keen, will in future be conducted by Mr F. J. VIZARD, Chipping Sodbury, and Mr JNO. GIBSON, of Cheddar, who hope by personal attention to the business, careful selection of Stock, and the same liberality in management displayed by the late Mr James Keen, to regain the support accorded him."
The license for the Cross Keys remained with
Francis until it was transferred on 16 May 1888. By 1891 Francis had
become a commercial traveller, living at 18 Albert Park, Bristol. He died
at home that year on 20 June. His funeral was at Arnos Vale on Tuesday 23
June 1891.
| 3 Gallon Stoneware Flagon |  |
| Impressed:
3 / F J & W VIZARD / Wine and Spirit Merchant / CHIPPING SODBURY Potter: Price + Bristol. Image: Courtesy Martin Tudor collection. |
From the Western Daily Press -
Saturday 13 August 1887, page 1: "PRELIMINARY ADVERTISEMENT. CITY WINE
AND SPIRIT STORES, VICTORIA STREET, BRISTOL. Mr. EDWARD T. PARKER
has been favoured with instructions SUBMIT for PUBLIC COMPETITION, during
the month of September next. All that Handsome Corner WINE AND SPIRIT
ESTABLISHMENT, Occupying a magnificent position at the junction of
Victoria and Temple Streets, Bristol, full particuiars which will be duly
announced, Auction and Estate Offices. 39. Broad Street. Bristol."
Edward Wildman Basevi Villiers was born in Hartlebury, Worcs. in 1830, baptised on 20 August, son of William and Susannah. His father William was Vicar of Bromsgrove and Hon. Canon of Worcester Cathedral. Edward joined the army in 1855 and served that year in the Crimea with the 34th. He transferred to the 5th Northumberland Fusiliers, and was Lieutenant, until his marriage to Augusta Caroline Raikes, daughter of Henry Thomas Raikes, late Judge of the High Court of Calcutta. The marriage took place at St. Stephen's, Kensington, Middx. on May 1881. At the time, Edward was living at The Elms, Brislington, Bristol. He left the army as Captain and had come to Bristol in 1864, where he was employed as district manager for Allsopp & Sons Brewery until 1892. Whilst he was employed by Allsopps he held the license of the Cross Keys from 16 May 1888 until 10 July 1889. in 1892 he succeeded Mr. S. P. Jackson as Superintendant of the Clifton Zoo but retired due to ill health in 1911. Captain Villiers was for many years director of the Royal Hotel Company, and was also on the directorate the Steam Navigation Company and Messrs Hudden and Co. He was also member of the Committee of the Bristol Dogs' Home, a keen angler, and popular Hon. Secretary of the Avon and Tributaries Angling Association. He died Weds. 29 Dec. 1915 and was buried at Portbury on 1 Jan. 1916.
From the Western Daily Press - Monday 31 December 1888 page 2: "WANTED, strong GENERAL SERVANT; one from the country preferred.— Apply Walkley, Neptune Hotel, City Wine and Spirit stores, Victoria Street."
John Jabez Walkley was born in West Harptree, Somerset, in 1859, son of Cordwainer and Grocer John Walkley and wife Anne. In 1871 the family had a shop at Ubley, Somerset. In 1881 John was living with brother James at Wellington Road St. Philips, where they were both Beer Travellers. John married Kate Johnson on 11 Feb.1883 at Stapleton Holy Trinity. John had the Off License on Easton Parade until Weds. 21 April 1886. From 9 June 1886 he took the license of the Golden Lion, Trinity Street, where he was granted permission to make a doorway to the front so he could serve customers without them entering the ordinary bar. On 18 Jan. 1888 he became licensee of the Three Tuns, Lawrence Hill, which transferred to his brother Thomas on 16 May the same year. He took over the license for the Cross Keys on Weds. 10 July 1889 having moved there by the end of 1888, by 6 Nov. 1889 he was before the official receivers. John died in Victoria, Australia in 1940.
Caroline Coleman was born in Lincoln, in 1857, husband Charles was born in London around 1837, I can find no record of a marriage. The family moved to Bristol from Plymouth in the late 1880s. Caroline was former landlady of the Ship and Pilot Boat, Narrow Quay for which she gained the license from James Walker on 10 July 1889, it was then transferred to John Rowe on 4 Dec. 1889. On Weds, 5 Dec. 1889 the license of the Neptune was transferred from John Jabez Walkley to Caroline Coleman. Her subsequent request for a 7 day license, rather than 6 day, on 26 Sept. 1894 was refused. Caroline Coleman died in 1896 aged 39. The license reverted to her ailing husband, who was ill and being cared for by daughter Caroline (Carrie). I can find no registration records for daughters Carrie and Jenny who were born in Plymouth, nor Mabel the youngest who was born in Bristol and 8 months old in 1891.
In February 1898 the Neptune & City Vaults was again offered for sale.
Charles Coleman of the Neptune Hotel, Victoria Street, died 28 January 1901. Daughter Caroline went to work for Emily Pratten (former manageress of the Bristol Bodega) at her pub in Ilfracombe in 1901. Youngest daughter Mabel ended up in Stapleton Workhouse. Second daughter Jenny remained at the hotel at 54 Victoria Street, as nursemaid to the Bowles, the next manager's family.
Joseph Bowles appears in the 1901 census as manager of the Neptune Hotel, shortly after the death of Charles Coleman. He was born in Temple, Bristol, in 1875. He married Emily Fox on 31 July 1898 in St. Paul, Bedminster. By 1911 Joseph and family are managing a hotel in Newport, Mon.
The furnishings and fittings of the Neptune, which was then No. 56 only, were sold "under distress and deed of assignment" Thursday 5 Dec. 1907.
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