Smiths Arms Public House

Smith's Arms about 1900 [Z50/67/43]

Smiths Arms Public House: 15 Margetts Road, Kempston

In 1855 John Walker leased a partially built cottage to Baldock brewer, John Steed. Given that the lease included an agreement to build a blacksmith's shop it is clear that this was the genesis of the Smith's Arms. The place is first mentioned by name in 1860 when Walker mortgaged it . He gave John Steed notice to quit in 1867 and sold it to Frederick Samuel Cleaver. Cleaver put the place up for auction in 1872 when it was described thus: "Lot Sixteen: ‘The Smiths Arms’ Beer House|, Up End, Kempston, about 2 miles from Bedfordshire County Council A brick, slated, and tiled house, of modern erection, containing Tap Room, Parlour, Kitchen, Cellar, 4 Bedrooms and 2 attics, also a large Tap Room with doors opening on to road and loft over; A Yard at the back, with Gates to road, containing a brick and tiled Wash-house, and a brick and tiled Stable for 2 horses with loft over. Adjoining the House are 2 brick-built cottages of 4 rooms each, and small Barn, in the occupation of Dudley & Smart; Also a similar cottage adjoining the Stable, in the occupation of Walker. This property is FREEHOLD. Let to William Sharp at £25 per annum".

The purchaser was Frederick Thomas Young but by 1877 it was owned by brewer William Pritzler Newland who mortgaged it to Charles William Powell. Susan, widow of William Joseph Nash, owner of Nash & Company took Newland as partner in 1890 to create Newland & Nash. Newland immediately closed his Duck Mill Brewery in Bedford, moving to Nash's larger Steam Brewery in Lurke Street. The company became a public limited company as Newland & Nash Limited in 1897 and, a year later gave the Smith's Arms to rival Bedford brewer Charles Wells in exchange for Wells' Black Horse| Beerhouse at the junction of Bunyan Road ad Woburn Road. The beerhouse became a fully licensed public house after World War Two and, at the time of writing [2007] remains a Charles Wells house.

In 1927 Bedfordshire was valued under the Rating Valuation Act 1925; every piece of land and building was valued to determine the rates to be paid on it. The valuer visiting the Smith's Arms found that accommodation comprised a public bar with four beer pulls, a jug bar ["very small"], living room and kitchen downstairs with a sitting room, box room and two bedrooms above. Weekly trade was one barrel of beer in winter and two in summer as well as about 16 dozen bottles of beer and 3 or 4 dozen bottles of minerals. The valuer noted: "Complains of competition of Conservative Club and also Liberal Club. Corner house built 1898. Good brick and slate building but a poor front". Given the fact that the place was clearly in the course of being built in 1855 one must conclude that either the valuer was misinformed about the date or that the place was demolished and rebuilt in 1898 when, of course, Charles Wells had taken it over. Alterations meant the Smith's Arms was revalued in 1932 when the valuer noted: "No increase in present £25 rent. As before plus brick rear extension to bar, makes large bar now, just what he wanted. Say +£4 =£40". 

Smith's Arms October 2007

Sources: 

- GK132/2: recited mortgage by John Walker to Francis Green on newly built cottage in Up End abutting street N and E: 1820;
- GK132/1: redemption of Land Tax on a house divided into two in Up End by John Walker: 1854;
- GK132/10: copy agreement for 7 year lease from John Walker of Kempston, carpenter to John Steed of Baldock, brewer of partially built messuage with agreement to build blacksmith's shop: 1855;
- GK132/2: reconveyance, on redemption of mortgage, by Mary Green and Rev.Henry Green to John Walker: 1860;
- GK132/3: mortgage by John Walker of Kempston, carpenter to James Pettit of messuage used as beerhouse called Smiths Arms: 1860;
- GK132/5: reconveyance by James Pettit to John Walker: 1863;
- GK132/6: mortgage by John Walker to Ampthill Permanent benefit Building Society: 1863;
- GK132/7: further charge by John Walker to Ampthill Permanent Benefit Building Society: 1867;
- GK132/11: notice to quit issued to John Steed: 1867;
- GK132/15: conveyance of Smiths Arms, blacksmith's shop and two cottages by John Walker and others to Frederick Samuel Cleaver: 1867;
- GK132/16: note of agreement to lease by William Sharp: 1870;
- CRT160/210: sale catalogue: 1872;
- GK132/20: mortgage of Shoulder of Mutton, Cross Keys and Smiths Arms by Frederick Thomas Young to Charles Mitchell: 1874;
- GK132./17: valuation of Shoulder of Mutton, Cross Keys and Smiths Arms by R.B.Stafford: 1874;
- GK160/1: mortgage of Smiths Arms and other properties by Frederick Thomas Young to William George Carter Mitchell: 1875; reconveyed to William Pritzler Newland, 1891;
- GK160/4: mortgage of Smiths Arms and other properties by William Pritzler Newland to Charles William Powell: 1877;
- GK132/20: Shoulder of Mutton, Cross Keys and Smiths Arms reconveyed by Charles Mitchell to William Pritzler Newland: 1883;
- GK132/21: mortgage of Shoulder of Mutton, Cross Keys and Smiths Arms by William Pritzler Newland to Henry Raynes and George Race: 1883;
- GK132/22: transfer of mortgage of Shoulder of Mutton, Cross Keys and Smiths Arms from George race to Susan Milburn Mitchell: 1889;
- UDKPZ/35: plan of new garage: 1896;
- GK132/23: Shoulder of Mutton, Cross Keys and Smiths Arms reconveyed by Susan Milburn Mitchell to William Pritzler Newland: 1897;
- GK3/1a: conveyance from William Pritzler Newland, Emily Cressy Nash, Florence Mary Nash, Rosa Gertrude Nash and Constance Eveline Nash to Newland & Nash Limited of all properties: 1897;
- CCE2838/12: Black Horse exchanged by Charles Wells for Smiths Arms of Newland & Nash: 1898;
- Z50/67/43: photograph: C20th;
- DV1/C/25: rating valuation: 1927;
- DV1/X/196: rating valuation: 1932;
- Z965/16/1 License to the Wildmans, recited in abstract of title to 13 & 15 Little Thurlow St, Bedford 1933;
- UDKP748: plans of alterations: 1935

List of Licensees: note that this is not a complete list. Italics indicate licensees whose beginning and/or end dates are not known: 

1861: Francis Green;
1863: James Allen;
1871-1891: William Sharp;
1897: Albert Smith;
1903-1931: Frederick Warren;
1931-1946: William Edward Wildman;
1951-1961: William Leslie Day;
1965-1971: Cyril Benjamin Coley;
1971-1974: Alfred George Tinley;
1974-1978: Robert Ernest Ansell;
1978-1996: Alan Frank Umney;
1996: Stephen Richard Maisek