Green Man Public House

Green Man Public House: 6 Bull Street, Potton [earlier White Lion] 

Former Green Man Public House pictured in March 2007

Most of the deeds to this public house| are at Hertfordshire Archives Service under reference in the collection of archives of Simpson's Brewery of Baldock under reference T123, they extend from 1707 to 1785. Other than references in the various licensing registers Bedfordshire & Luton Archives & Records Service just has the will of George Pedly devising the White Lion to his son George, a few bills in the churchwarden's accounts from the 19th century and two photographs from the 1920s. Simpson & Company was established in 1853 by Thomas George and Joseph Simpson and was floated as a private company in 1935 as Simpson's Brewery Limited, in 1954 it was taken over by Suffolk brewers Greene King becoming Greene King (Baldock) Limited in 1963, however, the brewery was demolished two years later and the company absorbed by Greene King (Biggleswade) Limited, which dropped the Biggleswade reference in 1990. The Green Man closed at some point after 1977 and is now a private house.

In 1927 the Green Man was valued under the 1925 Rating Valuation Act - the valuer noted that the tenant was not forthcoming ("refused information"). It contained 5 bed rooms upstairs with a "Bl" (bathroom with lavatory?) with a bar, parlour, living room and kitchen downstairs, outside were a cart shed, two barns and wood store as well as a garden. The business sold two and a half barrels per week "now…say 3 brls fair average". It also sold about a dozen bottles of spirits and half a gallon of bulk spirits in a week. 

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

1822-1830: William Meeks;
1850: George Munns;
1853-1869: Thomas Norman
1872-1874: Susan Norman;
1874-1878: Charles Peacock;
1878-1882: Thomas Parkin;
1882: William Sharp;
1891-1893: William Ward;
1893-1896: Hannah Ward;
1896-1900: Thomas Paine;
1900-1901: Sarah Jane Paine;
1901-1914: Alfred Hutchinson [convicted on 17 Jan 1906 of selling adulterated rum - fined 5/- with £1/1/4 costs];
1920-1940: George Lenton;
1957-1965: Edwin Horace Lightly;
1965-1968: Robert Desmond Priest;
1968-1969: George Sidney Russell;
1969: Michael Gravestock;
1976-1977: Raymond Tolson;
1977: Alan Thomas Britton

References:
- WG88: probate of will of George Pedly devising Kings Head to his son John and Cock, Maidenhead, Kings Arms and White Lion to his son George: 1720;
- CRT110/102: note of deeds of Simpsons of Baldock brewery and licensed houses held by Hertfordshire Archives Service [T123]: 1707-1785;
- P64/5/1-4: bill from inn: C19;
- CLP13: Register of Alehouse Licenses: 1822-1828;
- HF143/1: Register of Alehouse Licences - Biggleswade Petty Sessional Division: 1872-1873;
- HF143/2: Register of Alehouse Licences - Biggleswade Petty Sessional Division: 1874-1877;
- HF143/3: Register of Alehouse Licences - Biggleswade Petty Sessional Division: 1878-1881;
- HF143/4: Register of Alehouse Licences - Biggleswade Petty Sessional Division: 1882-1890;
- HF143/5: Register of Alehouse Licences - Biggleswade Petty Sessional Division: 1891-1900;
- HF143/6: Register of Alehouse Licences - Biggleswade Petty Sessional Division: 1900-1914;
- PSBW8/1: Register of Alehouse Licences - Biggleswade Petty Sessional Division: 1903-1915;
- X758/1/8/118-119: photographs: c.1920s;
- DV1/C11: rating valuation: 1927;
- PSBW8/2: Register of Alehouse Licences
- Biggleswade Petty Sessional Division: 1956-1972;
- PSBW8/3: Register of Alehouse Licences - Biggleswade and North Bedfordshire Petty Sessional Divisions: 1976-1980.