The Sun Public House Potton

Sun Public House: 4 Sun Street , Potton

Former Sun March 2007

This property, which may well be Potton's oldest remaining licensed or formerly licensed building, was Grade II Listed by Department of Environment who considered it 16th century with later re-workings. This is borne out by what may be the first reference to it in Bedfordshire & Luton Archives & Records Service when Andrew Rayment was presented at the Assizes in 1668 for operating a common ale house "contrary to statute". The Rayment (or Raymont) family certainly owned the inn in 1717 as John Raymont conveyed it to Stephen Raymont of Gamlingay in that year. By 1834 the Sun had been sold to Biggleswade brewer Samuel Wells and it remained in Wells ownership until it closed. Wells & Company was purchased by Kent businessman George Winch for his son Edward Bluett Winch in 1899 and was known as Wells& Winch until its merger with Suffolk brewing firm Greene King in the 1960s. The public house| closed in 1907 after magistrates refused to renew its licence, it was sold by Wells & Winch the following year to the former licensee Richard Tear.

Sun entry in a sale catalogue [GK1/36]

References:
- HSA1668W: Andrew Rayment presented for having a common ale house at Potton, contrary to statute [possibly the Sun?]: 1668;
- PE415: conveyed by John Raymont of Potton to Stephen Reymont of Gamlingay: 1717;
- Northamptonshire Mercury, notice to let public house: 1751;
- X202/147: Bedfordshire Volunteer Corps mess dinner at Sun: c.1800;
- X501/22: recital of assignment of cottage abutting Sun (later Two Brewers ) from William Bigg to George Sampson: 1802;
- CLP13: Register of Alehouse Licenses: 1822-1828;
- GK0/1: conveyance of brewery and licensed properties of Samuel Wells of Biggleswade, brewer, deceased to Frederick Hogg and William Lindsell: 1834;
- X501/9: conveyance of cottage immediately north of Sun public house: 1849;
- Z771/9/1: account of fire at public house: 1868;
- 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;
- GK164/16: yard noted in deed as adjoining Two Brewers: 1894;
- Z1039/34/2a and GK52/3: conveyance of licensed properties from Frederick Archdale, Charles Samuel Lindsell, Henry Martin Lindsell and Arthur Knox Lindsell to Wells & Winch: 1899;
- GK1/36: three sales catalogues bound together: Wells & Company of Biggleswade 1898; Henlow Brewery 1899; Baldock Brewery Limited 1903; 
- HF143/6: Register of Alehouse Licences - Biggleswade Petty Sessional Division: 1900-1914;
- PSBW8/1: Register of Alehouse Licences - Biggleswade Petty Sessional Division: 1903-1915;
- GK52/4: contract for sale of former Sun from Wells & Winch to Richard Tear on magistrates' refusal to re-licence: 1908;
- X758/1/8/87-92: photographs of former Sun in a derelict state: 1977/8.

List of Licensees: note that this is not a complete list. Italics indicate licensees whose beginning and/or end dates are not known:
1717: Nathaniel Atterton;
1785: John Dennis;
1822-1830: John Keeling;
1849: Thomas Cook;
1853-1889: Joseph Keeling (& farmer);
1889-1899: Susan Keeling;
1899-1907: Richard Tear
Public house closed 21 Dec 1907