The Three Blackbirds Public House Potton

Three Blackbirds Public House: 9 Blackbird Street, Potton [also Blackbirds]

former Three Blackbirds Mar 2007

This public house| is first mentioned in any record held by Bedfordshire & Luton Archives & Records Service in the licensing records of 1822-1828. It is a moot point whether it was named after the street in which it stood or vice-versa. At that date it appears to have been held by the Tear family as they sold it to Wells & Company, Biggleswade brewers, in 1838. The property was copyhold, that is it was held from the Lord of the Manor, the owners being notional tenants (though by this date the only interest that manor had was to charge rent and impose a fee (or fine) when the premises was sold). Wells & Company became Wells & Winch when purchased by Kent businessman George Winch for his son Edward Bluett Winch in 1899. The public house closed just after the beginning of the Great War in 1914.

Three Blackbirds (right) 1910 [X758/1/8/105]

References:
- CLP13: Register of Alehouse Licenses: 1822-1828;
- Z1039/34/1: epitome of surrender from Elizabeth and William Tear to William Hogg and Robert Lindsell: 1837;
- Z1039/34/1: epitome admission of William Hogg and Robert Lindsell: 1838;
- 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;
- Z1039/34/1: epitome admission of Frederick Archdale: 1895;
- Z1039/34/1: epitome enfranchisement to Frederick Archdale: 1899;
- GK1/36: three sales catalogues bound together: Wells & Company of Biggleswade 1898; Henlow Brewery 1899; Baldock Brewery Limited 1903; 
- Z1039/34/2a: conveyance of licensed properties from Frederick Archdale, Charles Samuel Lindsell, Henry Martin Lindsell and Arthur Knox Lindsell to Wells & Winch: 1899;
- HF143/6: Register of Alehouse Licences - Biggleswade Petty Sessional Division: 1900-1914;
- PSBW8/1: Register of Alehouse Licences - Biggleswade Petty Sessional Division: 1903-1915;
- X758/1/8/1-5 and 106: photographs: c.1910

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: Elizabeth Tear;
1839: William Tear;
1861-1864: David Dear (also whitesmith, gunsmith and general smith);
1869: William Armond;
1872: David Ibbott;
1872-1885: George Kitchener junior;
1885-1887: Charles Huckle;
1887-1890: Anthony G.P.Scard;
1890: Charles Brown;
1891-1892: James Stewart;
1892-1894: Annie Maria Milton King;
1894-1895: Joseph Hartill;
1895-1896: William Henry Austin;
1896: Joseph Lilley;
1896-1901: Ann Giles;
1901-1907: George Andrew MacCord;
1907-1908: William John Green;
1908-1911: Edwin Ellis;
1911: Thomas M.Lamb;
1911-1914: Alfred James Harris
Public house closed 23 Oct 1914