Mount Pleasant, Keresley Heath
| Alternative Addresses: | Keresley Green | ||
| These premises have been known by different names during their history: | FROM | TO | NAME |
| 1842 | 1862 | Mount Pleasant | |
| 1845 | 1850 | Beerhouse | |
| According to the 1841 census Joseph Enser, wheelright, lived at the MOUNT PLEASANT, or at least what became that sign. William Hixon was living next door to the Old Shepherd and Shepherdess which was in the hands of Thomas Hyde.
Later in 1841 the premises (MOUNT PLEASANT), now occupied by both Enser & Hickson, were to be sold as advertised in the Coventry Herald dated 10th December, 1841. The advert continued, "As there is an Enclosure and a Church in contemplation to be erected near the Premises, it will make the Estate of more value. The Property pays no acknowledgement of the Lord of the Manor, nor Land Tax, and other rates are but trifling." This appears to have been a typical beerhouse where you could have a drink and buy bread whilst you had your wagon wheels repaired.
The MOUNT PLEASANT was For Sale again in 1847 and 1848, and occupied by William Hixon (sometime Hickson). According to the 1851 and 1861 census returns he was still living at the pub where he was described as baker, beer-seller/publican. A report in the Coventry Herald dated 3rd October 1851 reads as follows, "ANSTY - PETTY SESSIONS. William Hickson, a beerhouse keeper at Keresley, was charged, on the information of Inspector Bloxham, with keeping open his house till a later hour than allowed by Act of Parliament. It appeared from the evidence given in support of this charge, that on the night of 6th of September, inst., Police Constable Backen being on duty, went into the house at ten minutes to 11 o'clock, and found 15 or 16 men there in the tap-room, smoking and drinking. Mrs. Hixon was then bringing up another quart of ale from the cellar, which being placed on the table, they filled out a glass and requested Backen to drink with them, but he declined to do so, and having told them to disperse he left the house.
Mr. Reade, who represented Hickson, called William Beach, who stated that he was present at Hickson's house, and remembered perfectly well that some one of the company having said it was ten o'clock by the Church (clock), they every one of them drank up the beer they had in their measures, and distinctly swore that no other ale had been brought into the room after that time, and that they had all stopped in the house without anything further to drink till the Constable came.
Hannah Hickson, daughter of the defendant, was also examined, who stated that it was not her mother whom Backen saw coming out of the cellar, but herself, who had been drawing some mixed beer for their supper, and that her mother was at the time in another room suckling the baby. The witness admitted, under cross-examination, that her mother told her this morning what to say here. Defendant was fined 4s and the costs of 16s."
William Hickson again appeared in the Coventry Herald in 1862 when a summons is reported regarding the OLD MOUNT PLEASANT. It reads, "REFUSING TO LEAVE A HOUSE - William Hickson, of the OLD MOUNT PLEASANT public house, Keresley, was summoned for not giving up possession of the house to the owners, Mr. John Jackson and Mrs. Ann Kirby, of Bethnal Green, London, in accordance with a properly served notice to that effect, given on the 4th May last. After the case Hickson agreed to give up possession of the house." It appears that the MOUNT PLEASANT was then sold. However, William Hickson continued to live in it and run the pub. By the time of the 1871 census William Hixon is listed as a coal dealer only. | |||
LICENSEES:1842 - 1862 William Hickson | |||
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