Hospital Arms, Wellington Place & 125 Crouch Street, Colchester
Colchester pub history index
Hospital Arms, 123 Crouch Street, Colchester, Essex - in December 2008
Kindly provided by Stephen Harris
23rd August 1999
The name was changed to the Tap & Spile, but reverted back in the late 1990's
Residents at this address
1855/William Southgate/Beer Retailer, Crouch street/../../Post Office
1861/William Southgate/Keeper of Beer House/63/Brightlingsea, Essex/Census
1861/Lucy Southgate/Wife/62/Alresford, Essex/Census
1862/William Southgate/Beer Retailer, 6 Wellington place, Lexden road/../../Post Office
1863/William Southgate/Beer Retailer, 6 Wellington place, Lexden
road/../../Whites
I have found that my great, great Grand Uncle, Thomas Bacon Ramplin was
landlord of the Hospital Arms, and later the Kings
Arms, both in Crouch Street. Having researched Thomas further, I found
him and his family on the 1861 census. His occupation is shown as 'Carpenter
and Inn Keeper', the address for the family is 'Rain Bow Inn', Long Wyre
Street, Colchester - "possibility" is to see the
Rainbow. **
1867/Thomas Bacon Rampling/Beer Retailer/../../Post Office
1870/Thomas Bacon Rampling/Beer Retailer/../../Kelly's
1874/Thomas Samuel Kidby/Beer Retailer/../../Kelly's
1878/Thomas Samuel Kidby/Beer Retailer/../../Kelly's
1881/Thomas Samuel Kidby/Innkeeper & Hotel Waiter/34/Colchester,
Essex/Census
1881/Jane Kidby/Wife/36/Ipswich, Suffolk/Census
1881/Kate Susan Kidby/Daughter/10/Colchester, Essex/Census
1881/Thomas Oliver Kidby/Son/9/Colchester, Essex/Census
1881/Maud Ellen Kidby/Daughter/7/Colchester, Essex/Census
1881/Henry Charles Kidby/Son/6/Colchester, Essex/Census
1881/George Thurston Kidby/Son/3/Colchester, Essex/Census
1881/Elizabeth Kidby/Sister, Barmaid/23/Colchester, Essex/Census
1881/Sarah Balls/General Domestic Servant/18/Colchester, Essex/Census
1882/Thomas Samuel Kidby/Beer Retailer/../../Kelly's
1886/Joseph Henry Ezra/Beer Retailer/../../Kelly's
1894/Joseph Henry Ezra/Beer Retailer/../../Kelly's
1895/Joseph Henry Ezra/Beer Retailer/../../Kelly's
1898/Mrs. Mary Ann Ezra/Beer Retailer/../../Kelly's
1899/Mrs Mary Ann Ezra/Beer Retailer/../../Kelly's
1902/Mrs. Mary Ann Ezra/Beer Retailer/../../Kelly's
1907/H. Bibby/../../../Benham's
1908/Herbert Bibby/Beer Retailer/../../Kelly's
1912/Herbert Bibby/Beer Retailer/../../Kelly's
1914/Herbert Bibby/Beer Retailer/../../Kelly's
1917/Herbert Bibby/Beer Retailer/../../Kelly's
1925/William S. Ince/Beer Retailer/../../Kelly's
1933/Bertie Collingwood/Beer Retailer/../../Kelly's
1937/Edward Bell/../../../Kelly's
E Green, licensee of the Hospital Arms, Crouch Street, Colchester, died on
December 19th, 1951. Mr Green, prior to taking over the Hospital Arms in
1943, was licensee of the Anchor, Colchester, for seven years. ***
1943-1951/E Green/../../../Black Eagle Journal ***
1960/Mr & Mrs Reg Barber/../../../Black Eagle Journal ***
It was a very good thing for the Licensed Trade when Reg Barber, having come
out of the army in 1949 and as he put it "knocking around for two years
trying everything and achieving nothing" decided to take a pub. Since then
the Barbers have been tenants of three Trumans houses all of which have
prospered under their tenancy. the first was the
Star and Garter, Chelmsford,
where they consistently improved the trade for five years.
Now they are host and hostess at the Hospital Arms, Colchester. On entering
this house, Reg Barber's connections with the Brigade of Guards are
apparent. he stands smartly and upright behind the pumps whilst the whole
house shines with cleanliness and all the bottles are "dressed by the
right". This is the standard set by this ex-Sergeant of the Guards Armoured
Division and is a fine example of how a public house should look.
The Hospital Arms is situated opposite the Essex County Hospital and is
widely used by the medical profession who refer to it as Ward 9; there being
only 8 wards in the hospital.
Apart from hospital visitors, Reg and his very charming wife enjoy a
predominantly local and regular trade. This has resulted in their having one
of the finest darts teams in the area which has won the Trumans Darts League
and also the Trumans Knock-out Cup.
Charity also plays a great part in the lives of the Barbers and their
customers. In the eight years they have been in the house, they have raised
nearly £700 for the local Blind Association by means of collections, raffles
and an annual auction which is nearly always the talk of the town. - Black
Eagle Journal ***
Reg Barber & Wife at the Hospital Arms, Colchester in 1968
Kindly provided by Alex Wilkinson
Note: Premises only named in 1881 and 1917
** Provided by Cindy James
*** Provided by Alex Wilkinson