• 1871 Edward & Harriet Mason (nee Bottwood).

 

Prior to running the Wine Vaults Edward Mason had been Clerk to the Poor Law Union Board of Health, Superintendent Registrar, Auctioneer & wine and spirits dealer.

 

Edward Mason died in 1874 aged 77 years. Harriet died in 1878 aged 65 years.

 

Hereford Times - 29th June 1878

Transfer - The license of the Wine Vaults, Narrows, Knighton. was transferred from the late Mrs. Harriett Mason to Margaret Turner, who has for several years assisted in the business.

 

• 1878 Miss Margaret Turner

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Shrewsbury Chronicle - 13th September 1878

Miss Margaret Turner, of the Old Wine Vaults, Knighton, took out a six-day's and an early closing license.

 

• 1881 Miss Margaret Turner

• 1891 Miss Margaret Turner

 

Shrewsbury Chronicle - 13th April 1894

Licensing Acts: Margaret Turner of the Wine and Spirit Vaults, High Street, was charged with having her house open on the 4th March for the consumption of liquor; and John William Davies, auctioneer, Charles Davies, coal dealer, Robert Albert Davies, coal dealer, and George Davies, maltster, all brothers, were charged with being on her premises on the date mentioned, which was in prohibited hours. Mr H. T. Weyman, Ludlow, appeared for the defendants. After the hearing of the evidence the magistrates dismissed the cases, but the Chairman said the defendants had "sailed very near the wind.' The court was crowded during the hearing of the case.

 

Margaret Turner died in 1897 aged 45 years.

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Brecon and Radnor Express - 25th February 1897

ADVERT

"Hulloa ! Old Boy. What is the matter?"  "Oh things are bad, I've got rheumatics and the missus is ill at home, with influenza, so I'm going to get a drop of Whiskey, at the Wine Vaults, in the Narrows, by the Doctor's orders. They tell me that is the best. "Right you are, old man, I'll help you up, and we will have one together."

The Wine Vaults, in the Narrows. Proprietor - Zermann Strauss (late Turner)

Strauss' WHISKEY is specially recommended during the cold weather, for colds, influenza and rheumatism, by the local medical profession, being guaranteed of FINEST QUALITY ONLY and well matured. Invalid Dublin Stout in Bottles.

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Radnor Express - 29th September 1898

WINE VAULTS. —The Narrows.

J. H. Thomas, having taken over the above old establishment, wishes to intimate that he intends to maintain the high class reputation which the house has so long enjoyed as a leading establishment, by supplying wines and spirits of the finest quality only. The Proprietor having traded for many years with the leading distillers and wine importers of the Kingdom, will be enabled to offer a selection of the best matured wines and choicest blends of spirits obtainable at reasonable prices. A good selection of Foreign Cigars of the best known brands. Schwepp's. Ellis's, Summers and Packham's universal mineral waters always kept in stock. Sole Agent in this district for Allsopp's Burton Ales and Stout in cask or bottle, orders for which will receive immediate attention and promptly delivered to any reasonable distance.

 

Radnor Express - 6th October 1898

THE WINE  VAULTS. The Narrows.

The application for the transfer of this license to Mr Thomas at the previous court was adjourned in order that further enquiries might be made respecting Mr Thomas's conduct at an hotel in Wrenbury (Cheshire) for which he had previously held the license.

Mr Corner (Hereford) now appeared for the applicant, being instructed by Mr F. L Green. Mr Corner said that the application was that the license of the Wine Vaults, The Narrows, should be transferred to Mr Thomas, as tenant of Messrs Allsopp, the purchasers.

The Chairman: It all depends upon the letters.

Mr Corner said letters were put in from the clergyman of the district, two doctors, and from gentlemen visiting the house, and the Chief Constable put in a letter from the Chief Constable of Cheshire. He understood that the purport of that letter was that it was rumoured or reported that the hotel at Wrenbury during the two years Mr Thomas bad been tenant had been the resort or meeting place of poachers. Since the previous court application had been made by the agent of the estate, who note on September 16th "During Mr Thomas's tenancy of the Cotton Arms, Wrenbury, Cheshire, I never heard any complaints as to his management of the house." The solicitors to the estate wrote:  " We understand you are applying for the license at a public house at Knighton, and beg to say that whilst you occupied the Cotton Arms, Wrenbury, the house was conducted to our entire satisfaction, and that we had never any reason to complain of anything connected with the business."

The Chairman said they were satisfied and would grant the license.

Mr Corner said Messrs Allsopp haring bought the house, not at a trifling sum, satisfied themselves before getting Mr. Thomas as tenant that he was a desirable man.

 

• 1901 John Henry Watson & Lily Kirkham Ridgway Thomas (nee Clarke)

 

John Henry Watson Thomas died on 7th February 1906 aged 37 years.

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Evening Express - 5th March 1906

MR. J. H. W. THOMAS, KNIGHTON

                 Mr. John Henry Watson Thomas, of the Wine Vaults, Knighton, who died on the 7th of February last, left estate valued at £1001 6s. 10d., and probate of his will has been granted to his widow. Mrs. Thomas, of the same address.

 

Wellington Journal 28th September 1907

KNIGHTON, RADNORSHIRE.

SALE OF VALUABLE FREEHOLD LICENSED PREMISES.

MR, PHILIP DAVIES. Will OFFER by AUCTION, upon the premises, at The Wine Vaults, Knighton, on THURSDAY. OCTOBER 3, 1907, at Four o'clock In the Afternoon, and subject to Conditions—ALI, that FREE, FULLY-LICENSED, and OLD-ESTABLISHED WINE VAULTS & PREMISES, known as TURNER'S OLD VAULTS, situate in high Street, commonly called The Narrows, Knighton; together with the Stabling, Bottling Shed, Kitchen, Gardens, Coal House, and other Appurtenances thereto belonging, in the occupation of the owner, Mrs. J. H. Thomas. The House, which stands in one of the best positions of the town for business purposes, contains superior-fitted Bar, Bar Parlour, Smokeroom, Kitchen, Back Kitchen, Three Bedrooms on the first floor, Two Attic Bedrooms, and Large Store-room. A very excellent Indoor and Outdoor Trade has been successfully carried on for upwards of a century, and the present sale affords a really splendid opportunity for an energetic .person to acquire a substantial Going Concern. Fixtures by Valuation; and early possession can be obtained by arrangement. Full particulars can be obtained from the Auctioneer, Presteign H. MATTHEWS, Esq., Solicitor, Knighton; or from E. BRASSEY, Esq., Solicitor, 9, St. John Street, Chester.

 

Leominster News - 13th December 1907

AN UNFORTUNATE POSITION

Lily Thomas, widow, formerly landlady of the Wine Vaults, Knighton, came up for examination, Mr. Matthews, her solicitor, attending.

                The debtor said she had been at the Wine Vaults for nine years, and her debts had been contracted there. She had been there since February 1906 on her own account. Her husband, John Henry Watson Thomas, had the house, and left by will everything to her. She proved the will. The account produced showed the assets and liabilities of her husband, the liabilities exceeding the assets by £52 18s. 10d. The Wine Vaults belonged to her husband, and she came into that, but there was a heavy mortgage of £750. If anybody said she came into a lot of property, the truth was not stated. She retained her husband's goods, with the stock in trade. She had carried on the business for nearly two years, and she believed she had paid off her husband's debts, but in doing that she had herself incurred debts. Her debts came to about £350. The mortgagee was Mr. Jones, near Chester, a brother-in-law of her late husband. She had continued trading with the same class of people. She paid the mortgagee the interest last year, but not this year, because she had never been asked for it. She found out that she could not go on in the business some time between April and June; there was an execution in October issued by Mr. Giddens, of Devises, and Mr. Jones, of Chester, and there was a sale under the Sheriff. She should say the things fetched their value, but She was too ill to be present; it realised £47. Since that time she had continued on as Manageress for Mr. Jones, the mortgagee, who bought things at the sale, but the license was still in her name. The house practically stood as before, the only difference being that she was Manageress for Mr. Jones, who had acquired under the Sheriff. The piano was removed, but it was not moved with other things; any report such as that arose from the fact that the piano went with their furniture when Mr P. Davies's sisters left for London. Mr. Davies advanced her money because she had a cheque dishonoured. That would be six or seven weeks before the petition; it was she thought in August or September: Mr. Davies did not buy anything in July nor did he lend her money when creditors pressed; the piano was moved and the money was advanced to her at the same time, and she thought that must have been at the beginning of September. She received £15 for it. Any rumours as to the removal of furniture had no truth in them. The inventory for probate could be produced. She never kept any cash-takings book. She had no private creditors; her creditors were those in trade, and she owed a little sum to the North and South Wales Bank. She had an interest under her father's will, and was entitled to a sixth share of his property; £200 had been advanced to her to be repaid out of the share. A share of her money had been had when the house was bought, but that was unknown to her at the time; her late husband's brother-in-law had a charge on her share with respect to the £750, and if the house fetched that amount she would get it back. She remembered signing some paper, but what it was she could not tell; her mother told her about it; she signed since they came to Knighton; she had been told it was a charge under her father's will. The 5th October was the date of the execution and the sale. If she had petitioned before the creditors would have had the benefit, but she could not afford to raise the money; her creditors had filed the petition against her. The examination was adjourned to a day to be named.

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Radnorshire Standard - 15th January 1908

TRANSFERS

Mr. Harold Matthews, solicitor, applied for the transfer for the license of the Wine Vaults in the "Narrows" from Mrs. Thomas to Mr. Geofrey Edwards - Granted

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Leominster News -  23rd October 1908

LICENSING BUSINESS.

A supplementary meeting of the County Licensing Committee was held to consider the amount of compensation to be paid for the Wine Vaults, High Street, Knighton.

                 Mr. Turner (Chester) appeared on behalf of the interested parties, who claimed £1,069. Mr. Turner explained at great length how this figure was arrived at, and Mr W. Jones, the mortgagee, Mrs. Thomas, widow of the late tenant, and Mr. Shrimpton, architect, of Knighton, were called to bear out his statements.

                At the close the Committee found themselves unable to agree to that amount, and as Mr. Turner said they could not accept £1,000, the matter was referred to the Inland Revenue.

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Hereford Times - 15th May 1909

KNIGHTON, RADNORSHIRE.

VALUABLE FREEHOLD PROPERTY, known as " THE OLD WINE VAULTS," THE NARROWS, 'KNIGHTON,

On THURSDAY, JUNE 17th, 1909, at 3.30 p.m,

                Particulars from Philip Davies, Auctioneer, Presteign, or E. Brassey, Solicitor, 9, St. John street, Chester.

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Hereford Times 29 May 1909

BY ORDER OF THE MORTGAGEE.

KNIGHTON,  RADNORSHIRE.

VALUABLE FREEHOLD PREMISES.

MR. PHILIP DAVIES will Offer by AUCTION,  at the NORTON ARMS HOTEL, KNIGHTON,

                On TLIURSDAY, the 17th day of JUNE, 1900, at 3.30 o'clock in the Afternoon, and subject to Conditions, all the FREEHOLD PREMISES , formerly known as the "WINE VAULTS",  situate In High-street, commonly called "The Narrows," together with the Stabling, Bottling Shed, Kitchen, Gardens, Coal House, and other appurtenances thereto  belonging. Also 15 fully paid up SHARES in the KNIGHTON GAS, COAL, and COKE CO., LTD.  (in Lots of 5).

                Full particulars can be obtained from the Auctioneer. Presteign; H. Matthews, Esq., Solicitor, Knighton ; or from E. Brassey, Esq., Solicitor, 9, St John-street, Chester.

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Radnor Express - 8th July 1909

The Clerk reported that the appeal which had been notified in regard the amount of compensation awarded in respect to the Wine Vaults, High Street, Knighton, by the Inland Revenue Commissioners, had been abandoned, and that the amount of compensation allowed by the Commissioners was £358, of which it had been agreed that the tenant should receive £25. and the registered owner the balance, £333. The committee fixed the proportions payable in accordance with this.