Bristol’s Lost Pubs

Wheatsheaf Hotel Christmas Street

1775. James Mutloe
1794. Joseph Linch
1800 – 06. Henry Barker
1816. ??? Thomas
1820 – 34. William Rogers
1837 – 44. James Sturge
1847 – 50. Mary Ann Newman
1851. Martha Chapman
1852 to 1866. Joseph Bolt
1867 to 1871. John Sharp
1871 – 77. Henry Ellis
1879. Ellen Radford
1881 – 99. George Wightman
1900 to 1918. John Williams White
1921 – 25. Sidney Luff
1928 – 37. Cecil Gilson
1944. Elsie Purdie
1950 – 56. Edwin Pope

On the corner with Nelson Street, the old Wheat Sheaf pub in the picture was pulled down in the 1940’s and rebuilt in brick, it was finally removed in June 1970 to make way for the new magistrates courts. This photograph was kindly sent in by Louise Argent, the great great granddaughter of John Williams White.

Louise writes:

“John Williams White was born in Devon in 1846 and came to Bristol in 1871/1872 where he set up and was principal of the Naval School in Prince Street. He also set up schools in Cardiff, Newport and Swansea. He retired from lecturing in navigation in the 1890s, passing Bristol Naval School to his eldest son Elward Fawcett White. John Williams White was known to thousands of Bristolians as ‘The Poor Mans Lawyer’ as he was well read in law and would advise and represent those who could not afford a lawyer.” In the picture John Williams White is shown wearing three Humane Society silver medals for life saving at sea, in harbour and in river. Previously the landlord at the Rose of Denmark Hotwells, John was at the Wheat Sheaf Hotel from 1900 until his death in 1918.

Census 1841.

James Sturge 35, publican, not born in county
Sarah Sturge 35, not born in county
Arthur Pugh 15, servant, born in county
Mary Lovel 20, servant, not born in county

Census 1851.

Martha Chapman 34 ?, head married, victualler, Hampshire Southampton
Martha ??? 47, visitor unmarried, Bristol St.Paul’s
Ann Clements 17, servant unmarried, barmaid, Bristol St.Paul’s
George M. May 41, servant widower, brewer, Somersetshire Barrow
Mary Brookes 51, nurse widow, Berkshire Reading
William F. Weaver 25, servant unmarried, Bristol

Census 1861.

Joseph Bolt 48, head married, victualler, Devon Tavistock
Laura Bolt 36, wife married, Devon Tavistock
Emma Emery 21, servant unmarried, general servant, Somerset Shepton Mallet

Census 1871.

Henry Ellis 33, head married, wine and spirit merchant, Tottenham Middlesex
Elizabeth Ellis 25, wife married, Glamorgan
Hannah Ellis 57, mother widow, Leicester
Thomas Alfred Aplin 17, assistant unmarried, assistant, Glastonbury Somerset
Harriett Parry 30, domestic unmarried, domestic servant, Monmouth

Census 1881.

George Frederick Wightman 37, head unmarried, licensed victualler, Dorset Blandford
Gazelda Wightman 63, mother widow, Dorset Blandford
Thomas Morse 31, boarder unmarried, optician, Glamorganshire Cardiff
Sarah Mogford 26, boarder unmarried, barmaid, Devon Knowstone
Alice Symes 15, servant, domestic servant, St James’ Bristol

Census 1891.

George F. Wightman 44, head single, licensed victualler, Dorset Blandford
Gazelda Wightman 72, mother widow, no occupation, Dorset Blandford
Gazelda Hawkins 28, cousin single, bar assistant, Dorset
Thomas Morse 42, boarder single, optician, Glamorganshire Cardiff
Mary A. De Becker 53, servant married, general servant and cook, Kent Chatham

Census 1901.

John W. White 52, head married, licensed victualler, Exmouth Devon
Emma M. White 40, wife married, Oxfordshire Chipping Norton
Elsie G. White 21, daughter single, barmaid, Bristol
Elma B. White 20, daughter single, barmaid, Bristol

Census 1911.

John Williams White 63, head widower, licensed victualler, Exmouth Devon
Elma Brooke White, 27, daughter single, assists in bar, Bristol All Saints (City)