Bristol’s Lost Pubs

Old Arm Chair Alfred Place, Guinea Street
Off license

1828 – 65. John Edwards
1871. James Wright
1881 – 92. Joseph Shipp Harper
1893 to 1996. James Brewer
1897. Walter Dixon
1898 – 06. Miss Alice Matthews
1909. Miss Kate Smethurst
1911. William Sydney Harris
1928 – 31. Ernest Ford
1935 – 37. Mrs Emily Ford
1944 – 56. Mrs Hilda Ford
1960. F. A. Ford

Famous for the wooden chair hanging above its door, the Old Arm Chair, contrary to popular belief, was never a fully licensed public house.
In 1871 James Wright is listed as a brushmaker and his wife Eliza as a general shopkeeper. Prior to Alice Matthews, the shop was known as the Brushmakers’ Arms.

Census 1841.

John Edwards 45, grocer, not born in county
John Edwards junior 15, born in county
Sally Edwards 40, not born in county
Elizabeth Edwards 15, born in county
Mary Jane Edwards 10, born in county

Census 1851.

John Edwards 57, head married, grocer, Devon Fremington
Saly Edwards 50, wife married, Devon Bishop’s Tawton
Mary J. Edwards 20, daughter single, Bristol

Census 1861.

John Edwards 68, head married, grocer, Devon Fremington
Sarah Edwards 60, wife married, grocer’s wife, Devon Bishop’s Tawton
Elizabeth Culverwell 36, daughter widow, grocer’s daughter, Bristol
Mary J. Edwards 30, daughter unmarried, grocer’s daughter, Bristol
James Culverwell 9, grandson, grocer’s grandson, Bristol
Elizabeth A. Culverwell 1, granddaughter, grocer’s granddaughter, Glamorganshire St.Fagan’s Cardiff

Census 1871.

James Wright 34, head married, brush maker, Norwich
Eliza Wright 32, wife married, general shop keeper, Bristol
? Stone 2, niece, Bristol

Census 1881.

Joseph S. Harper 33, head married, grocer and beer retailer, Bristol
Celia A. Harper 31, wife married, Bristol
Harold F. Harper 5, son, Bristol
Frederick H. Harper 3, son, Bristol
Alfred D. Harper 11 months, son, Bristol
Thomas Floyd 72, wife’s father widower, formerly foreman in warrehouse, Somerset Selworthy
Emily Neal 16, servant unmarried, domestic servant, Somerset Keynsham

Census 1891.

Joseph S. Harper 45, head married, grocer, Bristol
Celia A. Harper 44, wife married, Bristol
Blanche L. Harper 16, daughter single, Bristol
Harold F. Harper 15, son scholar, Bristol
Frederick H. Harper 13, son scholar, Bristol
Alfred F. Harper 11, son scholar, Bristol
James W. Harper 10, son scholar, Bristol
Percy C. Harper 7, son scholar, Bristol
Gladys M. Harper 5, daughter scholar, Bristol

Census 1901.

Alice Matthews 36, head single, small general shop keeper, foxham wiltshire

Census 1911.

William Sydney Harris 43, head married, electrical engineer, Gloucestershire Winterbourne
Ann Harris 45, wife married, Gloucestershire Staple Hill
Dorothy Lilian Harris 19, daughter single, draper’s assistant, Bristol
Gladys Maud Harris 16, daughter single, draper’s assistant, Bristol
Florence Sophia Harris 15, daughter single, draper’s assistant, Bristol
Douglas Victor Harris 14, son scholar, Bristol