Old Ship Hotel, Rochford

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Rochford, Essex, England

The Old Ship in Rochford, situated at 14 North Street, is thought to date from the 17th century. After its time as a pub, it served briefly as the local Conservative Club, and then was converted into an Italian restaurant known as the Antica Roma. The building is a grade II listed building.

In 1978, the Old Ship gained notoriety when Norah Trott was brutally attacked and murdered in the alleyway behind it. The killer was brought to justice in 2003, thanks to DNA evidence.

Known license transfers:

• 9 Apr 1868: “...It was a transfer day, when the following licenses were transferred: ...the Old Ship, Rochford, to J. D. Brown...”^[1]

• 7 July 1881: “The licence of the Golden Lion, Rayleigh, was transferred from G. Page to W. Hodson; that of the Old Ship, Rochford, from H. D. Brown to R. M. Beeson...”^[2]

• 3 Nov 1886: “Temporary Authority.--Temporary authority was granted to the widow of the late Mr. R. M. Beeson to carry on the Old Ship Inn, Rochford, until next transfer day.”^[3]

• 15 Dec 1886: “Transfers.--The licence of the Old Ship, Rochford, was transferred to Mrs Beeson...”^[4]

• 7 Oct 1889: “The Old Ship Hotel.--Mr. W. Middleton, of Southend, has taken over this hotel from Mrs. Beeson.”^[5]

• 2 May 1901: “LICENSING.--An application was made in respect to the transfer of licence of Old Ship Hotel, Rochford, from Tollis B. Heigho to Charles Dix.--Granted.”^[6]

• 12 Mar 1902: “Transfer.--The temporary transfer of the licence of the Old Ship Hotel, Rochford, to Mr. R. Bailey, was confirmed.”^[7]

• 19 Nov 1902: “The licence of the ‘Old Ship,’ Rochford, was transferred from Mr Bailey to Mr Paton.”^[8]

• 28 July 1910: "THE OLD SHIP HOTEL.--The licence of the Old Ship Hotel was, at the Petty Session on Thursday, transferred from Lawrence Green to James Donald McPherson, who had been licensee of the Royal Hotel, Southend."^[9]

See also Old Ship, North Street, Rochford at the Pub History website.

Sources

1. ↑ "Rochford Petty Session, April 9th," Essex Times, 15 Apr 1868, p. 8, col. 2; digital images, British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk : accessed 18 May 2022), Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
2. ↑ "Rochford," Chelmsford Chronicle, 8 July 1881, p. 5, col. 7; digital images, British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk : accessed 18 May 2022), Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
3. ↑ "Rochford," Chelmsford Chronicle, 5 Nov 1886, p. 5, col. 7; digital images, British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk : accessed 18 May 2022), Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
4. ↑ "Rochford Petty Sessions," Southend Standard and Essex Weekly Advertiser, 16 Dec 1886, p. 5, col. 4; digital images, British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk : accessed 18 May 2022), Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
5. ↑ "Rochford," Essex Newsman, 7 Oct 1889, p. 4, col. 6; digital images, British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk : accessed 18 May 2022), Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
6. ↑ "Southend and District Police Courts: Rochford Petty Session," Southend Standard and Essex Weekly Advertiser, 9 May 1901, p. 3, col. 6; digital images, British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk : accessed 18 May 2022), Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
7. ↑ "Southend (County) Petty Session, March 12," Essex Weekly News, 14 Mar 1902, p. 2, col. 7; digital images, British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk : accessed 18 May 2022), Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
8. ↑ "Southend County Petty Session," Southend Standard and Essex Weekly Advertiser, 20 Nov 1902, p. 8, col. 6; digital images, British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk : accessed 18 May 2022), Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
9. ↑ "Rochford," Southend Standard and Essex Weekly Advertiser, 4 Aug 1910, p. 8, col. 2; digital images, British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk : accessed 18 May 2022), Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.