Burton Latimer - Pubs & ClubsLicense Application by Alfred Kitely, 1881

Articles from the Northampton Mercury dated September/October1881

"Hipwells" Beerhouse - License Application, 1881

The property known as Hipwells/The Grapevine in 1927

The following statement was published in the Northampton Mercury during September 1881 by Alfred Kitely. Mr Kitely held a beer house license for the property on the corner of Finedon Street and Finedon Road, called Hipwells beerhouse (known in later years as "The Grapevine"). He was hoping to further develop the liquor sales element of his business at the expense the general groceries retail.

To the overseers of the Poor of the Parish of BURTON LATIMER, in the county of Northampton, and the Superintendent of Police for the Division of Kettering in the said county, and to all others whom it may concern:

I, ALFRED KITELY, of BURTON LATIMER aforesaid, Beerhouse keeper and Grocer, do hereby give Notice, That it is my intention to APPLY at the Adjourned General Licensing Meeting, to be holden at the POLICE STATION, KETTERING aforesaid, an the 25th date of SEPTEMBER, 1881, for a license to SELL by retail, INTOXICATING LIQUOR, to wit , BEER, TO BE DRUNK or CONSUMED in the House or Premises thereunto belonging, now in my occupation, situate in the parish of Burton Latimer aforesaid, of which said House and Premises John Thomas Croxon is the owner, and which said house is now licensed for the sale of Intoxication Liquor, to wit, Beer, for consumption off the premises. - Dated this 2nd day of September 1881.

ALFRED KITELY

On 1st October 1881, The Northampton Mercury published the following report on the annual license meeting;

"PETTY SESSIONS, WEDNESDAY - Before the Rev. the Hon. C.J. Vernon (chairman), Colonel Arthur, J.H. Pearson, Esq. and R. Booth Esq.

Public House Licenses - Application was made by Mr Rawlins, Jun. in behalf of Alfred Kitely, beerseller of Burton Latimer, for a license to sell beer to be consumed on the premises, in place of the out-door license presently held by the applicant. The application was opposed by Mr Henry, of Wellingborough, acting on behalf of the Rev. Henry Harpur, lord of the manor of Burton Latimer, the main ground upon which the application was based being that the premises occupied by Kitely are not adapted to meet the requirements of the Licensing Act of 1872, under which it is necessary that sufficient accommodation shall be shown to exist in any house in respect of which an in-door license is asked for before such a license is granted by the magistrates.

The applicant admitted, in the course of his cross examination by Mr Henry that his house did not at present contain any room which could be set apart for the use of the public. There was, however, a shop in which he carried on his present business and divide the shop by a partition in such a manner as to form two rooms and he said it was his intention, if the license was granted, to give up his present business and divide the shop in a manner spoken of, so that the place might be used as a public house. The applicant admitted also during his cross examination that he had been fined at a recent meeting of the magistrates for a breach in the provisions of his out-door license. The Bench being of the opinion, after hearing both sides of the case, that the applicants premises were not of such a character as to afford the accommodation required by the Act, hence the license was refused."

It appears that Mr Kitely did not pursue this interest, and the property and business was taken over by Joseph Allen in the late 1880's. Mr Allen continued to run the business as a grocery store/beerhouse for a number of years.