3 Union Street South in 1926 reference. Date of closure unknown.
Harriet Hall was the owner of the Lamb & Flag in 1891 and she was succeeded as owner in 1903 by Charles Hall. Presumably they were related, I assume that they might have been husband and wife. Both Harriet and Charles leased the Lamb & Flag to the local Cheltenham Original Brewery.
The pub had a premise licence of a beer house with an annual rateable value of £15.5s.0d. unchanged from 1891 through until 1903.
The Lamb & Flag, Bethesda Street (now), Cheltenham
This would be the pub that Edward Sutters listed as a “Beer Retailer” in Union Street in the 1847 Hunt & Co. Directory and 1848 Edwards Directory; and W. Stephens similarly listed in the 1850, 1851 and 1852 Edwards Directories might conceivably have been attached to, if not to the pubs in the other (Fairview) Union Street.
What is in their favour for here is that D. Boulton from the Little Crown a couple of doors along was listed in the same directories under Union Street. (And where there was another “beer retailer” from a different Union Street – the one off Tewkesbury Road, they did differentiate by listing it as “Union st. Sommerstown”). What else makes me think they – or at least E. Sutters – could be for this pub is the fact that the pub name (a popular and traditional one) is obviously inspired by the church – the Angus Dei or Lamb of God was a well known symbol for Christ’s victory over death, and the Bethesda Church was only completed round the corner in Great Norwood Street in 1846, replacing an older chapel from 1830 that had become too small. This itself was located where the school opposite the pub was later built.
What makes me reticent is the fact that the Beaufort Hunt in Union Street, Fairview did have a landlady called Stephens (albeit over 40 years later).
I need to do more research to see if I can find out for sure when the Lamb & Flag opened.
Going forward was easier though, and here are the landlords I found
1878 Richard Gee (Royal Directory)
1902 Mrs. Sarah Price (Built-Leonard) – also 1904 Built-Leonard, and 1905 & 1906 Annuaire
Mr. G.F. Pearce 1907 – 1909 Annuaire; 1911 Built-Leonard; 1913 – 1916 Looker-On
1922 & 1924 Built-Leonard Mrs. E. Pearce
Then 1925 Built-Leonard Mr. C.F. Pearce again before
1926 to 1942 Kelly Mrs. Caroline Jane Pearce
It wasn’t listed in the 1943 or 1945 Kelly’s, so I assume 1942 was the last year it was open.
On the Gloucestershire Heritage Hub website there is a copy draft contract made between the Messrs. Arkells to the Cheltenham Original Brewery Company for the sale and purchase of the Lamb & Flag beer house dated 1916, so it looks like it became an Arkell’s pub.
Regards,
Alan Jones
Landlords at the Lamb & Flag include:
1870 Frederick Baker
1891 Thomas Price
1903 Sarah Price
1926 Mrs Caroline Jane Pearce
1939 Mrs C. Pearce