Pittville Hotel, Portland Street, Cheltenham

 

You have a listing for Pittville Hotel 44 Portland Street, Cheltenham, (changed from 3 Portland Place in 1934 Kelly’s Directory), but in case you are interested, here is some further alcohol related history/background.

 

What eventually became the Pittville Hotel (Cheltenham’s third that I am aware of to bear this name – the first in Prestbury Road, and the second at the junction of Winchcomb Street and Warwick Place), it started off as the home of Philippe Cafieri and his family. He was a Frenchman who started a Wine & Spirit Merchants in Cheltenham, and the original base for this was here at what was then known as 3 Portland Place, a short terrace across from the furniture shop in Portland Street – long since turned into the car park. 

 

His Wine & Spirits business was already operating by 1837 because there is a listing in the 1837 Annuaire – and also an advertisement that reads:

 

“P. Caffieri, Wine & Spirit Merchant, 3, Portland Place opposite Trinity Church. Very old Brandy of 1762, 1815 and 1821”

 

He was obviously making use of his previous French connections to secure supplies.

 

Caffieri’s son Hector, born in Portland Place, became a highly regarded Victorian artist in oils and watercolours. The Cheltenham Civic Society put up a blue commemorative plaque in 1986. Unfortunately though, because of changes to street names and demolitions, they put it on the wrong house (its on 23 Prestbury Road). They did later realise their error, but because no house remains in Portland Street, they left it there.

 

Caffieri’s Wine & Spirit business was obviously very successful because by 1842 he had also secured a second premises in Montpellier, which he opened as P. Caffieri & Sons Montpellier Wine & Spirit Vaults – the Montpellier Wine & Spirit Vaults you have listed in Montpellier.

 

An advertisement in the 1842 Annuaire promotes the sale of “Scotch and Irish Whiskey, London and Dublin Stout, Scotch Ale, Cider, Perry &c. in Casks and Bottles” as well as the wine.

 

The Caffieri’s, as you might expect with their French heritage, were catholics, and closely involved in the founding of St. Gregory’s Church in St. James’s Square.

 

But success wasn’t maintained it appears and Philippe Caffieri filed for bankruptcy in 1867. The 3 Portland Place premises then became F. Jeffries Wine Merchants, which by 1876 was being run by Mrs. Jeffries according to directories – presumably his widow. She is listed in charge in the 1878 Royal Directory too, which describes Portland Place’s location as being in “Portland street, nearly opposite Trinity Church.” (I based my assessment of the more precise location on old maps). Mrs. Jeffries is still listed in the 1880-1 Post Office Directory, but by the time of the 1883-4 edition it had become the Pittville Hotel, proprietress Miss Edmonds. The hotel also had a Wine & Spirit Merchants.It seems Eliza Jeffries still owned the property though, because you still have her listed as the owner in 1891, leasing the premises to the Cheltenham Original Brewery…and they had purchased it by 1903.

 

The address later changed to 44 Portland Street

 

1837 – 1867 P. Caffieri Wine & Spirit Merchant (Annuaires)

 

1867 – 1883 Mr F. then Mrs. E. Jeffries Wine Merchant (Annuaires and 1880-1 Post Office Directory)

 

1883-4 Miss Edmonds Post Office Directory 

 

1885 you have Mrs. Elizabeth Tarrant

 

1890-1 W.S. Cook Post Office Directory

 

1897 Mr. J.M. Belcher (Annuaire)

 

1898 Mr. Davis (Annuaire)

 

1899 Professor Du Cann (Annuaire)

 

1900 Mr. F.W. Reed (Annuaire)

 

1901 – 1903 Mr. F.(Frederick) W. Reed (Annuaires)

 

1904 Mr. W. Morris (Annuaire)

 

1906 – 1912 Mr. O. Macey (Annuaires) and 1913 – 1916 (Looker-On)

 

1919 you have Joseph Wright and he is also in the 1922, 1924 & 1925 (Built-Leonard)

 

1926 – 1948 John Wright (Kelly’s) changed from 3 Portland Place to 44 Portland Street in 1934

 

1950 & 1952 Raymond Rd. (Richard) Sherbourne (Kelly’s)

 

 

Cheers,

 

Alan Jones