Board, 1 Smithford Street
| These premises have been known by different names during their history: | FROM | TO | NAME |
| Board | |||
| 1867 | 1895 | Wine and Spirit Vaults | |
| 1895 | 1929 | Coventry Arms | |
Although these premises were known by all the names above, when transfers of licenses by the authorities were reported in the newspapers they nearly always used the name "Board". This can be extremely frustrating when trying to work out which pub they're referring to - especially when there are half a dozen "Boards" in the same street and they don't even give the number!Board means 'to board intoxicating liquor'. In some instances the need for a premises to have 'a board', that is a sign board, suggested this name, as they did in fact display a blank board. However, generally the board identified a person selling beer from their home; in other words a beer-house under the 1839 Beerhouse Act, the real origin of the 'public house'. | |||
 Street plan of 1893 | |||