The Definitive Guide to the History of
Pubs and Beerhouses in Coventry

Drinking in an Old English Town

Old Talbot, 9-10 Cross Cheaping

These premises have been known by different names during their history:	FROM	TO	NAME
			TALBOT
			OLD TALBOT / YE OLDE TALBOT INN
The Talbot Inn on the corner or Cross Cheaping and West Orchard in 1909. A Talbot is a variety of hound formerly used for tracking and hunting. It was white with black spots, heavy jawed with long ears. It had remarkable powers of scent and was the ancestor of modern fox and stag hounds. It was used on the coat of arms of the Talbot family. In 1756 eight soldiers from General Lambton's regiment were billeted here. Coventry's watchman's box stood in the porch. Given the pub's location near the market it is natural that it was used by the market traders. In 1919 it was one of the properties attacked during the 'Peace Riots' that followed the end of the First World War, see the Kings Arms Hotel for a longer discussion of these riots. This was a home brew pub until c1920. The Old Talbot was destroyed in the blitz, but reopened in a temporary wooden hut (right) built by George Webb in 1941. It closed in 1951 and the license was suspended.
LICENSEES: pre1807 - 1847 Richard Eaves (died 16th September 1847) 1847 - 1857 Sarah Eaves (died February 1857, wife of Richard) 1857 - 1861 Caroline Eaves (daughter of Sarah and Richard) 1868 Miles H. Hassell 1868 - 1874 Thomas Twigger 1879 - 1896 Henry William beck 1903 - 1906 Arthur E. Bedford 1909 - 1913 Joseph Cross 1919 Joseph Moore 1921 - 1922 G. R. Owen 1924 C. H. Phillips 1926 - 1927 W. T. Prew 1931 - 1934 William James Tasker 1934 William Faulkner Ryder 1935 - 1936 Mrs F. Ryder 1937 - 1938 P. Capella 1939 - 1940 A. E. Baker BREWERS: to 1877 Thomas Twigger 1877 - 1902 Henry William Beck 1902 - 1906 Arthur Bedford 1906 - 1920 Joseph (or James) Cross
Street plan of 1851