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

Drinking in an Old English Town

Pitt's Head, 65-66 Far Gosford Street

These premises have been known by different names during their history:	FROM	TO	NAME
		1990	PITT'S HEAD
	1993	present	GOSFORD ARMS
William Pitt (1759 - 1806) was known as William Pitt the Younger. His father had been a popular statesman and Pitt followed him into parliament at the age of twenty two. He was prime minister at the remarkably young age of twenty four. He was renown for his debating skills but it was said that those who listened to him were always more aware of the speaker than the message. This pub appears to date from before 1800. The present building is two storey, in brick, with a parapet and of six bays. The door and carriageway are either side of four ground storey windows. Between 1874 and 1909 No. 65 was separated from the pub and was a chemist's shop. In July 1895, when Mr. J. Phillips took over the tenancy of the premises, it was advertised as the PITT'S HEAD HOTEL, and remained that way until 1905. The licensee from 1845 to 1850 was John 'Fatty' Adrian, a local prize-fighter. The pub closed in 1990 only to reopen in 1993 as the GOSFORD ARMS.
LICENSEES: 1822 - 1823 T. Bottom 1833 - 1841 John Smith 1844 William Freeman 1844 - 1853 John 'Fatty' Adrian (died 1856) 1862 William Clews 1862 - 1865 John Smith 1865 - 1866 Joseph Radbourn, watch escapement maker 1866 - 1870 William Kirkpatrick (died late 1869) 1870 Mary Kirkpatrick (widow of William) 1870 - 1874 Daniel Claridge (died 1874) 1874 Thomas Hughes & Walter D. Claridge (executors for Daniel Claridge) 1874 - 1893 Amos Statham (died December 1893) 1894 Elizabeth Ann Statham (widow of Amos) 1894 - 1895 Elizabeth Ann Hyde 1895 - 1898 J. Phillips (Eliza Phillips took on a music license) 1898 Daniel Fisher 1899 Alfred N. Toy 1899 - 1904 Clara Moorfield (including a music license) 1904 - 1905 Frank Farnell 1905 - 1908 Thomas Groves & watch & clock repairer (died Jan 31st 1908) 1908 - 1913 Mrs Sarah Ann Groves 1919 Thomas Holberry 1921 - 1935 C. Newey 1936 - 1938 F. E. Oxborrow 1939 - 1940 L. Taylor