Victoria Theatre, 38 Fleet Street

These premises have been known by different names during their history:FROMTONAME
15741851RAM INN, RAMME, RAM HOUSE INN
18411841BEERHOUSE
18511866ROYAL EXCHANGE
18661866WINE & SPIRIT VAULTS
18681871BRITANNIA MUSIC HALL
18711892BRITANNIA VAULTS
18741877VICTORIA THEATRE
1874?BRITANNIA THEATRE OF VARIETIES
In an 1874 directory we have 'The Victoria Theatre, formerly Britannia Theatre of Varieties'. This is the BRITANNIA VAULTS. There are references to this pub in 1574 and 1630 as the RAM in recrords held by the Coventry Records Office. It is leased in 1610, 1618 and 1634 by Coventry Corporation, who owned it at the time. In 1770 and 1800 the pub is still there but by 1808 and 1834 the Ram Society, a Friendly Society, was meeting in other pubs. On the 1851 Health Map it is shown as the ROYAL EXCHANGE, which appears to have been a Music Hall as well as a pub! In 1841 see the BEERHOUSE, Smithford Street, Dalton In 1851 the Coventry Standard notes the change of name fron the RAM to the ROYAL EXCHANGE and later in the year the same paper says that Mr Miller opened a Music Hall at the inn and changed the name. In 1866 the ROYAL EXCHANGE, previously the RAM, was demolished and re-opened as the WINE AND SPIRIT VAULTS. By 1874 this had become the Britannia Theatre of Varieties whilst the licensed premises became known as the BRITANNIA VAULTS. At various times, this section of street has been known as either Fleet Street or Smithford Street, depending upon whether the numbering began and ended at Ram Bridge, or the junction with West Orchard.

LICENSEES:

1874 J. G. Taylor
Victoria Theatre
Street plan of 1851
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