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

Drinking in an Old English Town

Victoria Vaults, 12 Victoria Street

These premises have been known by different names during their history:	FROM	TO	NAME
	1840	1879	QUEEN VICTORIA
	1867	1929	VICTORIA VAULTS
Victoria Street. (Photo courtesy of David Fry.) George Calcott opened the VICTORIA SPIRIT VAULTS in December 1867. In newspapers and directories, however, the premises are variously referred to as the VICTORIA WINE & SPIRIT VAULTS, VICTORIA SPIRIT VAULTS, VICTORIA LIQUOR VAULTS or just VICTORIA VAULTS. In 1872 John Hill of the Victoria Vaults was charged for permitting drunkenness in his house. To 1879 this was also known as the Queen Victoria, but thereafter only as the Victoria Vaults. In 1890 it was leased by Phillips and Marriott for 14 years for £45 per annum from Mrs. Jane Calcott of Victoria Street, Coventry. In 1904 the lease lapsed and the pub was sold to Mitchells and Butlers. In 1929 the license was surrendered to facilitate the transfer of the license of the Wagon and Horses, Well Street, to the Clarence Stores, Earlsdon Avenue. The Victoria Vaults closed on 11th November 1929, and by March 1931 a new premises had been built on the site for a branch of Barclays Bank.
LICENSEES: 1861 - 1870 George Calcott, furniture broker & cab proprietor (from 1867) 1870 - 1871 Edwin Meakin 1871 - 1872 William (John) Hill 1872 - 1877 Jabez Calcott 1877 - 1881 Thomas Wilden 1886 - 1887 William Lea 1887 John Thomas Martin (Mar to Jul) 1888 John Dunnicliff 1888 - 1889 John Walter Cramp 1889 Fred Bonham (Mar to Jun) 1889 Joseph Dexter (Jun to Dec) 1889 - 1893 Matthew John Robinson 1893 William Harrison (Mar to Jul) 1893 William Vaughan (Jul to Oct) 1893 - 1896 John Castledine 1900 Colin Neale 1903 Richard A. Nelson 1905 - 1906 Mary Hayes 1908 - 1912 John Henry Faulconbridge 1912 - 1913 W. Madeley
OWNERS: 1890 - 1911 Mrs Jane Calcott from 1911 Phillips & Marriott
Street plan of 1851