Welch Harp, 22 Market Street
| Alternative Addresses: | 24 Market Street | ||
| These premises have been known by different names during their history: | FROM | TO | NAME |
| 1832 | 1845 | Harp | |
| 1845 | 1881 | Welch Harp | |
| 1850 | 1925 | Welsh Harp | |
| 1886 | 1925 | Market Vaults | |
The Welch harp was an early form of harp with three rows of strings, used on pub signs because of its distinct shape and perhaps the licensee's connection with Wales. Welch is an early spelling of Welsh before the latter spelling became standardised, although occasionally it was printed as "Welsh" in newspapers.Previously simply the HARP, by 1845, under the tenancy of George Lockington, the sign had become the WELCH HARP, and by 1850 the modern spelling, WELSH HARP, although the former still persisted until at least 1881. From 1886 the name MARKET VAULTS also began to be used. While directories stuck with this new label, newspapers tended to use either Welsh Harp or Market Vaults at will until closure in 1925. After William Brown died in 1869 his widow Lydia kept the pub running for 12 years, after which it was sold for £560 to James Phillips, who kept the pub for 20 years before handing over to Frederick Allard, who ran it for its final 24 years before the license was withdrawn due to redundancy. In May 1925 the application for a license was refused on the ground that there were nine other houses within 92 yards and this pub had no public convenience. On 25th December the same year the pub closed after payment of compensation. At the time of closure it was owned by Phipps of Northampton. The harp is usually a symbol of Ireland. It was first adopted by Henry VIII as the Irish badge, while James I was the first monarch to include it in the royal arms. | |||
LICENSEES:1844 - 1858 George Lockington (died 9th Feb 1858) 1858 Lydia Lockington (Apr to Jun. Widow of George, married William Brown 18th May 1858 - a bit soon?) 1858 - 1869 William Brown (died 8th Mar 1869) 1869 - 1881 Lydia Brown (widow of William, died 1883) 1881 - 1901 James Phillips 1901 - 1925 Frederick William Allard | |||
 Street plan of 1851 | |||
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