The Brills/Black Horse

1853 John Axtell appears as a beer retailer in the Musson Craven directory, but has his license application (probably for spirits) refused.

1859 (03 Sep Bucks Herald) John Axtell's application for a spirit license for The Black Horse was again refused, as there was already a public house 100 yards away.

1859 (17 Sep Bucks Herald) BEERHOUSE INFORMATION.

John Axtel, beerhouse-keeper, Weston Turville, was charged by Inspector Sargent with keeping his house open after hours on Monday, August 29,

Mr. Daniells appeared for the defendant.

Inspector Sargent said he entered the defendant's house on the night in question at half-past eleven o'clock and found six men there drinking. There was beer before the men, one of whom offered him some. The door was bolted, but was opened when he knocked.

Nothing material was elicited in the cross-examination of this witness.

Mr. Daniells admitted that the statement of the Inspector was substantially correct, but the fact was the house was not open for the sale of beer as the men who were in the house were there by the invitation of the defendant's son, who had that day returned after a five years' absence. The house, he submitted, was not open for the sale of beer, three of the men being friends of the family, two of them lodgers, and the others being there by the invitation of the son. He thought it right to mention that the defendant had kept the house for twenty years and had never hitherto been summoned on a similar charge. The following evidence was then called for the defence:-

William Purssell said I was at the defendant's house on the night of the 29th of August when the Inspector entered. It was near eleven o'clock. Charles Billington and his brother were there by invitation and young Axtell and his cousin. No money passed after ten o'clock. I was there by the invitation of young Axtell.

The bench said that the inspector had done his duty, and given his evidence in a very proper manner; but, as there was some doubt in the matter, they would give the defendant the benefit of the doubt and dismiss the case.

1860 (17 Nov) John Axtell was charged with assaulting his father-in-law, Samuel Weaver. Though the case was dismissed, he was cautioned not to assault Samuel Weaver again.

1872 House kept by Henry Tomkins

1873 (18 Jan) BEING ON LICENSED PREMISES DURING PROHIBITED HOURS.

Five men, named respectively Joseph Bishop, W. Hearn, John Ridgeway, Edwin Astell, and John Eldridge, were summoned by the police for being on licensed premises at Weston Turville on the 19th of December, during prohibited hours. Mr. Fell appeared for the whole of the defendants. P.C. Kimble said on the 19th of December last, about 35 minutes past 10 o'clock at night, he was on duty at Weston Turville. He went into the Black Horse publichouse, kept by Mr. Tompkins, and found the five defendants there. He saw a quart pot containing beer upon the table, and some of the defendants drank of it whilst he was in the house. He asked the defendants their names, and they all answered correctly, except Bishop, who said his name was "John Bull," and he would give no other name.

Cross-examined-All the defendants were civil to him. The landlord of the house had been summoned before the magistrates and fined 20s. for having his house open on that occasion.

Mr. Fell contended that so far as Hearn was concerned, he was at the house on lawful business, and that his boing in the house bargaining for some pigs he bought off the landlord was no contravention of the Licensing Act. The beer that was upon the table was given by the landlord to seal the bargain for the pigs. Axtell was a bona fide traveller, and had been sent to the house on business by his master, who lived in the adjoining parish of Wendover. Mr. Senior There is nothing to constitute a traveller in that.

Mr. Fell said if the man was going to the house on his lawful business, and had travelled a consider able distance, he was entitled to be treated as a bona fide traveller. The other defendants wore the innocent victims of a mistake. They did not know that they were transgressing the law, and as this was one of the first cases of the kind occurring under the new Act, he hoped the magistrates would take a lenient view of the case, especially as all the men were respectable Mr. Senior-And we are not to carry out the law! "Mr. John Bull" is not very respectable, for he gave a false name.

Mr. Fell said he supposed Englishmen were all "John Bulls," and the defendant Bishop only made the remark as a joke. Besides he was not charged with giving a wrong name.

The Bench told the defendants they had rendered themselves liable to a penalty of 40s, each, and Bishop, by giving a false name, was liable to a penalty of £5. They would be fined 10s. each, including the costs.

Mr. Senior-Now, Mr. John Bull, pull out your purse.

The defendants all paid the money and left the Court.

1874 John Axtell died, aged 84

1875 Licence transferred to Charles Edwin Axtell who held the licence for 36 years. He retired in 1911. (From his obituary 09 Mar 1934)

1918 Black Horse (B.H) Licence voluntarily withdrawn. (No compensation). The Bucks Licensing Committee accepted a proposal that there be no compensation levy in 1918 in exchange for the voluntary closure of 10 licensed houses, which included the Black Horse in Weston Turville.

1918 22 Jun Possession of a Public House.

The Aylesbury Brewery Company, on whose behalf Mr. J. H. Coales, solicitor. appeared, sought an order for possession of the Black Horse Inn, Weston Turville, and a piece of land containing three acres, from Frederick William Goodson. They also claimed £26 16s. balance of rent due to the 11th May, together with the mesne profits from that date. Mr. Coales stated that the tenancy had been determined by the serving of notice to quit, which expired of the 11th May, but defendant still remained in possession. The property did not belong to the plaintiffs. They were simply the lessees, and their lease expired on the 24th of the present month. Defendant had asked that his stock-in-trade and fixtures should be taken by plaintiffs at the valuation, and he was written to on the 18th May that it would be necessary for plaintiffs to see an inventory of the fixtures, etc. It was only on the previous day that he produced an inventory. Defendant said he had not been informed as to the compensation he should get besides the valuation. His Honour said the Court had nothing to do with that matter.

Defendant: What becomes of the licence? 

His Honour: I suppose it remains with you until it is revoked. 

Defendant stated that he was not responsible for the delay that had taken place. He had offered to accept £200 as valuation, which he considered very reasonable. It cost him nearly £100 to go into the Black Horse. His Honour made an order for possession on the 23rd June, and gave judgement for the balance of the rent due and the mesne rent.

Converted into a private house and became the home of Mr. G. Eland.

1. Uxbridge & W Drayton Gazette 12 Apr 1918