No 7 East Green - Sole Bay Inn

 

 
Note on dates
Unless otherwise stated, dates given do not indicate the years in which the business started or finished but those for which there is firm evidence that it was trading at this address. Sources in brackets; key at bottom of page.
 

1874
Walter Peck - Victualler (W)

1883
William & Maria Powditch - acquire the licence in August. (Halesworth Times).

In partnership with his brother, Samuel Powditch, William was formerly involved in coastal trading (coal etc). Samuel had become disabled after an accident at Victoria Docks in London and William subsequently became master of Samuel's ship 'The Mariner's Hope'. However, on 15 June 1869, 'The Mariner's Hope' was lost at sea having collided with the schooner 'Time' off South Shields. The crew of 'Time' rescued William, his mate and a seaman from drowning. William afterwards sailed his own ship 'The Good Intent' until at least 1873 before retiring from coastal trading to become an inn-keeper.

William dies in 1890 aged 59. His invalid brother, Samuel, lives another 14 years, dying in 1904 at the Pembrokeshire home of his married daughter, Kate. He and his wife, Eliza, are buried in Southwold.

1891
Maria Powditch - Maria, the 64 year-old widow of William,, and her 27-year old unmarried daughter, Eleanor Powditch, are now the inn- keepers. (C1901, K1896)


1901
James Brightmer Powditch. - Maria's 39-year-old son now takes over the inn from his elderly mother. He moves in with his wife, Henrietta (nee Boreham) and their two young children, Arthur and Ivy.

Before taking on the inn-keeper role, James was a successful carpenter, joiner, undertaker and builder.A few years previously (in 1896) he built a substantial workshop (Nos 2 - 8 Church Street) for his brother William (jnr) who is an engine fitter and whitesmith..

On his marriage to Henrietta, 11 years before, James built their family home in Stradbroke Road which he called 'Brightmer Villa' after the maiden name of his deceased aunt Isabella which is also his own middle name.

He has also built a holiday lodging house (no 54 Stradbroke Road on the corner of Salisbury Road) which he named 'Brancaster Villa' after the Powditch family birthplace and which was run by Henrietta.

Note: Both Brightmer and Brancaster Villas retain their original names..

1903
Maria Powditch dies this year.


 

1916
James Brightmer Powditch (K1916) James seems to have continued to run the inn at least untill the end of the decade. He and Henrietta will leave Southwold at the start of World War II.

We are grateful for the help of Carol Stone (nee Powditch) the great granddaughter of James, in compiling the above. For a fuller account of the Powditch story click here
 
1924
Robert Alfred Rowe - Landlord. (K1924)
 

Robert Alfred Rowe - Landlord

1940
Robert Alfred Rowe - Landlord until 28th August (SRB)

David Barber - Takes over as Landlord on 7th December (SRB)
 

David Barber - Landlord

1968
David Barber - tenancy ends this year.

D Goffin (date)

Tony Fisher (date)
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 

Date?
Chris Chapman
   

Do you have any memories or records about this address? Can you correct any of our information or fill in any of our blanks? If so, please email Barry Tolfree
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SOURCES:
BSD - Bernard Segrave-Daly
BCS = Bygones & Characters of Southwold by Barrett Jenkins
C = Census
CP = Cinema Programme 1958
CSP = Coronation Souvenir Programme 1953
G = Gales Trade Directory
GRO = General Register Office
K = Kelly's Directory
LM = Local memory
M = James Maggs' Southwold Diary 1818-1876
MCG = Methodist Church Guide 1930
NA = National Archives
PP = Pantomime Programme 1933
PLR = Petrol Licence Records
POD = Post Office Directory
PPP = Pier Pavilion Programme 1924, 1926
RCE = Rotary Club Exhibition 1969
SCM = Southwold Catholic Magazine 1923
SCTG = Southwold Corporation Tourist Guide
SER = Southwold Electoral Register
SFP = Southwold Scouts Fete Programme 1947
SG = Southwold Guide
SGCH = Southwold Golf Club Handbook
SLHR = Southwold Local History Recorder 1980s 1990s (Mrs R. McDermot)
SMHS = Southwold Museum & Historical Society
SN = Southwold & Neighbourhood 1903
SPM = Southwold Parish Magazine 1895 -1954
SR = Southwold Recorder 1927, 1932, 1934, 1935
SRB = Southwold Rate Book
SRT = Southwold Railway Timetable 1915
SSAS = Southwold Sea Angling Society Handbook 1909
SST = Southwold Summer Theatre Programmes
SSW = Southwold Shopping Week Programme, June/July 1922
STG = Southwold Town Guide 1930
SVL = Southwold Visitors List 1907, 1930
SVCP = Southwold Victory Celebration Programme 1946
SWCG = Southwold Wesleyan Church Guide
TTR = 'The Town Revisited' - Portraits of Southwold by Stephen Wolfenden 2000
TTT = ''To The Town' - Portraits of Southwold by Stephen Wolfenden 1988
W = White’s History, Gazetteer and Directory of Suffolk 1874


William and Maria Powditch with their daughter, Eleanor. Date unknown but probably in the 1880s.

Photo courtesy of Carol Stone (nee Powditch)
Click the picture to enlarge

James Brightmer Powditch. Date unknown but probably c 1910

Photo courtesy of Carol Stone (nee Powditch)
Click the picture to enlarge

James Brightmer Powditch's wife, Henrietta. Date unknown but probably c 1910

Photo courtesy of Carol Stone (nee Powditch)
Click the picture to enlarge


R A Rowe in 1933 outside the Sole Bay Inn which he ran as Landlord from 1924 until the Second World War. Note the weighing machine to the left of the entrance and what appear to be two postage stamp vending machines on either side.
Picture kindly supplied by R A Rowe's granddaughter, Heather Osmer.

See closeup below and click the picture for an enlargement.