No 58 High Street - The Southwold Arms
  
 

This building is no longer a pub. Until 2013 it was used as accommodation for Adnams' Hotel staff but has since been converted into retail units. James Maggs records that it was known as the 'Green Man' until 1803 when its sign was changed to the 'Joiners Arms'. In 1839 it was changed again - to the 'Southwold Arms' by the then landlord, Jonathan Button. In its time, the pub had innumerable owners and landlords.

1823
David King

1837-1841
Jonathan Button (M)

1841-1850
Charles A Everrett (M)

1850
Alfred John William Wentworth - takes over the pub from Charles Everrett on 19th March (M).

Alfred's great-great granddaughter, Shirley Wentworth, tells us that he was originally from Lambourn in Berkshire, later moving to Dunwich where he married local girl, Sarah Butcher in 1849 before moving to Southwold. As well as managing the pub, Alfred and Sarah also ran a lodging house across the road at No 48 High Street. They had ten children.

1855
Rd Rufus Boniwell - Maggs records that in 1831, Rufus had married Harriett Martin, fourth daughter of James Martin, landlord of the Red Lion (M)

1861
James Jillings - Inn Keeper. James lives here with his wife, Charlotte and his son, Thomas (C1861). A few years later he will take over the Red Lion.

1865
Major Sidney - Owner of Southwold Arms (BSD)

1869-1897
Robert MacKenzie - (Post Office Directory, BSD). Robert Mackenzie is a hugely popular Scottish landlord, eccentric, fun-loving, charismatic yet puritanical. Read an account of his tenure by Barrett Jenkins in his book 'Bygones and Local Characters of Southwold'. (Reproduced by kind permission of BJ's daughter, Ann Thornton.)


1900
Walter Cuthbert (BSD)

1904
Edward Richard Hall - (Post Office Directory)

1907
F W Hansford (BSD)

1908
H Cole (BSD)

1909
F Wombwell (BSD)
 

1910
R J Goldsmith (BSD)

1911
Thomas Henry Denny (POD, BSD)
 

Thomas Henry Denny (POD, BSD)

 
 

1934
Thomas Henry Denny finishes this year.(POD, BSD).

D G Beane (BSD)

D G Beane (BSD)

 

1952
D G Beane finishes this year (BSD)

W H Knights (BSD)

1965
W H Knights finishes this year

1965-1968
B M Chapman (BSD)

1968
C Garrould (BSD), followed swiftly by...

K Oakeley (BSD), followed equally swiftly by...

1969
M Butt (BSD)
 

M Butt (BSD)

1974-1977
R Pearce (BSD)


1977-1979
D Smith (BSD)

1979
G A Gotts (BSD)
 

1980-1982
P Watts (BSD)

1982-1986
A Dougle (?) (BSD)

1986
D W McCaw (?)(BSD)

1988
G J Irwin (?) (BSD)

Date?
John Cunningham
 

1990
John Cunningham - Runs mainly as a restaurant but with the bar accessed via the side passage. Closes in 1996 and is converted into accommodation for Adnams staff.
 
 

Accommodation for Adnams' hotel staff

2015
Thomas Traddles Menswear. This business moves here from No 5 Queen Street in April this year. The premises have been converted for retail use.
   

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
 
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.


Now converted into retail units occupied by Thomas Traddles menswear


Previously, as temporary accommodation for Adnams' employees.

Thomas Henry Denny outside the Southwol. He would keep itd Arms in 1911 when he took over the pub. He would keep it for the next 23 years in contrast to his 4 predecessors who stayed no longer than a year.

Photo courtesy of Ian Goffin

Click the image to enarge



Southwold Arms. Date uncertain but probably in the opening years of the 20th Century. On the left of the pub is Sutherland House and, beyond that, the row of houses (Nos 44-52) on the corner of Victoria Street, which were demolished in the 1930s.
(Southwold Museum P236)
Click the picture to elarge.

Robert Mackenzie, charismatic Scottish landlord.
Reproduced from Barrett Jenkins's 'Bygones and Local Characters of Southwold' courtesy of Ann Thornton.
Click the picture ro read an account of his life.

Summer 1977 on the occasion of the Queen's Silver Jubilee
Photo courtesy of Harry Griggs

1996 advertisement in Southwold Summer Theatre programme