1844
Henry Garrod - Grocer and beer house keeper. Henry Garrod is married to Rebecca and has moved here after having run The Crown Inn at No 90 High Street for 24 years. He calls his new establishment the 'Tom & Jerry' probably inspired by a highly popular contemporary book by Pierce Egan of 1821. The novel was titled 'Life in London, or The Day and Night Scenes of Jerry Hawthorn Esq. and his Elegant Friend Corinthian Tom'. A stage version adapted by William Montcrieff was called, more simply, 'Tom and Jerry, or Life in London'. As an early (and very successful) attempt at merchandising, the author (who was also a journalist) invented a fashionable new cocktail called a 'Tom & Jerry' - a type of hot egg nog reinforced with brandy - to promote the opening of the play at London's Adelphi Theatre. When later the play opened in New York, America fell for 'Tom & Jerry' cocktails in a big way and they remain a Christmas favourite particularly in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Henry's unconventional approach to running public houses is reflected in a story related by the diarist James Maggs who notes that Henry purchases from St Edmund's Church an old 'pulpit sounding board' which had been removed back in 1825 during refurbishment and stored in the 'steeple'. This he converts into a pub sign and mounts above the front door of the 'Tom & Jerry' (M)
1871
Elizabeth Garrod - Wine and Beer Retailer. Henry and Rebeca's 32 year-old unmarried daughter has now taken over the business but seems to have given up the public house side of the business to concentrate on retail sales.(C1871 - 1881)
|
