The earliest reference to it is in the St Peter's parish registers dated 1705 which records the baptism of a child of Humfrey Stevens who was resident in 'the Cock and Pye Yard.' It is first mentioned in the alehouse recognisances in 1764 when Henry Mason was the landlord. He was followed by Robert Wright who kept the house at the time of the parliamentary election in March 1768 ***
This pub was present by the early eighteenth century and closed in 1939. It is now in use as solicitors’ offices. It seems likely that this was the same pub briefly known as the Old Ben Jonson, listed separately on your website. **
Colchester pub history index
Cock & Pye, 56 North Hill, Colchester - in May 2010
Kindly provided by Stephen Harris
Residents at this address
1823-4/Mason & Collins/../../../Pigot's
1901/Rose Crick/Hotel Proprietoress/35/Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk/Census
1901/Blanche E Crick/Sister, Assistant/27/Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk/Census
1908/Mrs. Frances Russell/../../../Kelly's
1912/Mrs. Frances Bird/../../../Kelly's
1914/Mrs Frances Bird/../../../Kelly’s Directory **
1917/Mrs. Frances Bird/../../../Kelly's
1925/Walter Bird/../../../Kelly's
1933/Walter Bird/../../../Kelly's
1937/Walter Bird/../../../Kelly's
** Provided by Stephen Harris
*** Information kindly provided by Jess Jephcott at http://www.camulos.com
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