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Licensed Victuallers Association, Asylum and School.

The Society of Licensed Victuallers began in 1793 as a friendly society for the mutual benefit of publicans, and the relief of members of the licensed victualling trade and their families. It was incorporated by royal charter in 1836. A daily newspaper, the Morning Advertiser, was soon established to promote its interests. In 1802 the Society set up a school in Kennington Lane for boys and girls of deceased or impoverished fellow traders.
in 1833, for example there were elections for twenty boys and ten girls to be admitted to the school. Its aim was to prepare the children for good apprenticeships or household positions.
The school moved to its present site in Ascot in the 1980s.

Licensed Victuallers Association in 1809, again in 1819, again in 1822, more in 1823 and lastly in January 1827. Lots more further down ....

The Licensed Victuallers' Asylum was formed in 1826 to relieve poor and aged members of the licensed victualling trade and their wives or widows. Almshouses were built shortly afterward on six acres of freehold land lying just off the Old Kent Road. The asylum was renamed the Licensed Victuallers’ Benevolent Institution in 1921 and it appeared in Post Office directories until 1960. Its later history is unknown.

To put this in slightly more context, I am tracing some of the Hollyman names which appear both as applicants for schooling, and also as benefactors through the first fifty years, usually as licensed victuallers. I already have unanswered questions, e.g. what ages were they invited to attend, were they always orphaned children, and were they full boarders. I will answer these questions as I clarify the position.

In 1825, a book exists which lists all current and life time members of the Licensed Victuallers Association. Here is a start to this, and relevant links to the many public houses and taverns they are licensees of. 1825AB ; 1825CD ; 1825 EFG ; 1825 HIJ ; 1825 KL ; 1825 MN ; 1825 OPQR ; 1825 S ; 1825 TUVWY

I have split the 1827 Licensed Victualler Asylum subscribers into part 1, part 2, part 3 and part 4 being about 1000 Licensed Victualler Association subscribers.

Here is the first part of the July 31st 1830 Licensed Victuallers Association meeting. About 200 people listed here.

A slightly later version of the Morning Advertise in August 1830 lists over 500 subscribers to the Licensed Victualler school of at minimum a guinea each ( a guinea is 21 shillings, slightly more than a pound of 20 shillings) part 1 lists about 260 subscribers And part 2 also lists about 300

The 1831 Licensed Victuallers Association meeting.

In August 1832, a fairly small listing, although it us tends to be split across newspaper pages.

A listing of Licensed Victualler Association subscribers in 1833, where Richard Hollyman is listed at the Princess Royal. ; and then just one month later in August 1833, we have an another listing.
I found another listing two weeks earlier on August 16th 1833 which adds quite a number of additional entries for the subscribers to the Licensed Victualler Association

The 1834 Licensed Victualler Asylum contributors are listed here in two parts 1834 part 1 and 1834 part 2

Thomas Hollyman is listed at the Black Raven.

In September 1839, there is an election for forty new members for the Licensed Victuallers school, being 20 boys and an equal number of girls. at the top of both lists of successful applicants is a Richard Hollyman and also a Jane Hollyman. The 1841 census for the Licensed Victuallers school lists Jane, aged 11; Richard Hollyman aged 13; and also Jas Hollyman aged 10.
Interestingly, Jane is a barmaid at the Bridge House tavern, Lambeth by 1851.

In September 1847 there is an election for new boys and girls to the school.
This is for 15 boys and 10 girls. The children are referred to as of decayed members of society, but latterly refers to the guardians or parents of those successful. At the top of the girls list is an Elizabeth Hollyman, she appears to have applied a previous time, as the votes from a previous and unsuccessful application are added to those of this election,

A search in the 1851 census finds Elizabeth Hollyman, now aged 13, and resident as an inmate at the school. There is also a younger George Hollyman, aged 10 in 1851 at the school ( he is elected in 1848 on his second application), and at the same time as an Henry Hollyman joins the school.
The 1851 census lists 60 boys, and 52 girls at the school. These two Hollyman appear to be the children of a Thomas and Jane Hollyman (previous of the Black Raven, Bishopsgate), who is the slightly older brother of Richard Hollyman. Both Hollyman brothers are born in Bierton, Buckinghamshire. Thomas Hollyman was a subscriber in at least 1827 to the Licensed Victualler Association; as are many other Hollyman family members over the years.

As you will notice, there is also a major addition to the records which exist linking an licensee to a particular address or public house, e.g. here is an example of lists of those linked to the LV Association in 1862; and an earlier

In April 1865, the current and past stewards of the Licensed Victualler Asylum are listed.

In 1867, we have a list of nearly 1000 subscribers to the Licensed Victualler Association, including Henry Hollyman and his wife Christiana at the Greyhound, and James Hollyman at the Caledonian Arms 1867 part 1 ; 1867 part 2 ; 1867 part 3 ; 1867 part 4 and 1867 part 5

Here are the five hundred subscribers, listed alphabetically in 1869, including the six Hollyman family members 1869 part 1, 1869 part 2, 1869 part 3, 1869 part 4

Here is a short description of some of the inmates from about 1874; the book spends a lot of time telling the history of the LV Asylum, and then touches briefly on some of the sadder tales, with a note about how important a bit of LV Insurance is!

By July 1869, there are no fewer than six subscribers, from the Hollyman family, to the Licensed Victualler Asylum, i.e. :

Henry Hollyman (Steward), Greyhound, 9 Henrietta street, Brunswick square
Richard Hollyman (Steward), Nags Head, Holloway Terrace, Holloway
Richard Hollyman (Pawnbroker), High street, Lewes, Sussex
Robert Hollyman, Eight Bells, 347 Mare street, Hackney
Mrs Sarah Hollyman, 1 Medina place, Seven Sisters road
Thomas Hollyman (Governor), White conduit House, 14 Barnsbury road

And a description in 1874 from an advertisement in the Licensed Victuallers and Hotel Keepers Directory :

Licensed Victuallers Asylum   Asylum Road, Old Kent Road
Instituted 1827.   Incorporated by Royal Charter, 6 Vic., 1842.
Patron his Royal Highness   The Prince of Wales

THE ASYLUM CONSISTS OF ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY SEPARATE HOUSES,
Chapel, Chaplains Residence, Board and Court Room, Library, etc, And is the most extensive Institution of a Trade character in existence. Every Contributor to the Institution who may afterwards fall into decay, has a right to become a Candidate for admission into the Asylum (providing the circumstances of his or her case meet the requirements of the Rules of the Institution), and when elected, to occupy one of the Houses, likewise to participate in the gratuitous supply of Coals, and entitled to a weekly allowance in Money, besides being provided by the Institution with Medical Advice, Medicine, &c. Many recipients of the Societys bounty have enjoyed a happy home in the Asylum for A QUARTER OF A CENTURY, and received in weekly allowances as large on amount as FOUR HUNDRED AND Fifty POUNDS.
LIFE DONORS ARE ENTITLED,
For the sum of Five Guineas, and under Ten, to Two Votes at
every election of Inmates.
,, ,, Ten Guineas, and under Twenty, Four Votes do.
,, ,, Twenty Guineas, and upwards, Five Votes do.

Multiplied by Ten, being the average number of vacancies that occur in the Asylum annually.
ANNUAL SUBSCRIBERS, For One Guinea Annual, One Vote. And a Vote for every Additional Annual Guinea.

As the ANNUAL expense exceeds £7,000, the Board most earnestly appeal to the Trade and the eminent Firms connected therewith for a continuauce of the support that has been accorded to the Institution for many years past.
Subscriptions thankfully received by the Chairman and Board of Management as under:

Chairman
Hallett, Mr James, Mitre Tavern, 125 Chancery lane EC

Trustees
Fowles, Mr. William, Star, 38 St. Johns Wood terrace N.W.
Coles, Mr. Charles John, White Conduit House, 14 Barnsbury road N.
Hudson, Mr. George, Grapes, 45 Strand W.C.
Gabb, Mr. Henry, Rosemary Branch, 2 Shepperton road, Islington, N.
Buck, Mr. Charles, White Hart, 296 Strand, W.C.
Meekham, Mr. Thomas, 62 Halton road, Islington N.

Governors.
Bass, Mr. Edward Richard, Charterhouse Hotel, 61 Goswell road, E.C.
Bartlett. Mr. William, Blue Posts, 6 Tottenham court road, W.
Bayfield Mr. Doily Scott, Roebuck, 293 Kennington road, SE.
Cope, Mr. Henry Robert, Pitts Head, 1 Old street, St. Lukes. E.C.
Thompson, Mr. Charles, Princess of Wales, Mornington road, New cross, S.E.
Ayres, Mr. Mark, Dock House Tavern, 293 East India Dock road, E.
Underhill, Mr. William Henry, Hand in Hand, 67 High Holborn, W.C.
Salisbury, Mr. Edward, Three Crowns, 8 East road, City road, E.C.
Edbrooks, Mr. James, Volunteer, 28 Upper Baker street, Marylebone, W.
Lane, Mr. John, Wellington, 196 Goswell road, E.C.
Hay, Mr. Samuel. Colonial Dining Rooms, 20 Gracechurch street, E.C.
Pope, Mr. Charles James, Albert Hotel, 11 Craven road, Westbourne terrace, W.
Page, Mr. Nicholas. Duke of Clarence, Langley place, Commercial road East, E.
Hill, Mr. Masterman H. W., Jolly Anglers, Lea Bridge, E.
Beadle, Mr. William. Cabin, 79 Rochester row, Westminster, S.W.
Phipps, Mr. Robert, Winchester Arms, Sonthwark street, S.E.

The past Chairman and other past Officers, the Auxiliary Committee, and likewise by
ALFRED L ANNETT, 67 Fleet Street, E.C. Secretary.

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And Last updated on: Wednesday, 02-Oct-2024 11:54:31 BST