Ryde Social Heritage Group research the social history of the citizens of Ryde, Isle of Wight. Documenting their lives, businesses and burial transcriptions.
RYDE SOCIAL HERITAGE GROUP
Based at Ryde Cemetery Heritage & Learning Centre. Preserving, documenting and promoting the social history of Ryde on the Isle of Wight.
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Trouble Brewing at the “Royal Sovereign”

PUBLIC HOUSE RAIDED 1910

The Ryde police raided a licensed house—The Royal Sovereign, Castle Street, on Thursday afternoon 23 June 1910, alleging that the premises were being used for betting purposes.  Their entry occurred at about a quarter to two o’clock, when beside the landlord six men were found on the premises.  The officers—Chief Constable Greenstreet, P.S. Watson, P.S. Ryall and P.C. Fewtrell took these persons into custody and conveyed them to the police station, where they were charged and bailed

Fred Thomas Smith, 43, beer retailer, was charged with being occupier of the licensed premises and with having kept and used the said premises for the purpose of receiving bets from persons resorting thereto upon certain events relating to horse racing.

George Attrill, Somerset Road, High Park, labourer;  James Harry Eames, 20 Arthur Street, gardener;  John Montgomery, 6 Edward Street, printer;  Frank Young, 3 Union Street, job postmaster;  Frederick Rann, St John’s Wood Road, coachman;  were charged with having resorted to the premises known as the “Royal Sovereign” for the purpose of betting.

The affair had created a little sensation in the town, and when the prisoners were brought before the Borough Bench on Friday morning, the Court was thronged by members of the public.  The magistrates adjudicating were:  Mr. W. Hammond Riddett (chairman), Mr. E. T. Minter, and Mr. W. G. Daish.

Smith was then placed in the box and the charge was read over to him.

Chief Constable Greenstreet said that on the previous day, at 1.45 pm., acting on a warrant he held, he went, in company with Sergeant Watson, Sergeant Ryall and P.C. Fewtrell to the beerhouse in Castle Street known as the “Royal Sovereign.”  He saw the prisoner Smith in charge.  He was the licensee and managed the premises.  Witness told prisoner that he held a warrant to search the premises.  Witness searched the premises with P.S. Ryall, and they found 11 betting slips in an envelope at the back of the counter behind where the prisoner was serving.  Over the till were betting slips on the previous day’s racing, quite new ones.  A telegram relating to betting was also found, and various betting memoranda.  Prisoner, Smith, was remanded until Wednesday next at 11 o’clock.

The remaining prisoners entered the box and were cautioned and charged.  Eames and Montgomery pleaded guilty and the other four not guilty.

The Chief Constable said that they had found racing slips beneath the table and two letters from Messrs. Topping and Spindler, well known betting people.  They had been sent to the “Royal Sovereign,”  A memorandum book of racing, containing an account book, and giving the names of horses extending back some little period, on one side were placed the losses and on the other the wins.

After much deliberation (full report can be read in the IW Observer 25 June 1910) – Addressing the prisoners the Chairman said that the law regarded this as a very serious offence, and the prisoners had rendered themselves liable to a vey heavy penalty.  The Bench had decided to bind them over in the sum of £10 to be of good behaviour for six months.  During that time they should take care of their actions.

The proceedings then terminated. There was some applause in Court on the Chairman making known the decision of the Bench.

The following week:
At the Ryde Borough Bench the Magistrates considered their decision regarding prisoner Frederick Thomas Smith, beer retailer and occupier of the beerhouse the “Royal Sovereign” the Mayor Mr. M. Maybrick, said it was a very serious matter for betting to take place on licensed premises and they felt it their duty to fine the defendant £20, or two months in default.

Notes:
The “Royal Sovereign” 5 Castle Street, Ryde, was a small beerhouse, opened about 1857 under the name “Morning Star.”  It was renamed in 1859 after a Royal visit, and closed about 1912.

The 1911 census lists: Frederick Thomas Smith 44, Licensed Victualler, born Brading. Lucy Smith, wife, 45, 12 children, born Ryde. and George Samuel Vanner Taylor, step-son, 22, born Ryde, naval pensioner. They were living at the Royal Sovereign.

Sources: IW Observer & Tony Gale
Image: Kevin Mitchell
Article: Ann Barrett