A 1954 newspaper cutting, from Keith Hobbs of Ontario.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hobbs, 57, Mansfield Road, Bedminster, will receive many congratulations on their diamond wedding anniversary tomorrow. During the time he was licensee at the Beer Cask, Pennywell Road, Mr Hobbs trained in his own gymnasium nearly all the leading Bristol boxers of the time, including Bert Kirby, flyweight champion of England in 1930.  He took over at the East Street Tavern about 1900* and after six years there, moved to the Beer Cask where he was licensee for 36 years before his retirement.

During those years in addition to Bert Kirby, boxers who trained at his gymnasium included George Rose, Albert Jennings, Jack Dale and Harry Mansfield. “Things have changed since the old days” he said. “Then £10 was a big purse for a boy to get in a fight.” Boxing is not Mr. Hobbs’s only sport. He helped to train several Bristol Rugby Club players. He saw the world single sculls rowing championship on the Thames in 1889. Five times out of seven, his quoits team won the Bristol and District Table Quoits championship. He has seen 22 Grand Nationals, including one run in a snowstorm in 1901.

He remembers the floods of 1889 when he rowed a boat along Broadmead. He remembers seeing his brother off as apprentice in a windjammer. This brother is now living at Birkenhead and holds awards for bravery presented to him after he and another man had rowed 60 people to safety from a wreck on the French coast.  Mr. Hobbs started work at the age of 10 apprenticed at 2s, 6d, a week to a shoemaker. He later worked for Derham Brothers, whose Union Street premises he saw destroyed by a serious fire in 1906 when one fireman was killed.

Mr Hobbs Is 82 today--and there will be a party to celebrate the double event at the Hobbs’s home on Saturday, Not all the family of two daughters, two sons, 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren will be there, but those living in Bristol and some friends will attend. Among them will be Mr. Hobbs’s son Mr. Reginald Hobbs, who himself trained at the Beer Cask, fought in the ring and managed Bristol Boxers. He was the first man to beat George Rose, who won the West of England welterweight championship in 1932 at the Colston Hall. Mr. and Mrs. Hobbs were married at St.Matthias church, Broadweir.

* Wright’s Directory has Mr. Hobbs at the East Street Tavern 1909 to 1914





















 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BEER CASK Pennywell Road

1866. Frederick Puddy
1867 - 69. William Slee
1871 - 72. Henry Miles
1874 - 75. Susanah Miles
1876 to 1877. John Brain
1878. S. Mountain
1879. Augustus Lyson
1881 - 1883. John Olley
1885. James Harvey
1886. Francis Biggs
1887. John Morgan
1888. Thomas Stokes
1889. Robert Hicks
1891 - 1901. Edwin Fry
1904. Mary Howell
1909. Harry Taylor
1914. Frederick Hurley
1915. Stephen Lush Hobbs
1916 to 1950. Charles Hobbs
1950 - 56. Thomas Pippin
1960. A. W. C. Johnson

 

 

Charles Hobbs was the second son of Steven Lush Hobbs who was the licensee at the Bath Arms in Milk Street 1897 - 1913 and the Beer Cask 1915. (Wright’s Directory)

CENSUS 1871.
Henry Miles 55, head married, publican, Gloster
Susanah Miles 62, wife married, Gloster

CENSUS 1881.
John Olley 53, head married, beer retailer & shoemaker, London
Kate Olley 41, wife married, Bristol
Walter Olley 21, son unmarried, shoemaker, Bristol
Frederick C. Olley 19, son unmarried, shoemaker, Gloucestershire Stroud
Kate A. Olley 17, daughter unmarried, boot machinist, Worcester
Elizabeth Olley 14, daughter, barmaid, Birmingham
Ellen Olley 11, daughter scholar, Birmingham
Emily Olley 6, daughter scholar, Birmingham
Florence Olley 7, daughter scholar, Birmingham
Ada Olley 5, daughter scholar, Wales
Edith Olley 2, daughter, Bristol
Edgar Olley 9 months, son, Bristol

CENSUS 1891.
Edwin Fry 42, head married, beer retailer, Somerset Clevedon
Charlotte Fry 49, wife married, beer retailer’s assistant, Staffordshire Muckleston
Reginald Fry 9, son scholar, Monmouthshire Abergavenny
Beatrice Fry 5, daughter scholar, Herefordshire Ewyas Harold
Henry Fry 1, son, Bristol

CENSUS 1901.
Edward Fry 51, head married, cab driver & publican, Somerset Clevedon
Charlotte Fry 52, wife married, assistant
Beatrice E. Fry 17, daughter single, Herefordshire
Henry A. Fry 11, son, Herefordshire