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Chilcott's
Descriptive History of Bristol
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CHILCOTT'S
HISTORY OF BRISTOL Lamplighters Hotel
SHIREHAMPTON STORY -The Lamplighter's by the riverside was originally called 'Lamplighter's Hall', and as far as is known is the only Inn in the country to bear this uncommon name.First mention of the Lamplighter's comes in the Bristol Journal of 17th December 1768 when offered to let as 'The Public House at Passage Leaze opposite Pill, commonly called 'Lampligher's Hall'.The next mention was in 1772 when the property was up for sale, and described as 'sometime the estate of Joseph Swetnam, Tinman of Small Street, Bristol, deceased'. It is thought that Joseph Swetnam was probably the son of James Swetnam a Tinman who traded at the Three Ship Lanterns on Bristol Back around the year 1740, and who is believed to have been the first tradesman to use an an engraved bill head on his invoices. Joseph Swetnam must have been a prosperous businessman, because at one period he was contracted to light several of the Bristol Parishes by means of oil-lamps, and out of the profits he built himself a splendid house in the country 'in full view of the picturesque beauties of Pill' which he appropriately named 'Lamplighter's Hall'. Isaac Taylor marked Lamplighter's Hall on the map he surveyed in 1777, and subsequently the Inn became a favourite resort of pleasure parties. On 12 June 1794 the Bristol Gazette reports that 'the annual dinner of the Bristol Sailing Society (founded 1785) was held at Lamplighter's Hall and made a loyal fete to commemorate the natal day of one of the best of Monarchs (namely 4th June1794 which was George lll's 56th birthday). The Lamplighter's
Hall comes in for mention several times in connection with the history
of the Society of Merchant Venturers of Bristol. From time to time the
Standing Committee of that society By the year 1810 the Lamplighter's Hall was known as 'Lamplighter's Hotel' and advertised as being in especial favour - the landlord stating that 'his house was so much frequented on Sundays that he was under the necessity of engaging additional waiters from Bath. Ordinary every Sunday two shillings per head..etc.' Further more, a Bristol Guide Book of 1824 suggested a day's excursion as 'Voyage down the Avon to Kingroad, either in light boat with sails, or on the deck of one outward-bound steam-vessel as far as the River's mouth (i.e. Avonmouth). Opportunities to return the same day occur frequently with a flowing afternoon tide, or by land-conveyance from Lamplighter's Hotel'. Thus it is that the Lamplighter's has for more than 200 years played a significant part in the history of the Parish, and must have been well known to seamen from all over the world who visited this hostelry during long periods of anchorage in Hungroad. Source: Shirehampton Story by Ethel Thomas
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