An English Pub in the family.

Do you have someone who was a publican in the UK in the family?  Here are some places to look for information about them, and the pub.

I have found a few ancestors who were publicans for a time in their life, and it's interesting to see if the pub is still there, or if there is historical information on them.  Firstly, how do you know if they were a publican?  Usually the occupation and possibly the name or address of the pub is listed in one of these sources:

• Trade directories - first try Leicester University  then local library & local council in the area you are researching.
• Census - on many free and pay sites
• Post office Directories - Ancestry.com
• Electoral Registers - Ancestry.com
• Do a Google books search 
• If you cannot find the town check GENUKI

 

To understand the history of pubs and licenses, there is a great article on Genguide to read.

Once you have a piece of information, here are some research sites that could hold information about the pub and its history:

• UK Pub History in London and the Home counties is a site dedicated to pub histories.
• London Gazette - has a lot of information on bankrupts, something that often happened to publicans.
• Check Old Baily Online for information about what crimes were committed in or near the pub. 
  

  NOTE: From 1522, a person wanting to sell alcoholic drinks had to apply for a licence from the Quarter or Petty Sessions and it is from the county records offices.    Some of these records are available through National Archives.

  
  
• Lost Pubs Project has information and photos.
• National Archives might just have something about the pub.
• The Pub History Society - worth checking.
• British Newspapers - check these for articles mentioning the pub or your ancestor.

Finally, don't forget to do a Google search on the pub once you find its name and town.  There are many sites that include this information.  This is how I found my GGG Uncle and Aunt who owned the Alexandra pub in Brentford, the search took me to a local council site that included information about the pub. 

Alexander Pub, Brentford Circa 1920