Licensing Sessions – The Cross, Helmdon

Banbury Advertiser – Thursday 26 February 1914

Mr. E. C. Fortescue said he proposed to adopt the same course as in the preceding case with regard to the Cross at Helmdon. The owners were the same, Messrs. Hopcraft and Norris.

Supt. Andrews stated that the Cross, Helmdon, was a fully licensed house, occupied by Edward Campin, who had held the licence since November 30th, 1912. There was a taproom, 12ft. by 10ft.; a small lean-to building, used in the summer months, on the left side of the front entrance; a good living room for the tenant; a cellar on the same floor; four bed-rooms; and stabling for four horses. The house was 1,210 yards from the Chequers, a fully licensed house owned by the same firm, and was about the same distance from the Bell, a beerhouse “on,” at the other end of the village. The gross estimated rental was £12. The approach was a very bad one, being through a field on one side and a farmyard on the other side, and was difficult for police supervision.

The population of Helmdon was 489, and there being three licensed houses in the parish, there was one to 163 of the inhabitants. The two other houses were much superior to the Cross, the Chequers having been recently practically re-built.

This licence also was referred to the Compensation Committee.