Video recalls lost city centre pub

The old Crown and Cushion pub is the subject of a time–shift video from Light and Dream Photography creator John Bennett.

The new film features four time-shift photos of the pub’s various incarnations as John explained: “The first two time–shifts have been posted before on my original channel, the other two are brand new. 

“This site at 26 Melville Street is nothing but a field on Padley's 1842 map but by 1851 it is the dwelling house and workshops of Fambrini, moulded stone manufactures and modellers. 

“Directories show it was occupied by William Huddlestone builder, stone and marble mason and contractor from 1856 to 1861. By 1869 it is at least partly converted to a dram shop (18th Century term for a place that sold gin by the spoonful) for Joseph Fambrini by Architect W Watkins. 

“In 1872 three occupants are listed, Joseph Fambrini victualler, William Goodall Stonemason and Edward German Brown blacksmith but by 1885 it has become Fambrini & Daniels, artificial stone manufacturers, Canwick Road & Melville Street and William Peacock at the Crown and Cushion Inn. 

“Other landlords listed were 1889 Joseph Cooper, 1894-1901 George Welton, 1905 Mrs Emily Welton, 1909 Robert Turner, 1913-1919 Arthur Belcher. Kelly's 1965 lists it but no name is given. 

“It was the Crown and Cushion, as shown in the first time–shift, until 1982 when the name became Sippers (Ansells Brewery), as shown in the third time shift, then from January 2011 it was Scotty’s Bar, as shown in the fourth. But by January 2012 it was boarded up with a for sale sign. Then during 2012 it became The Pelham Bridge Free House, as shown in the second time shift, only to be converted to student residential use in April-May 2014.” 

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