Pub? - Market Street, Watford

[Jojo]

Hello there, please can someone offer me some help with this?

I have a marriage certificate listing Jack Castleman as publican at Erin (?), Market Street, Watford.

Does anyone recognise this address?  Was Erin a pub?

Any ideas/information/pointers in the right direction gratefully received!

Best wishes
Jojo

[JK]

What sort of date are we talking about JoJo???

[Jojo]

Yes, sorry - that would help, wouldn't it? 
The marriage certificate is 1932.

I've tried various searches, but nothing comes up and 'Erin' seems an odd name for a pub to me.

Regards
Jojo

[JK]

I looked through Market Street on the 1901 census but didn't find any pubs, number 2 was a coffee house? But as the marriage was 1932 things could have changed. I am originally from the Watford area and Market Street is right in the Town Centre, although it is more of a shopping area there are a number of pubs and Restaurants in the Street. I am of course rather young to be commenting on Watford in the 30's But I will ask my mother if she recalls anything of that name, she too is a bit young but hey you never know . Good luck!!

[peterbennett]

Hi

    Just had a look in the Kelly's trades directory for 1913 (the nearest year I could see online) and number 2 is still a coffee tavern, run by an Henry Bird.

   Maybe someone can find a later directory.

peterbennett

[JK]

How about contacting either the Watford Observer (they have a nostalgia page where they post peoples questions on the area) or Watford Museum? Both have websites;
http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/
http://www.watfordmuseum.org.uk/
Maybe a long shot but they might just be able to help
JK

[JK]

Had another thought, as Jack was a publican you could try looking at the Quarter or Petty session records for Watford Magistrate Court to try and find his Licence as this would give you the pub name. I imagine these would be kept at HALS http://www.hertsdirect.org/libsleisure/heritage1/HALS/  not sure if they have a research assistant but may be worth contacting them. JK

[Jojo]

Thanks for searching Peter.

Thank you JK for your suggestions.  I found a website - www.watford-photos.co.uk - which mentions inns on Market Street in the late 19th century.  Possibilities are The Compasses and the Green Man Inn - I'm beginning to wonder if 'Erin' is something the registrar misheard.  I've checked the marriage certificate again and that's definitely what is written.

Trying to find his licence is a great idea - I'll follow that up.
Thank you so much 

[JK]

Looking at that website the Green Man was actually in the High Street, If you look at the modern(ish) picture with Natwest Bank on Left, gap for street, then Compasses (now Savoy Tailors Guild on corner)with Woolwich shown next to where Green Man was. Market Street is actually the (gap) road running down between the Natwest and Compasses.