Charles William ANKER at the Fountain Hotel 1911

[Newfloridian]

I have some difficulty understanding what has been entered on Charles 1911 England census. On the form itself, his personal employment appears to read "Hotel bus driver and Keep fountain Tap". On the enumerator's schedule page the postal address appears to read "Fountain Hotel Tap, 111 High Street, Huntingdon"

I am aware that the hotel closed down shortly afterwards (?1912) but is the word "tap" the correct interpretation?
Many thanks - Alan

[heywood]

Have you looked at others nearby?
The hotel was a large building and he might have kept just part of it.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01p3g/

I am thinking of the ‘Tap room’ in pubs when I was younger.

[KGarrad]

A "Tap" is normally the brewery's own pub - specialising in their own beers.

[Newfloridian]

The immediately previous entry is the hotel itself (just labelled Fountain Hotel) headed by hotel keeper William Joseph Darke. The next previous is 110 High Street. On the other side the first property is listed as 4 Victoria Terrace.

Maybe then the expressions "keep" and "tap" would be similar to being called a "Bar tent" in other parts of the country.

Alan

[heywood]

It seems, therefore, that there is a large, main hotel kept by William Darke and another building kept by Charles Anker.

KGarrad gives a possible explanation.