Lexden pub history index
Once There Was A Pub On Chitts Hill: Back in the late 1800s there was a pub, really a beer house, standing beside the railway crossing - it was named “Locomotive” and served the railway workers at the nearby, now disused railway sidings, hence its name.
The sidings were just a few yards away from the crossing on Halstead Road bordering Iron Latch Lane.
Records show that in 1871 Thomas Adkinson, aged 63, was in residence as a brewer.
The census of 1891 has Thomas Mills, aged 45, described as a beer retailer.
The licensing records from 1907 to 1910 show that Mills owned the “Locomotive” From the photograph it is seen that Daniell & Sons Ltd, the West Bergholt brewery are providing “Fine old and mild ales, porter and stout”.
The pub stood immediately adjacent to the railway alehouse. There were no further records after 1910, so perhaps that is when the building was demolished. *
Residents at this address.
Locomotive Beershop, Chitts hill
1871/Frances Maria Adkinson/Brewer, Widow/63/Monk Eleigh, Suffolk/Census *
1871/Charles Adkinson/Son, Dealer/26/Lexden, Essex/Census
1871/Hannah Adkinson/Daughter, Domestic/23/Lexden, Essex/Census
1871/Ambrose Balls/Grandson/4/West Bergholt, Essex/Census
1871/Joseph Johnson/Lodger, Gardener/48/Finchingfield, Essex/Census
1871/John Webb/Lodger, Ag Labourer/50/Birch, Essex/Census
Thomas Mills marries Hannah Alkinson before 1881. She is a widow by 1911.
1891/Thomas Mills/Beer Retailer/45/Colchester, Lexden, Essex/Census *
1891/Hannah Mills/Wife/43/Colchester, Lexden, Essex/Census
1891/William Mills/Son/15/Colchester, Lexden, Essex/Census
1891/Ann Maria Mills/Daughter/12/Colchester, Lexden, Essex/Census
1891/John Fuller Mills/Son/7/Colchester, Lexden, Essex/Census
1891/George Mills/Boarder, Bricklayers Labourer/21/Colchester, Lexden, Essex/Census
1891/Charles Spencer Horley/Boarder, General Labourer/36/Pimlico, London/Census
1901/Thomas Mills/Beer Retailer/54/Lexden, Essex/Census *
1901/Hannah Mills/Wife/53/Lexden, Essex/Census
1901/Annie Mills/Daughter/22/Lexden, Essex/Census
1901/John Fuller Mills/Son, Wheelwright/17/Lexden, Essex/Census
1901/Charles Horley/Boarder, Sawyer/46/Lexden, Essex/Census
* All information provided by Angel Miles