Some  300  samples  of  beer  were  exhibited  in  a  variety  of
classes  from  breweries  all  over  the  country  including  some

£23  6s  8d.  It was  a stone  and tiled building, with  a  cottage
attached, and comprised bar, living room, a cellar, a hall and

from  celebrated  and  well  known  firms.  Messrs  Ward’s  well
known productions already command a large sale throughout
the  Eastern  Counties  and  beyond,  and  the  distinction  now

three  bedrooms with  an outbuilding formerly used as  a brew
house  and  now  utilised  as  a  shed.  The  property  had  a  fair
share  of  trade  and  the  average  trade  of  the  house  was  2¾

conferred,   reflects   great   credit   on   this   progressive   and
enterprising firm.

barrels and 4½ dozen bottles a week. In summer the average
mineral water trade was eight dozen bottles. He did not com-
plain of the trade and said he made a fair living.

At that year’s annual company outing, David Ward
(known as Kruger or Old Dad) told his workers the brewery
was barely holding its own against tough opposition and a
bad harvest. It was a critical time for the industry. Records
show that nationally there were five hundred fewer
breweries in 1908 than there had been at the turn of the
century. The 1904 Licensing Act of Balfour’s Conservative
administration did not help matters.

 Witness  thought  King  a  good  tenant.  From  the  Rushbrooke
Arms to the  Victoria was 395 paces;  from the  Victoria  to  the
Eagle  about  785  paces;  from the  Eagle  to  Bradfield Manger

was  1½  miles  by  the  main  road.  There  were  half  a  dozen
cottages within 200 yards of the Eagle, nine being a quarter of
a mile  away (Cox’s Green) and  four or  five in Water  Lane,

also a quarter of a mile distant.
Cross-examined by  Mr  Ashton (Ward‘s solicitor):  Is  it  not  a

This draconian and predatory law targeted uneconomic
pubs and saw the magistracy close down others simply
because they believed too many served the same area. This

nice  countryside  house ?  Is it very convenient  in  the summer
for cyclists ?  

Supt: Yes, but few people live there.
 Is the house in the midst of three important farms

confused Act badly affected breweries that relied heavily on
captive trade. Disillusion was ameliorated for the owners
who received some reimbursement from the Compensation
Authority. In less than twenty years over 20,000 licensed
houses were abandoned and although many of the closures
were premises that were truly unprofitable, suspicion
settled in amongst some in the brewing fraternity that a
few justices were  running  a small-minded  campaign
against public houses and favouring licensed clubs.

Supt: Yes
Did you enquire of the tenant what sort of customers he had ?

Supt: No
Is  it   the  only  house  Messrs  Ward  and   Son   have   in   the

neighbourhood ?
Supt: Yes
Now perhaps  you know something  better  (laughter)  - do  you

David Ward experienced the Act at close quarters on
more than one occasion but one pub of particular note was
the Eagle at Whelnetham. According to the Suffolk Free
Press, the magistrates at the Brewster Sessions held at the
Shire Hall, Bury St Edmund’s, heard evidence from the
police  divisional  Superintendent  that  the  pub  was
experiencing a waning trade and should be closed down.

know Messrs Ward & Son’s beer is very good
Supt: Yes

Do you know they have taken several prizes
Supt: They might have done

You  agree with me  that  doing  three barrels a week trade  is
good trade ?

Supt  Brunning  had  said  that  the  present licensee (Mr Lewis
Elmore King, an ex-soldier) had been in occupation for three