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Bury St Edmunds Oddfellows' Arms

Bury St Edmunds Oddfellows' Arms

also traded as Angel & Crown, Old Angel, Odd Fellows' Arms

East, 52.24189,0.71475

Closed: between 1920 and 1970

44 College St

grid reference TL 854 638

It's shown as the Old Angel Hotel on this OS town plan from about 1850 (larger map).

old OS map

This was originally made up of 2 houses, both built in the 16th century.

The Oddfellows is also listed at Hatter Street in 1823 and at 38 College Street in 1855.

Map

map

Gallery

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Landlords

Landlords

Footnote

The Angel & Crown was popular sign in 17th cent. England especially after the restoration of Charles II in 1760. Usually two angels are depicted.

The Independent Order of Oddfellows is a benevolent society, active since the early 19th cent. The origins of the name are far earlier though and it was originally an alternate to individual trade guilds - that were highly sucessful in medieval England in promoting apprentiships and restricting membership to protect craft skills. The power of such organisations were reduced by Henry VIII in 1545 when he confiscated their property, and further reduced in 1563 when Elizabeth I removed the responsibility for regulating apprentiships. Other legislation in 18th cent. made such organisations increasingly secretive though they continued to meet in local pubs.

(Most pub, location & historic details collated by Nigel, Tony or Keith - original sources are credited)

(1861 census information from Malcolm Fairley)

(** historic newspaper information from Bob Mitchell)

Old OS map reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland.

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