22 Market Street is a house today but it is perhaps best known in Harwich as the Royal Oak, a pub that closed in 1930.

The building was listed Grade II in 1994 and has a 17th century timber frame in pine. The framing is today only visible as axial and transverse beams on the ground floor but is a good example of an early softwood frame. The beams have quarter round mouldings and lamb's tongue stops with end notches. The bay layout, with one narrow bay on the left of the building, poses questions about the original configuration of the building and the right hand transverse beam against the wall is unchamfered.

When the freehold to the premises is auctioned in 1837 the Royal Oak is described thus: A FREEHOLD PUBLIC HOUSE, called the ROYAL OAK, situated in Market Street, Harwich; containing Bar, Tap Room, small Parlour, large Bed Room, and two attics, Cellar under ground, and Yard, In the occupation of Thomas Denney. Land Tax Redeemed. Quit Rent 4d.

We know that the building was a public house by the mid 18th century but it could have had an alternative commercial or residential use before that.

Our first touchpoint for the Royal Oak is in January 1756 when we find the following advert in the Ipswich Journal: To be SOLD. The Chandling Utensils and Stock of Tallow late Robert Pegge's of Harwich in the County of Essex, dec. For further Particulars enquire of Mrs. Mary Pegge, at the Royal Oak in Harwich aforesaid.

In the Ipswich Journal in January 1775 we find, via the report on a robbery and assault that took place at the pub, that John Pegge is landlord so we can speculate that the the pub has stayed in the Pegge family.

We already know that Thomas Denney is the landlord in 1837 and we know he is still there in 1839 because he is listed in the Pigot’s Directory of that year.

In 1851 we find Mary Burrell keeping the Royal Oak Inn. She is aged 50 and living with her 22 year old daughter, Caroline, who is listed as a dressmaker, and her father John Wright who has attained the ripe old age of 100. There is also a live-in servant, Eliza Lucas.

In 1861 Samuel Cross is running the pub with his wife Mary. They also have their grandson, Samuel cross who is a railway porter, a servant and a lodger living with them.

In 1871 we find Mary Ann Martin and her young son Robert are resident at the pub and Mary is listed as “publican’s wife”.

In 1881 the census records John Nichols in charge at the Royal Oak. He is assisted by his wife Mary and daughter Annie, who is listed as a waitress. They also have a lodger, William Barham, who is a labourer.

In 1891 William and Florence Long are running the pub and they have a lodger, Phoebe Holden.

In 1901 Walter Gosling and his wife Laurie are running the Royal Oak. Walter is from Wherstead in Suffolk and Laurie from Ipswich and they are both aged 46 at the time of the census.

In 1911 Walter Gosling is still running the pub but he has remarried and his new wife Harriet, 23 years his junior, is helping him run the pub as well as looking after their 4 month old son. They also have a domestic servant, Pauline Carpenter.

We know that Walter Gosling was still at the pub in 1925 because he is listed in the Kelly’s Directory but we also know that he died, aged 70, in that year.

In the Chelmsford Chronicle of Friday 6th June 1930 we find a report of the meeting of the Essex Licensing Committee held at the Shire Hall the previous day and the demise of the Royal Oak as a public house thus: ROYAL OAK, HARWICH. In the case of the Royal Oak, Market Street, Harwich (licensee, Mr. John Smith), Insp. Dibben said the King's Head and the Royal Oak were situated quite close together., In his opinion, this licence was not necessary. The licence was not renewed.

The building at 22 Market Street was surveyed and interpreted as part of the Harwich Architectural Survey Project which was funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

An interpretation of 22 Market Street by Brenda and Elphin Watkin is available for download here.