William Page was
granted a publican's license for the 'Miners Arms Inn' in Market Square,
Hunter Street, Newcastle in June 1844 (7) The
license was transferred to
James Farquharson in March1845
(8)
In December 1845
the Inn was the scene of a scuffle that was to result in one of the town's constables - Constable Rinker
being
arrested for perjury. Rinker had stated in Court
that he had been assaulted at the Inn by William
Hudson and Thomas Smith, who was the Landlord of the
Inn kept by James Farquharson. Those who were
present (Farquarson, Hudson, Smith, Rainsford,
Simpson and others) when the altercation took place
charged Rinker with perjury and he was taken into custody, although late
admitted to bail. (9)
In November 1848
when the Inn was offered for sale William Page was
once again proprietor.
Of the Miners'
Arms Inn, the Maitland Mercury wrote:
'The house known as the
Miners Arms inn is
situated in the very centre of the most preferable
part of the city for business and is admirably
adapted for an inn, store, or residence as it is in
the main thoroughfare and proximate to all the
public buildings and wharfs. The city of Newcastle
is progressing rapidly, and indeed such is its
prosperity, that the lucky purchaser may safely
depend upon realising a handsome fortune in a very
few years
For sale was : 'All that allotment of land in Newcastle No. 100 of
section, on which is erected all that spacious
brick built house known as the Miners Arms Inn,
containing seven rooms on the ground floor, two
rooms up stairs large cellars, detached kitchen,
stables, coach house, and many other conveniences.
Bounded on the east by 92 links of the west side of Newcomen street bearing south 7 degrees west on the
south by a line dividing it from allotment no 99
bearing west 7 degrees north 1 chain and 95 links;
on the west by 92 links of the east boundary line of
the market place bearing north 7 degrees east on the
north by a line dividing it from allotments . No 102
and 101 bearing east 76 degrees south 1 chain
and 95 links to Newcomen Street
(10)The Inn sold together with the
'Stockton Arms' for £520 in 1848
Mrs. Page was still the landlady in
June 1849
(58)
In later years this Inn was known as the London Tavern. A portion of the
building stood in Morgan Street. (6) A
daily Coach service run by Samuel Smith of Maitland departed from the Miners
Arms in the 1840s and 1850s.
(7)
MM 22 June 1844
(8)MM 15 March 1845
(6) Goold, Wilfred
James, The Growth of Newcastle, Newcastle & Hunter District Historical Society,
Publication No. 5. p.32)
(9)MM 27
December 1845
(10)MM 25 November
1848
(58) MM 2 June 1849
