The Half Moon
| Status: | Closed as a pub but open as a Thai restaurant. |
| Phone: | 01255 554532 |
| Website: | www.thaiupatthequay.com |
The Half Moon closed as a pub in the 1960s and became an antiques shop, a private dwelling and is open to the public again today as a Thai Restaurant called Thai up at the Quay.
History
The Half Moon seems to start trading as a pub in 1753 when it was acquired by Thomas Cobbold and became part of the tied estate of the Harwich Brewery.
The building has been altered over the years but the timber frame seems to date from the early 16th Century. It was probably jettied (with the first floor overhanging the ground floor) to both frontages with dragon beams but brick facades were added in the early 19th Century. The St. Austin's Lane frontage has a c1800 red Flemish-bond brick facade with a 19th Century cast-iron street nameplate whereas the front to Eastgate Street is rendered with a raised band between the storeys.
In 1837 the building was offered up for sale with the rest of the tied estate of the Harwich Brewery. At the time the building was described as containing two Parlors, Bar, Tap Room, two Bed Rooms, a Club Room and two Attics, (one being over the adjoining cottage.) Yard and Pump of Water. It was in the occupation of Joseph Hanwick.
The pub fell back into Cobbold hands in 1873 but changed hands again and spent the early part of the 20th Century owned by the Colchester Brewing Company who owned the Eagle Brewery on East Hill.
The Half Moon closed as a pub in the 1960s and became an antiques shop, a private dwelling and is open to the public again today as a Thai Restaurant called Thai up at the Quay.
In 1909 the body of the landlord of the Half Moon, Benjamin Colthorpe, was found in a dyke near the Old Smack public house in Dovercourt. He was reported to have financial problems and an inquest found that he committed suicide whilst suffering temporary insanity.
Notable Facts, Things to Look Out For
- Internally parts of the original 16th Century building remain in good condition. There is a tie beam and one substantial post which may survive from an earlier frame and an adjoining stack is also 16th Century.
- The Hanwick/Hunwick/Hunwicks (census records and directories contain all 3 spellings) family continued to run the pub after it was sold in 1837 with Joseph, Elizabeth and Charles running it until 1863.