Concept   

Act of Parliament - 1751-2 - licensing

"Licensed pursuant to Act of Parliament of the Twenty fifth of King George the Second."

This is a form of words that we have found at three 19th century places of entertainment, two physically and one online (at the 1816 English Opera House).  We've made some assumptions: that the Act permits licensed premises to sell liquor and/or provide entertainment to the public; that the Act stipulated that this form of wording had to be displayed at the premises so licensed; that "Twenty fifth of King George" means "Twenty fifth year of King George" which would mean 1752-3.

Both of the inscriptions that we have seen ourselves show a ghost inscription below that looks like it had (almost) the same wording. Perhaps the law changed and the mandatory inscription was changed slightly so they all had to get the sign-writers back up their ladders.

Wikipedia's page 25 Geo.II lists Acts of the Parliament of Great Britain, 1750–1759 and has over 60 classified as "25 Geo. 2". There it's explained that the "25" refers to the year of the reign during which the relevant parliamentary session was held.  We have not searched the 60 trying to identify the particular Act but if you'd like to do that and send us your findings....

This image shows the paperwork for an Act from approximately the same period.

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Act of Parliament - 1751-2 - licensing

Commemorated ati

Lopping Hall - licensed

Initially we thought this inscription referred to the 1878 Epping Forest Act ...

Read More

Other Subjects

Eagle Tavern

Eagle Tavern

Spitlefields Life has an excellent write-up of the 19th century entertainment complex here.

Building, Commerce, Food & Drink

2 memorials
Cosmo Restaurant

Cosmo Restaurant

From London RIP "Cosmo, in Swiss Cottage, was a large restaurant in a parade of shops which was divided into two parts - a somewhat Spartan cafe and a much grander restaurant with a more ornate, po...

Group, Community / Clubs, Food & Drink

1 memorial
Henry Benjamin Hanbury Beaufoy

Henry Benjamin Hanbury Beaufoy

Vinegar factory owner, philanthropist and politician. MP for Hackney. Born Switzerland. The family's brewery (first gin and then vinegar) was at Cuper's Gardens, Lambeth - demolished when Waterloo ...

Person, Food & Drink, Philanthropy, Politics & Administration, Switzerland

1 memorial
Michael Tierney

Michael Tierney

Mine host of the Windsor Castle pub in 1990. Distinguished member of the Handlebar Club since 2007.

Person, Commerce, Food & Drink

1 memorial
Pinoli's Restaurant

Pinoli's Restaurant

Londonist tells us this restaurant was the venue chosen for the 1920 "the end-of-year dinner of the influential Hampstead branch of the Communist Party of Great Britain", watched closely by British...

Group, Food & Drink

1 memorial