East Street outside the Bird in Hand which was a brewery as well as a public house and owned for many years by Daniel Leaper who was also the long-time Superintendent of Coggeshall Fire Brigade. The shop nearest the camera was also his and was where he worked as a cabinet maker and upholsterer. A busy and active man, he was also agent for the 'Essex And Suffolk Equitable Insurance Company' and people came to this shop to pay their fire insurance, so as a result it was known to all as The Fire Office. At the time of this photo the Bird in Hand was owned by S G Gooch who took over the licence in 1895 having recently returned from living in Peru. The house on the left with the carved wooden frieze was once another Coggeshall public house; called The Blue House and later The George Inn.
Date: about 1896
Ref: 48/08