"Welcome Stranger" in 1891 Census in Flimwell, East Sussex

[Keith Sherwood]

Hi again, Everyone,
Just a little perplexing query, but I have found a c1890 photo on page 67 of the excellent book entitled "Ticehurst, Stonegate and Flimwell" by Francis Drewe, first published in 1991 and reprinted in 2002.  There, next door to the Baptist Chapel in Flimwell, (which of course is in East Sussex) is another building - a shop -  with a sign over the doorway that states: "Joseph Pankhurst Licensed to sell beer by retail to be drunk only on the premises" (I think, very small lettering).  I have a cousin whose family are PANKHURST's, and I've contacted her about a possible link.
However, when I idly looked up Joseph PANKHURST in the 1891 Census, on the lefthand side, where normally you would see house numbers or an indication of location, there appear in brackets the words  (Welcome Stranger).
Would this have been the Victorian equivalent of some kind of modern "Let's get Joe Public in and start spending their hard-earned money?"
Any suggestions on a postcard, please…
Keith

[StanleysChesterton]

I'd assume that's a pub - and that's the name of the pub. 

Where a pub appears in the census the name of it's usually written down, not the house number.

[ShaunJ]

No longer a pub, but "Welcome Stranger " is still the name of the house http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-24476675.html

[suey]

No longer a pub, but "Welcome Stranger " is still the name of the house http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-24476675.html

You beat me to it  
The Welcome Stranger seems to have been quite a popular pub name.

[Keith Sherwood]

Oh, I should have thought of that, shouldn't I?
Thanks very much StanleysChesterton, Suey and Shaun.
Strange that a beer house or pub co-existed cheek by jowl with a Chapel.  Wonder if there was ever any polite banter going on, or perhaps opening hours never coincided with Chapel services..
Keith
I wonder how common Welcome Stranger is today as a pub name.  None that I know of round here in Cambridgeshire...

[stanmapstone]

According to "The Dictionary of Pub Names" (2006) there were pubs name "Welcome Stranger" at Liverton near Newton Abbot, Court-at-Street near Hythe, Kent and Crowborough East Sussex. There are numerous pubs of the form "Welcome xxx"

Stan

[Mrsd310317]

Hi Keith, I believe Joseph Pankhurst is a relative of mine, I would love to speak to you or your cousin for more info, thanks!