THE JOLLY FARMERS (THE COTES)

Redlands, 25 The Cotes, Soham, Cambridgeshire, CB7 5

According to the deeds of the property, some of which are missing, a cottage was rented by Mr John Hatch and his wife Sarah from Mr Edward Bullman and others in 1837 on December 26th of that year.
John Hatch died and Sarah continued to live at the cottage until her death on August 8th, 1865, After this there seems to be a gap. It is believed that the cottage was eventually pulled down and the present house was built close by.
This house was occupied by Mr Robert Martin Palmer who then bought the property in 1866 when it became a beer house.
Mr Palmer sold the property to Messrs Arthur and Bertram Hall on behalf of the brewers, for the sum of £800 in 1895.
As far as it is able to ascertain the next tenants were named Edwards, and during their time at the house it became known as 'The Jolly Farmers'. Standing on the outskirts and on the back road of Soham, it was always a very quiet pub.
In 1931, on May 4th, it was purchased from East Anglian Breweries for the sum of £900. At that time much work was needed in bringing the living quarters up to a reasonable standard as it had been allowed to fall into a most undesirable state. Mr Cyril King was the signalman on the Barway line on the evening of the Railway Disaster though he is sadly forgotten when the occasion is recalled. 
Another one-time landlady was Mrs Elsie Palmer (no relation to the aforementioned Mr Palmer). She recalled her times at the pub with happy memories, raising her family there and as a former barmaid she was at home behind the bar there.
The Palmers gave up the licence when Elsie was unable to cope due to back trouble. No longer does the house bear the pub name, but today it is known by the more auspicious name of Redlands.