This chapter is from the Booklet written by Trevor Nurse in 2006.
Introduction.
This chapter looks at the history of the Public Houses in the Parish of Old and New Whittington with Sheepbridge, and Whittington Moor.
In this part of the parish six of the public houses have been demolished and gone forever, some others are struggling to stay open, I hope they make it! The history of some of the older Pubs can be quite interesting, these being in the old village before the Industrial Revolution. Apart from “The Poplar,” all of these had full licences, which indicates they are the oldest ones.
New Whittington and Whittington Moor began with the Industrial Revolution, therefore most of the Public Houses in these two villages didn’t exist before 1855-60. At that time, anybody could sell beer by purchasing a Beer house licence. To sell wine and spirits they had to have a full licence, which would bring them under control of the magistrates and at that time a full licence may have been difficult to obtain. Therefore, Beer houses sprang up very quickly in these two parts of the Parish. In many cases, most of these pubs didn’t obtain a full licence until the late 1940s, or early 50s, then Beer houses were encouraged to apply for a full licence.
The lists of landlords have been taken from various directories and Electoral Rolls. The dates given are when I found them, and in many cases will not be the date they entered the establishment. Also in many cases the lists will not be complete, particularly if they were at the establishment for a short period of time.
It is hard to believe that at one time there were as many as 38 Public Houses open to sell ale and spirits in the three little villages that make up Whittington. I might add that about three of these “Pubs,” although in Whittington Moor were actually in the Newbold parish.
The population has risen dramatically since 1900, but the number of Public Houses open today has dropped to just 18 (at the time of Trevor writing this).
Joe Gilbert is on the front page, the best-known publican over 4 decades. When I was a boy, dad would send me to the “off sales” with a huge bottle and I would ask for three gills of bitter, I don’t even know how much this quantity is. Joe would take the bottle and put a funnel in the top. Then holding it under the beer pump he’d fill it about two thirds full. From off the shelf, he’d get a sticky label with two ears on it and stick it across the top and down the sides, this probably to satisfy the law.
Below is a little statistical table for the four communities.
No. of Pubs. Still open. Closed. Demolished.
Old Whittington. 6 4 2 2
Sheepbridge. 3 1 2 1
New Whittington. 11 6 5 3
Whittington Moor. 18 7 11 8
Total Pubs: 38.
Total Open: 18.
Total Closed or Reused: 20.
Total Number demolished and gone forever. 14.
I haven’t included the “Working Men’s Clubs,” which grew in the villages during the late 1890s and early 1900s. I think there have been six of these over the years and all of them still exist today.
1 in Old Whittington. Miners Welfare Club.
1 in Sheepbridge. Private members Club.
2 in New Whittington. Social Club and Family Club
2 in Whittington Moor. Chester’s, which used to be the British Legion and the Victoria Club.
Trevor Nurse. February 2006.
THE COCK AND MAGPIE INN. No 2 Church Street.
This pub is probably the oldest in the village. The licence was originally in the Revolution House, which stands just in front, then called the Cock and Pynot. The history, (of which I won’t go into here) makes it the best known pub in the village. The Chesterfield brewery bought it in 1884. Plans for extensive alterations were approved in 1938. Since then, it had major alterations in the 1980s, the main one being a dining room built on the back.
A list of some of the past Landlords.
1827. William Mettam was from a wealthy family primarily involved in stone masonry and building.
1846. John Woodhouse. He also had the village post office.
1861. Samuel Bargh, 34 years old, was a shoemaker and farmer born in Newbold.
1879. Samuel Bargh. Ditto. His wife was Mary they farmed 24 acres. John Smith. He was also listed as a butcher.
1891. William Meakin, 54, and his wife Elizabeth, 49, were from Kimberley and Mansfield, respectively.
1895. William Meakin.
1899. Charles Birkbeck.
1901. Hannah Birkbeck on her own, she was 64.
1912. Joseph Seckington.
1922. George R. Tattersall
1923. A. Saxby and Elizabeth Hannah Saxby.
1931. Alfred Poynton.
1946. George T. and Florence Crossland. Probably there a few years before.
In 1960, George T. and Florence Crossland took over “The Robin Hood” in Baslow.
1963. James S. and Lily Devlin. Came from the Miners Arms New Whitt.
1982. ditto. Landlord for 20 years.
1983. Jack and Jean E. Brewin.
1992 ditto.
1993 Malcolm and June A. Froggatt.
2006. ditto.
NEW BRIDGE INN. Foxley Oakes.
This Inn was situated in a little community of about 20 houses, which was known as Foxley Oakes down Newbridge Lane. The houses around there were mainly built for the miners of the Foxley Oakes Colliery. The plan shows it very clearly in 1875. It was a John Smith’s pub and closed in 1914.
Some early landlords.
1868. John Wilcox. He was a boot and shoemaker.
1871. William Froggatt. Then aged 32 born at Baslow. His wife was called Hannah, aged 28 and they had three children.
1879. William Barbour.
1881. James Ward. Age 55, born in Walpole Norfolk his wife Sarah A. was 54 and born in Terington Norfolk she was deaf.
1891. Henry Brown. Then aged 45 from Ironbridge. Letty his wife was born at Skegby in Lincolnshire.
1909. John Birkint.
THE BULLS HEAD. No 1 Broomhill Rd. Old Whittington.
The original Bulls Head was very old, and probably was a large stone house before being turned into a beer house. The drawing shows how it was before the new one was built in 1906-7. The new pub was built similar to the old one, with a door on Whittington Hill, you can see where it was eventually bricked up. Originally it was a Brampton Brewery pub, at present it sells John Smiths Ales.
Some early landlords.
1827-9. John Cooke. He owned some land on Whittington Moor and therefore may have been a farmer as well.
1846. Ditto
1861. Hannah Cooke. She was 57 and born in the village.
1868. Ditto. The Cooke’s having it for over 40 years.
1895. Herbert Stead.
1899. Joseph Thorpe.
1901. Ditto. Joseph was 44 and his wife Alice 43. Both born in the village.
1909. George Milnes.
1912. Edward Milnes.
1922. Frederick Johnson Cooper.
1932. Ditto.
1952. Fred William and Joyce I. Cooper.
1960. Cyril and Daisy N. Ferguson.
1962. George and Bertha Conway.
1963. Alfred and Kathleen Williams.
1968. Peter H. and Dizal Palmer.
1970. Conrad and Margaret Jenkinson.
1971. John and Brenda Turner.
1976. Bruce and Patricia Browett.
1977. Edward J. and Peggy Middleton.
1991. Geoffrey A. Bentley.
1992. Geoffrey A. and Carol Bentley.
1996. Christopher Durham and Marlene A.
THE POPLAR INN. No. 140 Church Street.
The Poplar is a very old building, and I would think it being built about 1700-50. In Whittington about this time was a very large family called the Naylors, they were mainly farmers and owned quite a lot of land.
A John Naylor owned the building in 1780, he was a Millwright and at that time there were five water mills in and around the village which he maintained. The Naylor’s were also related to the Dixon family, one of the daughters marrying Richard Dixon who owned the Glasshouse. A John Naylor listed as a Millwright lived there in 1829 and I would assume that this was a descendent of the John Naylor above. In 1861 he was 60 years old and had two daughters, Elizabeth 36 and Harriet 23.
In 1871 a John Bamford lived there, he was a miner and came from Hucknall in Nottinghamshire, he had a wife Elizabeth and 6 children. They sold beer, and it was listed as a beer house, although at first his main income was from mining. Also, at this time there was a row of stone cottages next to the house called “Poplar View”, these being demolished about 1970.
The pub originally sold ales from the Chesterfield Brewery, this being bought out by the Mansfield Brewery in 1935. It obtained a full licence in 1951when Albert and Annie Weston had it. It closed about 2002-3, now it is a private house again.
Some of the Landlords.
1871. John Bamford. He was the brother of George Bamford of New Whittington.
1886. Joseph Hall. He was 41 and a miner born at Saddleworth. His wife was Ellen, they had seven children. Listed then as a Beer retailer.
1894. Joseph Hall. By this time it was called the “The Poplar Hotel”.
1901. Ellen Hall, she was 48 years old and born Staveley.
1915. Thomas Stanley with his wife Sarah.
1936. John and Francis Siddall. Siddall’s being a large family in the village.
1940. Albert and Annie Weston. Had it for over 20 years.
1965. Robert and Mona Mitchell.
1974 ditto
1976. Mr. and Mrs. D. Mawson.
1980. It was up for sale, expecting to fetch around £35.000.
1980. Donald and Shirley Hardcastle they had two daughters Joanna and Diana.
1993. ditto.
1994. Stephen J. and Kathryn Iberle
2002. ditto
THE WHITE HORSE INN. 143 High St. Whittington Green.
This must have been an Inn around the 1800s, and at one time I would think belonging to the estate of Elmwood House. A Blacksmith’s shop was attached at the side and it appears from past records that the Blacksmith lived at the premises. I can remember as a boy going with my uncle to shoe his horse there. It is interesting to see Harry Parker as the landlord in 1891, he was the father of Percy Parker, who many people will remember as the village coal man. Originally it was a Tennant’s house, which was later bought out by Whitbread’s in 1962. The white block in the photo below may be a Gents Urinal?
It is now a Tesco Express.
Some of the landlords are listed below.
1827-29. Dorothy Mettam.
1861. Joseph Hartley.
1864. ditto.
1868. William Henry Thompson. He was 38 and born Wragby
1879. Richard Bass.
1879. George Bass.
1891. Harry Parker, 27, and his wife Florence, 24.
1895. Samuel Renshaw.
1899. Joseph Lockett.
1900 ditto.
1900 William Parkin age 59 his wife Emma was 58, both born Yorkshire.
1905. S. G. Gregg.
1909. Charles Henry Judson and Blacksmith.
1912. Henry England.
1922. John H. S. Dawson.
1925. Henry and Fanny Dennis.
1932. Thomas Charles Longdon.
1945. ditto. Listed as 143 High Street.
1956. Thomas and Jessie Jones.
1962. Terence and Sheila Seddington.
1965. Derrick Thornton.
1971. Thomas C. and Margaret J. Beaver.
1980. ditto.
1983. Ernest and Hazel J. Hazlehurst.
1985. Melvyn J. and Julie Oliver.
1988. Martin and Hazel Smith.
2002. ditto
THE SQUARE AND COMPASS INN. Whittington Green.
Below is a photo of a farm that was called Compass Farm. It belonged to a Gentleman farmer by the name of George Bower. The house was turned into a Beer house about 1825 and would be the first Pub on the East Side of Whittington. It reverted back to a farm when other Public Houses sprang up in that part of the village, this must have been about 1900. It had land of over 40 acres and stood opposite the entrance to Whittington Hall. When it was demolished a filling station was built on the site, now four houses have been built there, “Spring House” still stands at the back.
1827. Landlord George Bower.
1846. Landlord George Bower. He was also a farmer and Cattle Dealer.
1851. George Bower was 68 years old and his wife Elizabeth was 66, he was listed as a Publican and Farmer. The whole building being called the Compasses.
Public Houses on the Brushes and Sheepbridge.
THE SHEEPBRIDGE HOTEL. No 717 Sheffield Road The Sheepbridge Hotel was listed in the census returns for 1851, therefore I would think the building is quite old. It is very well constructed as can be seen from the photo. It hasn’t changed much over the past 50 years as I have known it. Although I would think the inside has been altered many times.
over its life. It was closed in January 1978 and is now used as business premises and offices. It sold Richdale Ales.
A list of landlords over the years.
1851. Michael Ashew. He was 36 years old and born at Tibshelf, his wife Ann was 31. Then he was listed as a Miller, Publican and Farmer of 13 acres.
1857. Henry Thornton.
1861. Robert Pocklington. (he also being listed as a contractor.)
1868 ditto.
1871. Henry Palmer and wife Sarah age 54 and 53, both born in Newark.
1879. Henry Palmer.
1887. Isaac Pugh. He being 45, his wife Sarah Ann died the same year.
1891. James Mosley 52, born in the village. His wife was Mary Ann aged 48.
1912. ditto.
1922 Alfred Bratley.
1925. Alfred Sydney and Mary Bratley.
1932. William Joel Boston.
1941. ditto.
1952. Robert G. and Doris M. Tweddle.
1960. ditto with Althea Boston.
1968. Kathleen Bird.
1970. Frank and Linda Mitchell also there Sandra and Valerie Mitchell.
1976. Mary Lawson. Probably the last Landlady.
1978. Closed in January.
RAILWAY INN – TWO JAYS and now THE ODD COUPLE. No 799 Sheffield Road.
In the last few years this Inn has changed its name twice, I don’t know why, as it had been the Railway for over 100 years. It is situated just in front of the Midland railway line to Sheffield. It probably was built about 1865-70. There were major alterations in 1930 and a full licence granted in 1960. A John Smiths
A list of landlords.
1871 George and Olive Bellamy. George being 46 years old born at Gleadless, Olive born Unstone age 46.
1881 Olive Bellamy age 56 born at Unstone.
1891. Henry and Eliza Bellamy both aged 41 he was born Unston.
1895. Richard Hardwick Hallam.
1899. James Monks. Listed as the Brushes.
1909. Robert Francis. (148 Sheffield Rd.)
1925 ditto. Mrs. Annie Francis. but listed as 799 Sheffield Rd.
1940 ditto.
1952. Thomas C. and Lily Bowler.
1960. James and Phyllis H. Pearson.
1968. ditto
1970. Dennis and Vera Carter.
1971. Lawrence and Lynne Oldfield.
1973. Kenneth and Rosemary Pollard.
1976. Stuart and Ruth H. Baldock.
1980. Norman and Vera Holmes.
1982. Betty Gosling.
1985. Charles K. and Julie Staniland.
1988. Derrick and Shirley Pears.
1991. Malcolm Taylor.
1993. Gordon Taylor.
1995. Ann Allen and Sarah Allen.
2001. Ditto with John M. Taylor.
THE PHEASANT INN. 821 Sheffield Road.
This little pub was an end terrace house, as can be seen it the photo, now it is in a dilapidated condition with the windows boarded up and the chimney blown or knocked down. Apparently, it closed in 1906, it stands next to Mary Ann Street. I would think it would be selling ale before The Railway Inn was built. It was listed as a beer house and sold Brampton ales. Emily Pearson was the daughter of Grace Pearson who lived and worked there for many years.
Some early landlords.
1871. John Vaines. Born in Ashover aged then 39, his wife was Elizabeth.
1879 James Mosley age 43 coal miner born Whittington, his wife was Mary Ann aged then 33 and born in Clay Cross.
1891. Joshua Pearson, he was 57 and a colliery Banksman born at Holmsfield, his wife Grace was 58. They had three children Tom, Emily and Alice.
1895. Mrs. Grace Pearson, she would be the Landlady there when it closed.
3.The Public Houses of New Whittington.
THE CROWN INN, now The Corner Flag. 72. High Street.
This Inn hasn’t changed much over the years, the outside has been rendered and painted. It must have been built about 1859-60 on land that belonged to the farm on “Crown Yard”. The first landlord was my great, great, grandfather, so I know a little bit about him. He was a cordwainer, (shoemaker), and carried on with his business while running the pub.
The Crown like most Pubs in the village at that time had four rooms downstairs with a servery, and the toilets were outside in the back yard. It is obvious from the plan that the Crown was altered quite early to bring the toilets inside (1917). The alteration of that date is shown in white, and would be done under the direction of the owners “The Mansfield Brewery Co.” The architects were “Wilcockson and Cutts” a Chesterfield firm. The landlord and landlady then would have been William and Mary Belfitt.
For the last 6 years or so it has struggled to stay open, during 1999 it was closed for about a year. It opened for about a month in January 2001 then closed again and the windows were boarded up. Sometime in 2001the outside was renovatedand the pub re-named The Corner Flag.
A list of the many Landlords.
1861. Ralph Richardson. Shoemaker from Netherthorpe, he had a pub in Staveley before he took the Crown.
1868. Samuel Fletcher. He was a farmer from Sutton in Ashfield, he had the Crown Yard farm, he was 52 and his wife Ann 47.
1881. William Edward and Mary Durham, he was 41 and she 42.
1891. James and Elizabeth Hawkins. he being 35 and she was 28. They were both born in Beaconsfield Bucks.
1895. Mrs Elizabeth Hawkins. Jonas Musgrave age54 born Selby. His daughter Gertrude was 20. William Herbert and Mary Ellen Belfitt, daughter Daisy Jean.
1922. Robert Saxton.
1926. John Victor Tweddall. also living there was George and Jane Fuller.
1931. George and Myra Gadsby. they had a daughter Phoebe.
1932. William Henry and Annie Blow. also living there Ernest Stanton.
1936. Ditto. also there Ernest, William, George and Thomas Stanton.
1938. Ditto also there Ernest, William, and George Stanton, also Harry Brockley.
1945. William Henry and Annie Blow.
1952. James and Lucy Langford.
1958. Harold and Phyllis Booker.
1960. Joseph H. and Elsie Goddard.
1964. John and Mary Lee.
1969. Wilfred E. and Margaret R. Hadley.
1972. Ditto. with children Christine and Christopher Hadley.
1974 Ditto. also living there Elizabeth Hadley. also Christine Gallagan and Roy Gallagan.
1975. Margaret R. Hadley only.
1984. Robert and Ann Holmes.
1986. Robert Holmes.
1987. Robert Holmes and Maureen D. Askey.
1988. David J. and Pamela D. Farmery. also David L. Farmery.
1994. Robert and Sally W. Brocklehurst.
1995 Marilyn Hall and Michael G. Hall.
1999 Ian Lowe.
RISING SUN. 78. High Street.
This was turned into a pub much later than most of the others in the village. It had been in the hands of two families during its early years, the Buck’s who had it for nearly 50 years, it obtained a full licence in 1960. Originally it was a Scarsdale Pub. It was closed in 1999, and then re-opened with new owners.
A list of landlords.
1871. Robert and Elizabeth Bimetry age 54 born Ashover his wife was born at Crich, she was 52.
1879. William and Elizabeth Sellers.
1891. Same as above. Their ages then were 57. and 44, Arthur Gadsby lived with them he was a nephew and was 11 years old.
1900. Mrs Elizabeth Sellers. Her husband must have died.
1901 John William and Harriett Abrams. He was 26 years old and she was 21.
1925. Thomas and Mary Ann Buck.
1926. Mary Ann Buck on her own.
1931. Herbert and Lucy Buck.
1933. Herbert and Lucy Buck. also Herbert junior.
1936. Herbert and Lucy Buck. also daughter Clara. 1938 son Leonard listed.
1946. Lucy Buck.
1952. Ernest and Rebecca J., Buck.
1965. Rebecca J. Buck. and George E. Meads.
1971. Rebecca J. Buck on her own. Bill Hewitt bought the pub after the Buck’s had it, he employed the next Landlords. Barrie and Margaret Holliwell.
1986. Barrie and Susan A. Cupitt. also there was Dean and Steven Chambers.
THE DUSTY MILLER. 112.High Street.
This is another old Inn that has now disappeared. In 1825 it was listed on the enclosure map as a Malthouse and Farmhouse, it then had 22 acres of land. In 1840 the farmer was John Hollingsworth, then later in 1857 he was listed in a directory as a farmer and publican. The place then was called the Malt Shovel, an obvious choice as he had the Malthouse across the yard. The Cundy’s who had it in 1860 came from a family of corn millers and therefore must have changed its name to “The Dusty Miller”. Originally it was a Wm. Greaves pub of Sheffield who was later taken over by Duncan Gilmour’s in 1920. By this time the old Malthouse building was used as a hall, where various societies met in the village. In 1875 it was used as a school and much later the Catholics used it as their church until there’s was built down Wellington Street. Eventually the Brewery sold the pub to Thomas Beighton Ltd. in 1939, who later sold to the Borough Council in 1946. Four council houses are built there now.
The sketch on the next page shows what was known as “The Dusty Miller Yard”, the terrace buildings on the right are cottages and shops with their fronts on the High Street. The old Malthouse is at the top, you can just see the steps to the large room on the first floor, below this were stables. The Dusty Millar pub is on the left you can just see its door facing down the yard.
List of Landlords.
1857. John Hollingsworth. Maltshovel.
1860. Joseph and Jane Cundy.
1870. Joseph and Jane Cundy. age 38. Jane age 39
1881. Horatio and Sophia Cooper. age 40. Sophia age 38.
1891. William and Phoebe Gadsby. He was aged 40 and she was 38.
1901. John H. and Hannah Godber. He was 49 and she was 44.
1923. Edward and Agnes Ellen Hosey. His father lived in the Dusty Miller yard before him.
THE MINERS ARMS. 1 Bamford Street.
This Inn is one of the oldest in the village, the Wellington may be slightly older. Like most other public houses in the village it started as a large house, then becoming a “Beer House” and finally being called “The Miners Arms Inn”
This year the building will be approx. 150 years old and doesn’t appear to have undergone any major changes to the outside over its history like many other Inns in the village. However, in 1908 there were some alterations that are quite interesting and due to the kind generosity of Mrs. Mark, (who is William Bamford’s great granddaughter), gave me a copy of the plans and specifications. After studying these and information provided I decided to write the following noted for future reference.
The Bamford family owned the Inn in 1860 and therefore most likely the first owners from it being built. The family lived there for at least 25 years and then leased or rented it out to other landlords, until it was sold to the Mansfield Brewery Company in 1938. Therefore, the family owned the Pub for just over 80 years.
In Feb. 1908 Mr. Joseph Chadburn was the licensee and had difficulties in renewal of the licence, this due to some objections. On May 7th. The County Licensing Committee agreed to renew the licence, providing repairs and alterations to the property were carried out. The Chesterfield Architect Mr. Wilcockson drew up the necessary plans and elevations and on June the 2nd was submitted to the Licensing Committee and successfully passed.
Looking at the plans, I would think that the main reason for not renewing the licence would be on the grounds of sanitation, which about that time the licensing committees were becoming stricter. From the original elevation, it appears that the Miners had a very “nasty” urinal, this built right on the front corner of the house. I would think this would be no more than just a hole in the ground and would give off putrid and pungent smells at various times. This probably put there when the building was first turned into a Beer House. Also as can be seen from the elevation it was very close to an openable window, with the possibility of effluent being able to soak into the beer cellar below. It also was in a position where it could be used by the general public in the village, again not a satisfactory situation. The outer wall of this urinal was only 5ft. 6 inches high. Therefore, the heads of men using it would be seen by people walking on the High Street or Bamford Street, a situation which seemed to be quite acceptable in those days.
The solution to this then would be to take the urinal down and make a way through the building, so customers could use the toilets in the back yard. To achieve this the jennel and some of the back yard of the adjoining terrace houses was taken by the inn, which shows that this adjoining property must have
belonged to William Bamford also. The front part of the jennel was made into an “Off Sales”, where people could buy beer from the pumps without entering the pub. It is also interesting to see alterations for a new pantry, this probably another essential alteration to satisfy the licensing committee. As can be seen from the plan the new pantry extended into the yard, which was part of the two cottages and shop on the High Street. Therefore, a new toilet and coal storage had to be provided for these properties, this also shows that these properties must have belonged to William Bamford.
The most costly alteration would be the extension of the smoke room and clubroom at the back, which wouldn’t be needed to satisfy the licensing committee. Therefore, one might say why was this done? Quite a large cost to the owner! When looking into the events of New Whittington at that time, it is easy to see why. New Whittington at that time was still expanding at an enormous rate, but there was nowhere for the people to go socially apart from the Public Houses, this only satisfying the older men of the village. Because of this, various societies and clubs flourished, but needed large rooms to meet in, this was satisfied by hiring rooms above the various Inns around the village. This would also be a big earner for the landlords, as well as generating more custom.
It is interesting to note that New Whittington didn’t become a separate parish till 1927, it being administered by the mother church of Old Whittington up to that time. Due to this, the Non-Conformists did very well, which resulted in the Church of England missing out. The rector of Old Whittington, Rev. Ford, endeavoured to do more for New Whittington. In 1908-9 he purchased a field for the church, situated on Handley Road opposite the top of Bamford Street, which the local football teams were then using. It became known as “Frogatts Park”, due to Frogatt’s having a shop on the corner. Also they rented part of the field to graze their horse in. The church then organised sports clubs for the younger people in the village, (Football, Tennis, Hockey and Cricket.) New Whittington at this time having about three football teams. One of the meeting places and changing facilities for these clubs was the Miners Arms. From this I can see another reason for wanting a better clubroom above the smoke room. This would have been the largest clubroom in the village and therefore would generate a lot of custom. William Bamford being a very shrewd businessman would then be able to raise the rent for the Public House.
It is also interesting to see that the High Street just outside the Miners was widened, thus reducing the little yard in front by about five feet. This must have been done after the old cottages and shop was demolished next to the Inn. I would imagine this undertaken sometime in the middle 1930’s. In 1938 the Miners was sold to the Mansfield Brewery company, and I would think it was this company that had the two large bay windows added on the front facing the High Street as it appears today.
This pub like the Wellington had a full licence, thus showing its importance during its early years. The Mansfield Brewery sold it to the Burtonwood Brewery in 1989.
A list of Landlords.
1860. George Bamford. He was a miner and came from North Notts. There may have been a landlord before this.
1876. William Bamford. He was George Bamfords younger brother.
1887. John Wilcock.
1891. William and Ellen Ball, he was 41 and born Staveley. She was 35 and born Rotherham.
1895. John Chippendale.
1901. Ann Lester, she was 55 and born in Warwickshire.
1904. Joseph Chadburn. 1908 saw some major alterations, the long room was built on at the back.
1912. George Thomas Hague.
1925. Mrs. Charlotte Brunt.
1928. William Luckett.
1931. John and Alice Walker.
1938. George and Clara Mee. This is when Mansfield Brewery bought the pub.
1948. James and Lily Devlin.
1960. Arthur Gee.
1961. Eric and Margaret Stevenson.
1964. Eric and Marion Scott.
1970. Terence and Maureen Saunby.
1972. Brian and Shirley Hawksworth. Came in the pub on April 20th.
1977. Shirley Hawksworth on her own with her two sons.
1993. Samantha Davison. Also David Mason and Juanita Mason.
1996. Ian C. and Ann Brentall.
1998 The pub was closed for about a year.
1999 Patricia Margaret O’Connor. Landlady.
2002 Anthony Beer had it for a month from September to October.
2004. The inside renovated and re-opened.
THE WELLINGTON HOTEL. 162. High Street.
This pub must have been built in the middle 1850s and was bought by the Chesterfield Brewery Company in 1859. It had a full licence indicating that it was a major pub in the village then. In 1964 the front was altered which saw the large windows put in, other extensive alterations were done in 1975. At the present time it is the most popular pub in the village.
Everyone in the village knew Joe Gilbert, the landlord for over 40 years, I thank his son for the photo of him and a description of the pub over those years. It had a large concert room that stretched out on one side, this was on the first floor, with steps up to it from the outside, underneath were stables with room for 5 standing. Percy Parker at one time had his horses there. The large garden was like a little farm, Joe at one time having pigs, geese and poultry. The concert room had a stage at one end, and was used by both the Weslyans and the Gospel Mission across the road before their respective churches were built.
A list of landlords and landladies.
1861. John Wilkockson.
1868. Cornelius Earp.
1871. William and Sarah Ditchfield. He was a fitter age 30 born Warrington. His wife was 30 also and born Shadlow in Leicestershire.
1881. James and Mary Kirk.
1891. Charles and Elizabeth Cappendall, he was 37 and she was 34 years old. He was born in Warwickshire.
1899. Thomas and Martha Elcock, he was 42 and born Dudley she was 40 and born in Staveley.
1918. Joseph Frances and Harriett Regina Gilbert.
1962. Joseph F. Gilbert. also living there was Thomas Tracy. Joe Gilbert had the pub for 40 years, and therefore well known in the Village he was also quite a good singer, and once auditioned for the BBC. He also sung in the Oxford Picture Palace during its early years.
1963. Ronald G. and Joan Smith.
1969. Stanley and Rene Lee.
1971. Victor E. and Jean Blakesley.
1974. Stanley and Pauline Swindell.
1982. Gordon and Maureen Raynes.
1985. Gerry and Yvonne Rhodes.
1987. Stuart and Carol Hardy. also Julian Hardy.
1993. Ann Chambers and Stephen W. Chambers.
1995 James R. and Evelyn Murden.
1999. Peter G. Floyd.
THE ANGEL INN. 49. South Street.
This pub has always been popular in the village. It had a full license from the beginning. Looking at the early listings indicates that it must have been built in the early 1860s. The picture below shows how it is at present, it was a red brick building until rendered a few years ago. It was originally a Tennants pub, these being taken over by Whitbread’s in 1962. Some people in the village will still remember the Corbridge’s, landlords in 1936, apparently, they owned two coaches and ran trips to the seaside and also ran a limited service to Chesterfield.
A list of landlords and landladies.
1868. Jobb and Eleanor Allen. age 56. Eleanor 49, he was born Brimington.
1879. William Hedge. age 46. Matilda wife age 51. Annie daughter age 14.He was born at Hickleton and his wife at Hemsworth.
1887. William Pearson.
1888. Dennis D. and Helen Goodwin, he was 54 and born Sheffield.
1893. Joseph George Fuller.
1901. Thomas Charles and Caroline Longdon. He was 33 and born in Whittington.
1932. Dominic and Evelyn Gavan. also Cyril Allen and Howard Allen.
1936. Charles Christian and Mary Louisa Annie Corbridge. son Charles.
1938. Walter and Sarah Gadsby. they had a son Walter and a daughter Beatrice.
1951. Sarah A, Gadsby.
1955. Kenneth Gadsby. also Clarence L. and Annie A. Benson.
1957. Kenneth and Hilda Matthews.
1965. William and Merle Turner.
1968. Jack and Betty Cartwright.
1971. Raymond E. and Jean A. Fletcher.
1978. Raymond E. and Jean A. Fletcher. Julie A. daughter and Steven son.
1980. Barry and Diane Symonds.
1983. Keith A. and Glenn T. Herrington. also a Lynn Herrington.
1985. Glenn T. Herrington. and Lynn Herrington.
1995. Timothy J. Asquith and Sandra Ollenbuttel.
1995 Timothy J. and Sandra Asquith.
1999 Martin G. Shephard.
2001. ditto
THE STAR INN. 57 South Street.
I would think the “Star Inn” was built sometime in the late 1860s, originally I was told it had been two houses before converted to a Beer House. It sold Scarsdale ales and was closed in 1959. An interesting landlord was Ernest Allport. His father kept the shop across the road, which later became Blows Pawn Shop. Now it is turned into a house with a new front.
A list of landlords.
1868. James and Fanny Adams. Listed as a Beerhouse, James was an ironstone miner aged 31. his wife was 26 and born at Clay Cross. Frank Burnard. age 41. born Cambridge. wife Mary 38. born Manchester, son Harry.
1891. Arthur Horner age 51 born Norton. Sarah his daughter was with him, she was 18 and born at Staveley.
1893 Frederick Wardle. Listed as a beerhouse.
1901. Ann Wardle. Beer House keeper age 42 in 1901 widow and born Clay Cross.
THE BULLS HEAD. 105 South Street.
This old pub was first listed as a beer house approx. 1866-67, and therefore I would think built in the early 1860s or late 1850s. It probably was two houses when it was first built. Now it has been turned into four flats and was for sale in the year 2000 for £52.500. It was a Hammonds pub and granted a full licence in 1956 when Jack Bontoft was landlord.
A list of landlords.
1868. Joseph and Sarah Marsh. First listed as a beer house,age. 43, his wife 42.
1879 Catherine Duckett age 61. James son age 28. Martin son age 27. Born in Whittington.
1881 James Duckett.
1891. James and Mary Duckett. He was born in Ireland aged 37, she was 22 and born in Chesterfield.
1900. Charles and Maud Haywood. He was 30 and born in the village. His wife was born in Brimington.
1924. Frederick and Annie Gadsby.
1931. Frederick and Annie Gadsby. with daughters, Edith Doris and Laura.
1934. Frederick and Annie only.
1936. Wilfred and Alice May Turton. also living there is Walter and Alice Atkins.
1938. Wilfred and Alice May Turton on there own.
1941. Jasper Leverett.
1945 James and Clara Leverett. Cyril and Edna Leverett. also Eva and Douglas Stevenson.
1951. John J. and Edith M. Bontoft, use to live at 59 Devonshire Ave. Sadly Mrs. Bontoft died in February 1954 only 44 years old, only two and a half years after taking over the “Bull”. Mrs. Bontoft originated from Mouncastle Street, and in her younger days worked for T.P. Wood in Chesterfield.
1964 James W. Stabler. Mabel W. Stabler. also living there was Martha Rougvie.
1965 Frederick and Margery Smith.
1969. The old pub sold off and made into flats.
THE FORGE INN. 1. Station Lane.
This pub must have been built about 1857-59 and provided a good “Ale house” for the thirsty steelworkers at Firth’s Steel works down the road.
Isaac and Esther Ball had it for over thirty years, there were some houses to the side of the pub, which are now knocked down, these were known locally as “Balls Yard”. It had some major alterations in 1934. It was one of Wm. Stone’s houses. Rita the present landlady has been at the pub for over 30 years, now her son David virtually
A list of landlords and landladies.
1861. Isaac and Esther Ball. Probably the first tenants. Esther A. Ball. age 46. on her own, her husband may have died.
1891. Elizabeth Wooll age 65 widow born Nottingham, barmaid Kate Dean age 21 and born in London.
1895. Alfred Todd.
1905. William Harry Yarnold.
1912 John Oswald Gilbert.
1922. Mrs. Freeman.
1925. Mrs. Martha Rhodes.
1925. John William and Ada Julia Richards
1926. John William and Ada Julia Richards. Also Edward Frost. and Harold Orwin.
1927. John Thomas and Eliza Ward. also Reginald Victor Ward.
1931. Eli and Nellie Wragg Womack.
1933. Charles and Hannah Froggatt. Charles junior.
1936. Frank Reginald and Florence Louise Needham
1951. Conroy and Kathleen Windle.
1952. James and Agnes Gale. living there at the time was Mary Catchpole.
1968. Kenneth S. and Jean M. Cartledge.
1969. Thomas E. Jones. Evan and Mona Rita P. Jones.
1970. Evan and Mona Rita P. Jones.
1986. Mona Rita P. Jones.
1989 Mona Rita P. Jones and son David E. Jones.
2006. Ditto.
THE BATH HOTEL. 24. London Street.
It is interesting to note that it was first called the “Plough Inn” until 1891, at that time it would have some fields around it. I would think it being built some time in the 1860s. None of the later landlords stayed there for a long period of
A list of Landlords.
1871. Was then the PLOUGH INN. Hannah Mason age. 34. George Mason age 36, he was a miner and born in Hockham Norfolk and she Alfreton.
1881. George and Elizabeth Hopkinson. First listed as a beerhouse. George was age 48. Born at Handley. Elizabeth born in Lincolnshire she was 34
1887 Elizabeth Hopkinson. I would think her husband may have died.
1918. Robert Penney. had a daughter Doris Joan. (now named Bath Hotel.)
1920. Robert Penney, and Mrs. Wilson with son Dexter Penney.
1925. Joseph and Annie Wilson.
1927. Francis David and Mary Hannah Carpenter.
1928. Richard Hammond.
1931. Richard Michael and Elsie Hannan.
1936. Edward and Sarah Lily Winfield.
1938. Wilfred and Alice May Turton.
1939. James and Clara Leverett.
1941. William Johnson.
1945 Robert and Mary Mitchell. also there Robert, Mona, Michell and Bertha Proctor.
1951. Ernest E. and Gladys Germany. they had a son Eric.
1955. Harry and Elizabeth Yates.
1960. Ernest and Ethel Boyden. had a daughter Sheila..
1964. Alfred and Joyce M. Smith.
1968 Alfred and Joyce M. Smith. also a Alice Hettie Percival lived there.
1978. The building was made into Flats.
1985 Demolished, to make way for the school car park.
THE ROYAL HOTEL. 1. London Street.
This little pub was probably a house before being turned into the “Royal Hotel”, it stood at the end of the row of houses at the bottom of London Street. I would think it would be built about 1855-59, as it was very old.
According to some records it was first known as the Royal Oak. It is interesting that the first
landlord listed was a farmer, and I would think he use to take in lodgers, men wanting to work the coal and ironstone pits in the village. This picture of the bottom of London Street must have been taken about 1912-15 when Henry Bingham was the landlord, schoolchildren have lined up to get on the picture.
A list of landlords.
1864 German and Elizabeth Stetton. He was 38 and listed as a farmer, born at Mackworth. At that time the Royal had fields all around the bottom side.
1879. Francis and Elizabeth Eaton. Left to have a shop in South St. owned Eatons Yard. Francis was 37 years old his wife 38.
1887 John Smith.
1891. William and Annie Kay. He was 48 and born Brampton. Annie was 48.
1895. Harry Parker. He was the father of Percy Parker the local coal merchant.
1912. Henry Bingham.
1915 Charles Bingham. had a daughter Emily.
1925 Dominic and Evelyn Gavan.
1926. ditto, Thomas Edwin and Kathleen Spencer lived with their daughter Betty Mary.
1928. William Walton and Lucy Walton.
1931. Thomas Edwin and Kathleen Gertrude Spencer.
1933. Martin James and Ada Carter.
1936. Martin James and Ada Carter. also there Laurence and Alice May Wilbourn.
1941. Martin J. and Ada Carter. also living there were Leslie and Elsie Walters.
1951. Martin and William J Carter.
1958. Closed.
1960. The pub must have been empty, as it is not listed.
1965. James W. and Verina Newbold. Probably lived there as a house.
1972-73 Demolished
Whittington-History 