Eckington (Derbyshire) - Inns and Public Houses
1800-1920s

An account of the Old Inns and Taverns in Mosborough, together with the names of their landlords.
Compiled by Angela Treweek with additional material from Karen Hodges, © Copyright 2006-2007

 

Halfway House

Thomas Wolstenholme a millwright was living at Halfway House in 1794. In 1810 he operated the nearby 'Knowhill' mill which was owned by Samuel Goodlad of Matlock.

According to the Eckington Court Roll of November 1815, Thomas Worstenholme of The Halfway House, victualler had died and his son John WorstenhoIme, millwright of Stockport, (one of his sons and a devisee for life), was admitted to all that messuage of Killamarsh Lane, formerly in the occupation of Paul Greaves and late of William Cooper, also that garden lying in front of an old house in which John Rogers formerly dwelt and also late in the occupation of William Cooper.

In 1832 Thomas Worstenholme, Apprentice of Ridgeway Moorside inherited property belonging to his deceased father, Thomas Worstenholme, late of The Halfway House.

In 1853 Thomas Robinson of Halfway House, Mosbro, cutler and Elizabeth his wife took a mortgage for £350 on - All that dwelling house now used as a Public House with the three cottages, barn, stable, cowhouse, cartshed yard, garden and orchard thereto belonging containing one rood and 26 perches - formerly in the occupation of Thomas Worstenholme deceased afterwards George Wostenholme since of William Galley and now Thomas Robinson, Richard Newsome, Richard Black and William Unwin. (Eck. Court Roll Dec. 1853).

The place was reconstructed by Tennant Bros., brewers of Sheffield about 1870 and Miles Barber of Barlborough was the contractor. The landlords have included T. Robinson (1840-1846); Chas. Cadman (1856); Geo. Mullins (1857); Seelam Littlewood (1865) and William Milner (1871-1895).

The Halfway House, still advertising 'Tennants Celebrated Ales & Stouts' was emptied, then demolished in the 1970's.

The Crown Inn

The Eckington Court Roll for January 22nd. 1823 tells us Robert Field, a Mosbrough yeoman, sold to Thomas Lee a piece of his allotment No. 176 from the Enclosure Awards. The piece consisted of 794 sq. yards bounded on the north by premises of Henry Lee; south by a high road leading from Killamarsh through Mosbrough; east by the Turnpike Road from Sheffield to Eckington and west by premises occupied by Jonathan Atkin - for £80. Thomas Lee was a victualler. Thomas Lee then mortgaged the same piece of land with dwelling house and other buildings lately erected by Thomas Lee, with Robert Field for £200 at 5% p.a. interest. This was on Mosbrough Green and involved the building of 'The New Inn' later to be called 'The Crown' giving rise to the well known Crown Corner opposite the top of Station Road. The change of name had occurred by 1857.

Thomas Lee and his wife Rebecca were still living here in October 1839. Other landlords have included John Robinson, then Mrs Elizabeth Robinson (1846-1884); Thomas Green (1888); Henry Staniforth (1895); Wm. Binney (1914-1920).The inn was demolished at the beginning of the massive housing developments around Mosbrough.

George and Dragon

This is reputedly the oldest Inn in Mosbrough. It was kept by Thomas Lee (Angela's gt-grandfather) in 1817; he then moved into the New Inn which he built on Mosbrough Green in 1823. Next came John Bolsover followed by John Parr (1827, 1835), who was also a butcher. Parr planted an orchard which had to be destroyed in 1886 to make way for the new church of St. Mark's lower down the hill.

The following were some of the subsequent landlords:- Wm. Lund (1840) Joseph Rich (1846); George Plant (1857); Samuel Holford (1865 and 1871) James Hughes (1879, 1884); George Wood (1895); Wm. Webster (1914); and Charles Rippon (1920, 1922) . The George and Dragon is still there as a public house.

Royal Oak

Still standing on High Street this was built in 1843 as a private house by Robert Higginbottom Rose (Angela's gt*2 uncle), a joiner and wheelwright. It was built, set back from the turnpike road and at one period in its history wagonettes and later charabancs were operated from here to connect with the trams at the top of Intake for Sheffield. Landlords have included Robert Archer (1871,1881); Charles Henry Revill (1884); Mary Ann Archer (1888); George Southard (1895) and Samuel Gibson Flatters (1914, 1920).

Bluebell

Situated close to the Duke William, this is now also demolished and the site occupied by dwellings. Originally a beer house, landlords have included Frederick Drabble (1895) and Wright Plant (1912, 1922).

Queen's Hotel (originally the Black Bull, also Queen's Head)

Built by Benjamin Rose (Angela's gt*2 uncle), shoemaker, who was victualler in 1857 when it was called the Black Bull. This may have been to commemorate the Bull Stake which used to be here on Mosbrough Green. The name changed to Queen's Head about 1861. It was referred to as Queen's Hotel in 1871. Landlords have included John Broomhead (1865); Charles Thompson (1871); Elijah Lavinder (1879); Charles Gothard (1881); Tom Barker (1884, 1895); Hugh Havenhand (1914, 1920) and Fred Booker (1922).This hotel is still providing a good service to the village.

Fitzwilliam Arms

Now gone the site is occupied by private dwellings. It stood on Mosbrough Moor almost opposite the British Oak public house.

It derived its name from Earl Fitzwilliam who owned lands in the vicinity. There were very few buildings on the Moor and the Staniforth family, who were sicklesmiths lived nearby. In 1826 George Staniforth occupied the licensed Fitzwilliam Arms and his widow carried on after his death.

Other landlords have included Maria Havenhand (1846); James Haslam (1857); George Staniforth (1865); Samuel Havenhand (1871) Joseph Kay (1879,1895); Percy Kay (1914); Fredrick Renshaw (1920, 1922).

Billy Bird was the last landlord and he was there in 1937; he also operated a threshing machine business there.

The building then became a private house with outbuildings until it was demolished in 1994. By this time it was enclosed with a private housing estate.

British Oak

Still a thriving public house - this was for many years the only free house in Mosbrough until it was taken over by a brewery. It is on Mosbrough Moor across the road from the site of the Fitzwilliam Arms.

Built by John Cowley as a private house, Thomas White of Eckington was the contractor. John Cowley, a sicklesmith was mentioned in Mosbrough from 1795-1835.

A John Smith left Mosbrough Hall to live in it soon after 1812 and also Philip Sayles, a coal proprietor of Moor Hole Colliery lived here for a time before moving to Moor Hole.

Landlords have included George Booth (1846, 1857); Wm. Henry Booth (1865); John Taylor (1871, 1879); Joseph Coupland (1881); Henry French (1888); Mary French (1895); John Wm. Naylor (1914) and Charles Henry Louth (1922) who was here for many years.

A building extension was made in the front garden for a pub dining area in 1994.

Brown Cow

Now demolished this, originally a beerhouse stood on High Street near to the Crown Inn. The place was built by John Pedley a very wealthy bachelor who lived at Plumbley Hall, he died in 1809. Landlords have included George Plant (1871,1884); Joseph Chadburn (1895); Thos. King (1914) and Gabriel Cole (1922).

Butcher's Arms

This was a beerhouse at number 5, Station Road (Knowl Hill). It belonged to Mark Staton (1865,1895) and in 1912 William Staton, grocer, of Mosbrough and owner of the pub leased it to Messrs Duncan Gilmour & Company Ltd. for seven years from 29th September 1911 at £42 rent.

The lease was renewed on 29th September 1919 for a further seven years at £42 rent.

Landlords were Stephen Ancell (1914); Charlotte Chadburn (1920) and Mrs E Ancell (1922). The Ancell family were the last Landlords here before it became their private residence.

Alma Inn

This is another house which at one time belonged to Duncan Gilmour & Co. It is still a public house on South Street.

Vine Tavern

Standing on School Street this is now a modernised and rebuilt public house. It was built by Henry Bargh about 1870 as a beerhouse and its name may have arisen from 'Vine Farm' opposite which did have a vinery with heating apparatus.

Landlords have included Henry Bargh (1871); Aaron Wells (1881, 1895); John Samuel Parker (1914) and Albert Keetin (1922).

Sidney Tavern

In 1823 Robert Field, yeoman bought St. John's Field (3a.30p.) at Plumbley Lane for £216 from Thomas Lee, victualler and Rebecca his wife. He also sold to Thomas Lee part of Allotment No. 176 (794 sq.yds for £80, on Mosbrouqh Green where Lee built the New Inn later to be the Crown Inn.

In 1826 Robert Field of Mosbrough was paying 6s1d poor rate for a malthouse.

Robert Field, a native of Mosbrough in the 1840's earned esteem in the village. He was an Officer of Excise for their Majesties George 4th. and William 4th. He did not have a settled place of residence for many years of his married life, moving from town to town as his duties dictated. He eventually retired to Mosbrough. In his later years as a widower he lived in one of his own houses near the Sidney Tavern. He died and left a great deal of wealth and was buried in Eckington churchyard.

Landlords of the Sidney Tavern have included Joe Booth (1895); Charles Cooper (1914, 1920); Fred Hutchinson (1922) and Austin Hall who was the last landlord of the Sidney when it was sold to Harold Woodhead as a private house, as it still stands.

Prince of Wales

This was a beerhouse on South Street and landlords included Thomas Scott (1871); Ellen Scott (1888, 1895) and Canaan Scott (1914, 1922). A man called Wheeldon was the last landlord when it was converted from a public house to the 'Coronation Club'. The building has since been demolished.

The Three Tuns

John Rowbotham was landlord of a public house of this name in 1827 and 1835.

The Grapes

This is also mentioned about the same time as the Three Tuns. Both go off record and I (Angela) have been unable to further identify them. On Wednesday 22nd October 1817 The Court Baron of Eckington was held at the house of Thomas Lee at the sign of the George and Dragon in Mosbrough.

On Saturday 1st December 1832 The Court Baron of Eckington was held at the house of Thomas Lee, The New Inn in Mosbrough (later called The Crown Inn).

The Court was regularly held in different locations, to suit the convenience of the people who were attending.

Duke William (formerly at 19 Duke St)

Now demolished to make way for new housing, this stood on Duke Street at the top of Primrose Hill and was kept by George Bolsover, the owner. This is surely the same person mentioned by George Foster in 'Reminiscences of Mosbrough' as having a cock-pit at a public house on the top side of the Green - the magistrate ordered him to do away with it. This would have been early in the nineteenth century.

Other landlords have included George Fox (1827, 1835); John Wm. Sayles (1840); Joseph Roper (1846); Thos. Cooper (1857); Wm. Rodgers (1865); Wm. Kay (1871, 1888): Solomon Jones (1895); John Marples (1905) John Turner (1912, 1914), and Arthur Holgate Taylor (1920, 1922).

Karen is related to licensees Thomas Cooper, Solomon Jones and William Rodgers. William was Thomas Cooper's son-in-law, and he may have taken on the pub when Thomas died in Feb 1864 until it was sold. Solomon died in 1900, and a John Marples was listed at the pub's address [19 Duke St] in the 1901 census.

The Duke William details, with a note of typical sources for the information, are listed below.

DatesLicenseeSource of Information
1800-1825George BOLSOVER (owner)Foster, George - Reminiscences of Mosborough (1886)
1828/29Geo. FOXPigot's
1835George FOXPigot's
1842John SAYERSPigot's
1846Joseph ROPERBagshaw's
1849Ellis PARKGeneral Directory of Sheffield
1851Ellis PARKWhite's
1852Ellis PARKFreebody - Gazetteer & General Directory of Sheffield
1855Thomas COOPERPO Directory of Derbyshire & Nottinghamshire
1856Thomas COOPERGeneral Directory of Sheffield, Rotherham
1857Thomas COOPERWhite's
1861Thomas COOPER1861 Census
1862Thomas COOPERDirectory & Topography of Sheffield
1870William KAYHarrod and Co
1881William KAY1881 Census
1891Solomon JONESKelly's
1891Solomon JONES1891 Census
1895Solomon JONES(Kelly's)
1895Solomon JONESBulmer's
1896Mary JONES (marriage address)“Duke William”: father Solomon JONES Publican
1901John MARPLES1901 Census

Information on the Duke William was provided by Karen Hodges in July 2006.
The account of other Public Houses was compiled by Angela Treweek in March 2007.

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