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Pubs In
and Around Bolsover - Part 1 The derivation of the name
‘Bolsover’ is a matter of dispute so we need to swot up on our etymology
before we can tackle the more basic pleasures of beer and pubs. In the late
19th Century, the Rev E. Andrews Downman proposed that the name ‘Bolsover’
was derived from a heathen god called ‘Bel’ and appropriately means ‘Bel’s
high place’. Alternative explanations are both more mundane, and more
likely. Cross Keys : Town centre pub that was possibly rebuilt in the early 20th century. Ex-Home brewery. Hudson Bay Beerhouse : The property that is now the pub was built as a house in 1812 by local man, Peter Fidler, and named ‘Hudson Bay House’. Around 1856, a Joseph Fidler turned it into a Public House and named it the Hudson Bay Beerhouse. Between 1889 & 1900 the name changed to the Castle Inn. During the 20th Century the name alternated between the Castle and Hudsons. In September 2002, following a sympathetic refurbishment, which successfully incorporates the old well in the floor of the bar, the pub re-opened with its original name. The Hudson Bay name recalls that Peter Fidler worked as a surveyor for the famous Hudson Bay Company in Canada. King of Hearts : A pub which opened on 4 February 1956 but survived less than forty years. Situated on Moorfield Avenue, it was subsequently known as Cromwells before closing in May 1994. At one stage Shipstones Brewery (Nottingham) were owners. Nags Head : Situated on Station Road and originally called the Barley Mow until about 1860 when it was rebuilt, it is thought that the pub may originally have been created out of two or more terraced properties. Chesterfield Brewery bought the pub around 1882. It was eventually closed to enable the brewery to transfer the licence to a new pub, the Castle Arms. On the licence application, it was stated that a licence had been in existence for 200 years. The pub closed prior to the opening of the Castle Arms on 22nd December 1958. The premises, now demolished, were situated on the opposite side of the road to the Castle Arms and further up the hill towards Bolsover (an area known as Hockley). Quiet Woman : A new pub that was opened on Saturday 21st July 1962 by Hammonds United Breweries. Now a free house. Royal Oak : Records
show that this pub at Stanfree had been in existence since 1776. Francis
Shacklock, the licensee in 1857, must have been multi-talented as he was
also a clockmaker. The pub closed after an application to renew the licence
was refused in 1870. The unlucky owner was a Mr Williamson of the Albert
Inn, Staveley. West View Hotel : Formerly a Tennants house at Hillstown, ownership had passed to the Laurel Pub Company before it was closed and demolished in 2004. White Swan : This historic pub is at least 600 years old, as evidenced by an original beam in the back room, making it one of the oldest pubs in North East Derbyshire. Until the early 1900s the inn had recognisable Tudor windows and a stone roof, with a massive chimney rising right up one side of the building. When the pub was rebuilt in the late 1920s by Hardy’s Kimberley Brewery (now Hardys & Hansons), a carved oak beam from the front bar was re-positioned in the roof of one of the rear rooms. The carvings are said to date the beam as late 15th century. Hardys & Hansons still own the pub and cask-conditioned Kimberley Best Bitter, served by electric dispense rather than a hand pump (most unusual these days), may be enjoyed in these historic surroundings. Acknowledgements : John Hirst, Stewart Wood, Kevin Maidens & Bernard Haigh. Jim McIntosh
Pubs In and Around Barlborough Barlborough (meaning ‘boar’ or ‘barley clearing’) is one of the most historic villages in North East Derbyshire and is mentioned in the Domesday Book. During the 19th century the population of Barlborough nearly trebled on the back of an expansion in coal mining in the area, also leading to an increase in the number of public houses and beerhouses. Those that are known to have existed are detailed here in approximate chronological order of opening. Rose & Crown : The oldest pub in Barlborough is said to have stood in the same position for more than three hundred years. Its prime position next to the historic cross, thought to have Norman origins, suggests it is one of the oldest buildings in that part of the village. The earliest evidence is in the ‘Dickenson Survey’ of 1723 when it was the only inn listed in Barlborough. Licensing records show that the landlord during the period 1777-1800 was a Robert Webster who was pictured with the pub in a drawing ‘Wakes at Barlborough Cross’ dated 1785 by the Swiss artist S H Grimm. In the 20th Century the pub was owned by the Barlborough Hall Estate, which also owned the Royal Oak, and the Blacksmiths Arms, and it was later a William Stones house. In 1991 it was part of a package of 36 local pubs which were sold to Hardys and Hansons PLC for £6.5m. The Rose & Crown provides convivial surroundings in which to enjoy a pleasant pint. Pebley Inn : An old coaching inn built around 1770 standing on the ancient Sheffield-Newark-London turnpike and falls in the county of Derbyshire by only a few hundred yards. Evidence of a blacksmith’s shop and stone steps for mounting horses used to be visible and there were stables on the left hand side of the pub. There was also a sleeping area for the ostlers (stable lads who worked at the inn) which contained a large bed where up to 12 could sleep at one time. The Pebley has been owned by two noted local families - De Rodes in the 19th Century, and Sitwells in the 20th Century. Sir Osbert Sitwell sold the Pebley to William Stones Ltd in 1947 and it then passed to Bass in 1970 before regaining freehouse status in 1991. The pub always has a range of well kept real ales under the stewardship of Chris & Andrea Dennis. Horns Inn : First mentioned, along with the Rose & Crown, in Fairbank’s General Survey of Barlborough which was undertaken in 1798 and published in 1805. Old maps show that it had its own stables and yard, and there was also a maltings and brewhouse at the rear of the premises (not uncommon at that time). The name is a reference to the fact that a major source of business was from the stagecoaches that passed through Barlborough on their journey between Chesterfield and Worksop. The post-horn would be sounded to warn a landlord of the imminent arrival of the next coach. By 1830/1 the Horns Inn seems to have been incorporated into the newly built Rodes’ Arms, later known as the De Rodes Arms (see below), and the premises were converted into its clubroom. Unfortunately this piece of Barlborough’s history was lost when the De Rodes clubroom was destroyed by a fire which occurred on 12 October 1926. Rodes’ Arms/De Rodes’ Arms : First mentioned in 1830/1 by John Thomas (‘Walks in the neighbourhood of Sheffield’). It was originally known as the Rodes’ Arms, the ‘De’ not being introduced until the 1860’s by W. Hatfield De Rodes. The family have played an important part in Barlborough life for nearly 500 years and Francis Rodes, was one of the judges who tried Mary Queen of Scots. In March 1907, the De Rodes made the news for all the wrong reasons. “Publican murders bailiff ” was the headline in the ‘Derbyshire Times’ which went on to report that “Miles Gosling, landlord of the De Rodes Arms, kills William Mullinger before committing suicide”. Mullinger was a bailiff who was attempting to collect a debt of £60 on behalf of the brewery. Clock Wheel : Originally known as the ‘Wheel’, was listed in an 1821/2 Directory when Mary Milner was the licensee. Licensed Victualler records show that since 1787 her husband William, who was also a blacksmith, had held a licence for an alehouse in Barlborough. The Clock Wheel was situated on ‘Twychell’ at the centre of the village, near the church and it is said that the premises were timber-framed, with a thatched roof. It is also known that the last licensee, William Whitworth, was also a blacksmith. It is said that the Clock Wheel was forced to close after the premises were destroyed by fire during the period 1862/3, confirmed by an 1864 directory entry which shows that whilst Whitworth was still working as a blacksmith, the Clock Wheel was no longer listed. Apollo : First listed in an 1833 Trade Directory, the Apollo is also believed to have been the first commercial hotel in Barlborough and indeed was referred to as the ‘Apollo Inn’ in Trade Directories from 1879 onwards, indicating that lodgings for travellers was available as well as alcoholic refreshment. The current Apollo premises were severely damaged by a fire which occurred in the early morning of 20 March 1930. The licensee, Mrs Katie Keel, was returning from a night out at the Bolsover Police Ball at around 3.45am when she ‘perceived a strong smell of fire’ and found that the flames had reached the roof. Whilst most parts of the pub were severely damaged, it was still possible to serve customers from the clubroom whilst reconstruction took place.
Blacksmiths’ Arms : First listed as early as 1841 when a Joseph Haigh
ran a beerhouse at Low Common. Haigh continued there until the 1850’s and as
he was also listed as a blacksmith, it is likely that this Beerhouse was the
Blacksmiths’ Arms. During this period the premises were modernised in 1855.
In the 20th Century the Blacksmiths’ Arms was owned by Barlborough Hall
Estate, Scarsdale Brewery (Chesterfield) and Sheffield Free Brewery.
Subsequently it was bought by William Stones Ltd. It is now owned by Century
Inns. Acknowledgements : Thank you to the Andy Bradley, David Growns, John Hirst and Albert Woodhead for information and/or encouragement. Jim McIntosh This webpage was last updated on Sunday, 07 October 2007 |
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Appletree
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