PUBLIC HOUSES AND BEERHOUSES

IN TODMORDEN AND WALSDEN

click HERE to go straight to the list of pubs

The consumption of spirits such as gin abounded in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, so much so that the general drunkenness of the poor people, who found it a way of seeking oblivion from the terrible conditions they endured, became a major issue with the government.

In 1825 the duty had been halved on gin causing a massive rise in the sale, leading to even more drunken and abusive behaviour in the "gin palaces". It became known as "mother's milk" and later "mother's ruin". It was regularly given to babies and children as a cure all - hence it's nickname.

To try and alter the drinking habits of the nation, the government abolished the duty on beer in an effort to promote it's sales as a "healthy" alterative to gin. Beer was seen as the lesser evil to gin and the hope was that people would be less inclined to get into the same drunken state as they did from spirits.

The Duke of Wellington's Beerhouse Act of 1830 came into force, allowing anyone to apply for a licence to sell just beer and cider (not spirits) from their home for six days of the week. They had to close on Sundays.

The cost of a licence was 2 guineas and to obtain one you applied to the local excise officer and not the local magistrates, as was the case with the public house that sold both beer and spirits. This caused a rise in the number of licensed premises by a half in the years after 1831. Cottages and houses were selling home brewed ale at the front and carrying on another business at the back. They could open for twenty-four hours and usually did, which meant that the new act did nothing at all to lessen the conditions in the pubs and beerhouses. There were still the same drunken scenes, gambling, fighting and other associated raucous behaviour. People would drink until their money ran out, go back to work to earn some more and then back to the pub to spend it again. A never ending round of drink and work, with drink taking precedence. It led to the rise of the Temperance movement.

As the bill was passing through the House of Lords it was reported that a Peer had been overheard saying that if the Act were passed, the people would continue in their drunkenness and could be ruled and governed over at will. On reading this report, William Marshall, a mule spinner of Old Friths Mill, Dulesgate, a man who like a drink in moderation, declared that he would never touch another drop, and he never did.

A second act in 1834 was passed to categorise the publican's licence into three types: a full one was granted for the sale of beer and sprits each year by the local magistrates, and the beerhouses were divided between "on" or "off" sales.

Some of the beerhouses remained unnamed and were known as "jerry shops" whilst the ones that decided to put up a named sign were called "white signs".

This then was the state of the licensing laws in the early19th century.

In Todmorden and Walsden, the first to take advantage of the new laws were Jeremiah Suthers, who opened The Peacock in York St., and James Dawson who opened the Black Horse at Knowlwood. Up on the tops at Sourhall, about 1832, a beerhouse aptly named "The First Move" was opened by William Eastwood and on the other side of the road John Crowther opened one and named it "The Last Shift", which reflected the decline of the hand loom weaving industry. They did a roaring trade in the early days, but the novelty soon wore off and they had to shut up shop as their trade declined.

The following is a list of the main public houses and beerhouses in existence in Todmorden and Walsden, taken from various directories, census returns and other sources. It is probably by no means definitive and we apologise for any omissions. We intend to record each individual pub history, the people who lived in them and the various activities that took place in them. Any stories or snippets that anyone knows about any of these pubs would be welcome.

WE NEED YOUR HELP ...

As we discover more about each of the pubs, a link to a story on that pub will be added. If you have any contributions for this project, PLEASE tell us, no matter how little you think you know. We are interested in everything about the pub, from its history to its landlords

LEGAL AND ILLEGAL ANTICS IN 1863

some snippets from the Halifax Guardian about

the goings on in various pubs, kindly provided by

John Alan Longbottom

REGISTER OF PUB LICENCES AND TRANSFERS 1936 to 1963

FOR TODMORDEN AND WALSDEN

transcribed from the originals by John Alan Longbottom

please click on the individual pub you wish to read more about

Further reading can be obtained from the excellent book "Todmorden Old Pub Trail" by Barbara Rudman, published by George Kelsall and Barbara Rudman ands can be obtained from the Tourist Information Office, Todmorden or From George Kelsall's book shop, 22, Church St., Littleborough OL15 9AA Tel 01706 70244

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