The Woolpack, Lockwood

The Woolpack, also known as "The Old Wool Pack Inn", is a public house situated on Lockwood Road.

History

The Woolpack was reportedly opened in 1837.

By the early 1850s, the landlord was Benjamin Moore, together with his wife Sarah.[1] Sarah was the daughter of South Crosland cloth manufacturer Benjamin Wrigley (1776-1822) of Cocking Steps Mill.

In January 1852, the workpeople of Messrs. W. & H. Crosland of Folly Hall were treated to "an excellent supper" at the Woolpack, after which "the evening was spent in the most agreeable manner."[2] A couple of weeks later, the hand-loom weavers employed by Messrs. John and Taylor and Sons of Newsome, were treated to a similar supper.[3]

The ending of the Crimean War was celebrated throughout the district, including tea parties for the women of the Lockwood which were held at various Bentley & Shaw Ltd. pubs. Reportedly around 50 women attending the party held at the Woolpack. In the evening, the women marched with a band to Woodfield House, where they paid their respects to Bentley Shaw for contributing towards the costs of the parties. The Chronicle took delight in reporting that "one eccentric woman caught another, about 82 years of age, named Mally Shaw, in her arms, and, holding her like a child, danced to a tune played by the band."[4]

Moore found himself in front of the local magistrates after being caught serving alcohol on a Sunday. Superintendent Heaton had conducted a tour of the local public houses during the weekend of Honley Feast and found people drinking at both the Victoria Inn and the Woolpack in Lockwood. Moore was fined a total of 12s. 6., which the magistrates felt would be more than he would have made from unlawfully selling the beer — Moore replied that it was "a good deal [more]", which caused "much merriment" in the court.[5]

In the early hours of 21 July 1857, a police officer doing the rounds of Lockwood discovered the body of Sarah Moore lying in New Street, Lockwood. Her throat was "severely cut" and a razor was at her side. In what was reported as an attempt at suicide, she had luckily not severed an artery and recovered.[6]

Benjamin Moore died in 1862, aged 47.

By 1864, Henry Sumner[7] had become the landlord.[8] Sumner had previously been a coachman for the Brooke family of Armitage Bridge Hall.

After Henry Sumner's death in March 1877, his wife Betsey (née Mallinson)[9] took over the licence and ran the inn until her death in March 1889.

"The Old Wood Pack Inn" was sold by auction on 16 April 1889, following the death of landlady Betsey, and was described as follows:[10]

The house contains on the ground floor — Spacious bar and order office, commercial and smoke rooms, and kitchen. On the first floor — Large sitting-room and four bedrooms. There are also two good cellars.

The outbuildings comprise a two-stalled stable with bay-loft over, coach-house and bottling shed, together with other out-offices and conveniences.

The house is in an excellent situation, and affords every opportunity for doing a good family trade ; it has a capital frontage, and is in every way adapted for an extensive business.

The site of all the above contains 868 square yards (more or less), and is held on lease for 999 years, from the 25th March, 1844, at the apportioned low ground rent of £3 19s 1d per annum.

The next landlords were George Beaumont and his wife, Eliza. Following George's death in November 1892, Eliza took over the licence for a few months.[11]

Samuel Hawkyard and his wife Miriam became licencees in 1893 and the Woolpack remained in their family for the next 32 years.

Following Samuel's death in 1904, Miriam took over until her death in late 1907. Their daughter, Ellen Ann Hawkyard, then took over at the start of 1908, marrying Arthur Hall the following year. After Arthur's death in 1917, Ellen Ann remained the landlady until her death in 1925, aged 51.

Licensees

Where known, the dates are when the licence was granted, renewed or transferred:

  • Benjamin Moore
  • 1860s — Henry Sumner (died March 1877)
  • 1877 — Betsey Sumner (widow of Henry)
  • 1889? — George Beaumont
  • 1892 — Eliza Beaumont (widow of George)
  • 05/Apr/1893 — Samuel Hawkyard[12]
  • 06/Apr/1904 — Miriam Hawkyard[13] (widow of Samuel)
  • 01/Jan/1908 — Ellen Ann Hawkyard[14] (daughter of Samuel and Miriam)
  • 01/Jul/1909 — Arthur Hall[15] (married Ellen Ann in 1909)
  • 04/Apr/1917 — Ellen Ann Hall (widow of Arthur)
  • 17/Jun/1925 — Walter Ramsden

Extracts

The History of Lockwood and North Crosland (1980) by Brian Clarke:

Originally titled OLD WOOLPACK, this inn opened in 1837, licensee Francis Crow. Owned by the Sumner family for many years, Bentley & Shaw obtained the house in 1893. Rebuilt 1931/2 this Bass house is still open.

Location

Notes and References

  1. Benjamin Moore was born around 1816 in Paddock, the son of cloth milner Thomas Moore. He married Sarah Wrinley of Netherton on 11 April 1841 at Holy Trinity, South Crosland. They were residing at the "Old Wool Pack Inn" at the time of the 1851 Census and were still there in 1861. Benjamin died in June 1862 and was buried on 26 June at Holy Trinity. Sarah died in 1869, aged 52, and was buried on 17 February with her husband at Holy Trinity.
  2. "Local Intelligence: Treat to Workpeople at Lockwood" in Huddersfield Chronicle' (10/Jan/1852).
  3. "Lockwood: Treat to Workpeople" in Huddersfield Chronicle (24/Jan/1852).
  4. "Peace Rejoicings" in Huddersfield Chronicle (07/Jun/1856).
  5. "Fruits of Honley Feast" in Huddersfield Chronicle (04/Oct/1856).
  6. "Attempted Suicide at Lockwood" in Huddersfield Chronicle 25 July 1857 (25/Jul/1857). The Leeds Intelligencer reported that she had three cuts to the throat, "from which the blood was copiously flowing." Sarah is listed with her husband in the 1861 Census. She died in 1869, aged 52.
  7. Henry Sumner was born 1826 in Middlesex, the son of James and Mary Sumner. He married Betsey Mallinson in 1859 in Huddersfield and they had at least 3 children. He died March 1877, aged 50, and was buried 6 March at St. Paul, Armitage Bridge.
  8. "Adjourned Brewster Sessions" in Huddersfield Chronicle (01/Oct/1864).
  9. Born circa 1816 (her age varies widely in the various records) in Lepton. She died in 1889 aged 73, and was buried with her husband at St. Paul, Armitage Bridge, on 18 March.
  10. "Sales by Auction" in Huddersfield Chronicle (13/Apr/1889).
  11. George Beaumont was a member of the Longroyd Bridge Lodge and was a well-known local musician. "The Late Mr. George Beaumont" in Huddersfield Chronicle (19/Nov/1892).
  12. Samuel Hawkyard was born circa 1839 in Newsome. He married Miriam Goldthorp in 1871 at Lockwood Parish Church and they had a least one child. He worked as a card cleaner (1871 Census) and then a licensed victualler (1891). He died in 1904, aged 65.
  13. Miriam Goldthorp was born circa 1846 near Barnsley. She died in 1907, aged 61.
  14. Born 1873, she married Arthur Hall in 1909. She died in 1925, aged 51.
  15. Born circa 1875 in Spalding, Lincolnshire. Died 1917, aged 42.