Pubs of Derby in Derbyshire - History and Information on the Pubs, Inns, Taverns, Beerhouses and Breweries for Local Historians, Family Research and Genealogy

Pubs of Derby in Derbyshire - History and Information on the Pubs, Inns, Taverns and Beer Houses for Local Historians and Genealogists

RESISTING AND INTERFERING
WITH THE POLICE
"John Cox was convicted for being drunk and resisting the police on Cockpit Hill on the day previous. After this case had been disposed of, Mr Johnson, coal dealer, Cockpit Hill, was charged with interfering with the police whilst in the execution of their duty in conveying the above prisoner to the lock-up. Police constables Davis, Green and Ball, gave evidence to the effect that Mr Johnson obstructed them; and Mr Johnson called witnesses in his defence. Dr Bent said it ought to be publicly known that it was a serious offence to interfere with the police whilst in the execution of their duty and involved a penalty of £5. If parties considered that the police had exceeded their duty the proper mode would be to come to the magistrates, make a complaint, and it would be investigated. It had been proved also that the prisoner was very violent, and had threatened to use a knife, and therefore he had to be treated accordingly. The Mayor said it was clearly proved to the satisfaction of the Bench that Mr Johnson did interfere with the police. As a respectable housekeeper his business ought to have been to have assisted the police rather than to have resisted them. He must be convicted in the penalty of 11 shillings and costs."
Derby Mercury
6th December 1854

A DRUNKEN BEGGAR
"James Tuer, who tramps about the country begging and selling religious tracts, was charged by police constable Webster with being drunk in the Corn Market about half-past 6 o'clock on the evening previous, and breaking a pane of glass in the window of Mr Walton, druggist. Discharged on paying 2s.6d. costs."
Derby Mercury
14th March 1855

OUT OF THE FRYING PAN
INTO THE FIRE
"Superintendent Wheildon charged a man, named John Ward, with being drunk and disorderly. The officer said that about half-past five on Thursday night, he was told that the defendant was drunk and insulting the people of Litchurch. He went into London Road and found the prisoner very drunk. He had only been discharged from gaol that day, having been confined for a month. Mr Rowbotham, innkeeper, corroborated the evidence of Superintendent Wheildon, and added that he saw the prisoner annoying several persons in the streets. He was liberated on paying the costs, and promising to leave town. The prisoner on leaving the gaol on Thursday received a post office order for 7 shillings from his wife, for carrying him home to Whaley Bridge, but he "liquidated" all but two shillings and fourpence and was left to walk home, and repent, at his leisure."
Derby Mercury
9th April 1862

DRUNK AND DISORDLERY
"Michael Sheehau [18], was charged with being drunk and disorderly in Willow Row on Saturday night. The youth was very drunk, and had used bad language to a female, and the hall keeper [Gilbert], who was called on to assist police constable Gorieg, was struck violently in the mouth. Prisoner was committed for one calendar month."
Derby Mercury
21st March 1877

Derby

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Derby is one of the most historic city's in the Midlands so it will be no surprise to learn that it has had plenty of pubs. The Romans built a fort at a site close to the river at Derventio, to the north of the city close to Chester Green or Little Chester. Here there would have been some form of tavern for the soldiers. A civilian settlement would have been founded close to the fort where, typically, a symbiotic relationship existed between the invaders and indigenous people. What form of village survived during the dark ages is not clear and the state of the drinking establishments and ale almost certainly went into decline. I always find this part of Britain's history a puzzle - how did things get into such a state? And why did the majority have to wait until the Normans came along before there was a turnaround. Not that the folk of Derby had to wait that long - the Danes came along in the 9th century and set about building a proper Derby. Indeed, they even named the place, supposedly a corruption of Deor, meaning deer settlement. Some historians insist that the name is derived from the aforementioned Derventio but most seem to think it is a Danish word. Whatever, the Norse invaders built another fortification here and probably started the binge drinking revolution here in Derby. So important was Derby that it became one of the five Danish Boroughs. The good times for the Danes didn't last because the Saxons wanted the place back and, consequently, a right ding-dong ensued. Led by Ethelfleda, Lady of the Mercians and King Alfred's daughter, the Saxons were back in charge in the early 10th century. Trade prospered and the town developed into a sizeable place by the time of the Domesday survey of 1086. However, the earliest recorded reference to an inn appeared in the mid-13th century. William the Innkeeper, as he was known, was probably in charge of a hostelry owned by Darley Abbey. The monks were generally big on the hospitality front when it came to inns and they knew how to make a decent beer. Even the Angel Inn located in the Cornmarket was originally for the Canons of the College of All Saints. This hostelry is the earliest named sign to appear in Derby's history. Following the granting of a charter in 1154, the town developed several market areas where a good number of taverns were to be found. Derby was once an important town for the wool trade and the market for this industry was established at The Morledge and Cockpit Hill with the result of a cluster of taverns for merchants and traders, not to mention the customers. Livestock was first traded at Nuns' Green and later Friar Gate so if you wanted a good punch-up with a rough 'n' ready drover then this was the place to be. One of the oldest pubs in the county is the Dolphin Inn at Queen Street which claims to have been founded in 1530 though the building dates from the following century. By the mid-18th century Derby had over 100 inns and taverns. By the mid-Victorian period, as Derby developed and expanded, this figure had more than doubled, though many were of course opened as a result of the Beer House Act of 1830. The peak appears to have been around 1895 when Derby had 306 drinking establishments.
© Copyright. Image supplied by Digital Photographic Images.

FATAL ACCIDENT "Yesterday about one o'clock, a fine boy between 4 and 5 years of age, the son of Mr Matthew Marples, of Repton, was knocked down and killed on the spot, by a carriage as it drove down St Peter's Street in Derby. A servant in attendance upon the child, had stepped across the road to bring water from the pump, and had left it at the door of the Anchor public house, where it was on a visit. Having unexpectedly followed the maid, it met with the accident stated above. Though we understand that there is no blame imputable to the driver of the Gentleman's carriage which occasioned this melancholy occurrence, yet we have lately witnessed so many instances of rapid travelling through our streets, that we again call the public attention to the evil, increased as it now is, by the fine condition of the roads. The public carriages are moderate in their speed, compared with the rate at which the equipages of the gentry and nobility are frequently driven, and it is much to be regretted that the owners do not lay the strictest injunction on their coachmen, not to urge on their horses in the midst of a crowded population, to the manifest danger of the lives of the inhabitants. The thoughtlessness of childhood and the infirmity of the age ought not to be subjected to accidents which would be prevented by a little more caution. If the good feeling of such persons as we are alluding to should not be strong enough to abate the nuisance of which we complain, it will be imperative on the part of the police to interfere. We have just heard that a coroner's inquest has been held over the body, and after a mature consideration of the circumstances, have returned a verdict of accidental death." Derby Mercury 1st August 1827 UTTERING COUNTERFEIT COIN "Thomas Goodwin and Arthur Withnall were changed with uttering counterfeit coin. It appeared from the evidence, that Mrs Wood, a farmer's wife, living at Posternm had some ducks for sale in the Market on Friday last. The prisoners went to her and asked her the price of a couple of ducks. They were told 2s.6d. The prisoner Withnall offered to purchase them if she would deduct 1d., which she did; and a crown piece was tendered as payment, out of which she gave the necessary change. Mrs Wood thinking they had got the ducks at a very reasonable rate, asked the prisoners to treat her, to which they complied. They went to Cox and Malin's wine vaults and while there, Withnall requested Goodwin to "go and get the pony ready, as it was time for them to be going." One of the prisoners [complainant could not tell which] said he had got no small change. Withnall then asked Mrs Wood if she could change another crown piece, which she did; he then went away. Goodwin stayed and asked Mrs Wood if she would have another glass, but she refused, and they went out of the place together; Mrs Wood went towards the market, Goodwin up the Corn Market, towards St Peter's Street. It appears that police constable Beacroft having some suspicion of these men, kept his eye upon them; and when Goodwin left Mrs Wood, Beacroft followed him. He went into the Anchor, St Peter's Street, and down the passage leading out of the Anchor into the Nag's Head yard. Beacroft then went to him and asked him where he came from, and he said Coventry. Police constable Holden coming in the house at the time, Beacroft told him to take charge of Goodwin for a short time. Beacroft on searching the place where Goodwin had stood in the passage, found a forged ten pound Bank of England note. He then searched the prisoner, and found upon him a crown piece, half a crown, and some small silver, together with a £10 note and £5 note of the Romford bank. The prisoner was then taken to the police station and Beacroft went in search of Mrs Wood, and on finding her asked for the money she had taken from the men who bought her ducks. He took the two crowns she had received, to Mrs Roberts, silversmith, who declared them to be counterfeit. They were most excellent imitations of the genuine coin. The other silver found on him was good. The prisoner Withnall was apprehended by Sergeant Fearn afterwards, in the Corn Market. Goodwin reserved his defence, and Withnall said he had got the crown piece in change from a man from whom he had bought a whip. They were remanded until Friday next, in order to send the depositions to the Solicitor to the Mint." Derby Mercury 30th July 1851 DRUNK AND DISORDERLY "George Wall was charged by Robert Ellis, a supernumerary watchman, with being drunk in St Peter's Street. It appeared that some parties were fighting at the Anchor public house, and on being ejected, Wall, who was one of the party, would not go away, and being very drunk witness locked him up. He was fined five shillings and costs." Derby Mercury 6th December 1854 CAUTION TO PUBLICANS "Mr W. E. Astley, of the Anchor Inn, St Peter's Street, was summoned for keeping his house open for the sale of drink during the prescribed time. Mr Radley, the superintendent, stated that at twenty minutes to one o'clock on Sunday morning last he went into defendant's house, and found four persons in the bar, one having a glass of rum and water before him. Defendant said he had not filled any drink after 12 o'clock; but Mr Radley observed that the glass was nearly full, and that his evidence could be corroborated by Serjeant Fearn. The Bench explained to defendant that even if he kept his house open after 12 o'clock he was liable to a fine, and imposed a penalty of 11 shillings and 5s.6d. expenses." Derby Mercury 14th March 1855 ASSAULTING THE POLICE "Herbert Borrill was brought up on a charge of drunkenness and for assaulting a constable in the execution of his duty. A disturbance took place at the Anchor Inn, St Peter's Street, and the landlord very properly called in police constable Lowe to assist in removing the prisoner. Lowe got Borrill into the street, and then the latter kicked him violently. The magistrates inflicted a penalty of five shillings and costs for the assault, and a similar fine for drunkenness." Derby Mercury 31st December 1862 THEFT OF CIGARS "Thomas Morton was charged with stealing four cigars, the property of Robert Blunt, of the Anchor Inn, on the 17th March. Robert Blunt's son said that he saw the prisoner in the bar. There were a lot of people there, and a person next to the prisoner called for a cigar. Witness carried six in a glass and the gentleman took one, and whilst he was wiping a table the other five were taken out of the glass. Witness knew it was the prisoner, because he turned red in the face, and then witness told his mother, who charged the prisoner, who said witness had thrown the cigars under the table. A policeman was sent for, when prisoner took four cigars out of his pocket, and said he had bought them at Mr Fluke's, but they corresponded with the cigars left in the box. Police constable Robinson, who was called in, said he should search the people in the room, when prisoner produced four cigars from his pocket, and said he had bought them of Mr Fluke. Previously prisoner had denied that he had the cigars; and at the lock-up he said nothing. Prisoner acknowledged the theft, and was sentenced to 14 days' hard labour." Derby Mercury 21st March 1877	Anchor-Inn	St Peter's Street
	Located a few doors away from the Barley Mow and Durham Ox, this pub, once known as the Crown and Anchor, was a victim of a road widening scheme of 1878-9. It was a homebrew house in the late 18th century, proof of which is contained in a notice dated June 7th 1801 when the house was available to let. The notice advertised that all the household goods and brewing utensils were to be sold on the premises. The Crown and Anchor was mentioned in 1761 when George Campion was the licensee. Indeed, the Campion family held the licences to a number of public houses in Derby. The Anchor was seemingly a recruiting post for the Derbyshire Militia in the early 19th century. Applicants had to be 5ft 6ins and above and could apply to Serjeant Hudson at the Anchor Inn. Successful applicants, according to an advertisement published in 1803, would be engaged on liberal terms. There was a dreadful accident outside the pub in 1827 when the young son of Matthew Marples, publican of the Bull's Head at Repton, ran across the road in front of a horse and carriage, killing him instantaneously. The young boy had followed an employee of Matthew Marples who was inside the house at the time. John Cockayne was the licensee of the Anchor Inn at this time. However, he moved on during the following year and held an auction for the household furniture at the pub. The sale comprised of "four-post, tent and stump bedsteads, six feather beds, mattresses, blankets, tables, chairs, stools, five irons, eight-day clock in oak case by Cooper, Derby, fenders and two large cupboards." The sale of furniture followed the auction for the building itself, the sale of which took place on March 3rd 1828 at the Nag's Head Inn. The building was advertised as a "well accustomed public house called the Anchor, situated in the parish of St Peter, in Derby, comprising parlour, bar, tap room, kitchen, brewhouse, two cellars, and five lodging rooms." Another person to sell the contents of his household was Thomas Flude, a butcher on the Chester Road, who in November 1841 auctioned the furniture of his shop and premises before moving into the Anchor Inn with his wife Mary. The couple had married three years earlier at St Alkmund's church. The only daughter of John Hornshaw, Mary died in January 1859 at the Nottingham Arms in Bridge Gate, a public house kept by her brother. Licensees didn't seem to last long at the Anchor Inn during the mid-19th century and, judging by some of the newspaper articles, it was something of a rowdy house. Fighting was not uncommon and the police were called to the pub on a number of occasions. Trying to keep a lid on things in the late 1850's and early 1860's was John Cragg. Born around 1817 in the Nottinghamshie town of Screveton, the former blacksmith had earlier kept a public house in Lowdham with his wife Esther who hailed from Mansfield Woodhouse. John Cragg was succeeded by Richard Clapp in December 1861. An earlier publican, Thomas Hardy, kept the pub with his Uttoxeter-born wife Harriet. This couple issued tavern check to the value of 3d. The last licensee of the Anchor Inn was Robert Blunt who, along with his wife Harriet in March 1878, moved to the Three Crowns in Bridge Gate where he succeeded Frederick Flower as the publican. Robert and Harriet Blunt had earlier kept the British Lion at Siddals Lane and the Old Boat at Morledge. © Copyright. Image supplied by Digital Photographic Images.

“Remember the people in the back streets of Derby.”
Arthur Christiansen
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History and Information on the Public Houses of Derbyshire with Licensees and Newspaper Articles PLUS Genealogy Connections