Old Golden Fleece (known as Middle 'oil), 37 Elland Road, Churwell, Leeds LS27 7TB
The most recent pub premises, which were built in 1934 was demolished in 2010. The site is now occupied by a Tesco supermarket. The Old Golden Fleece sign has been preserved and can still be seen outside the store.
According to R. Dennis:
“The most famous of the four inns of Churwell is that known as the “Old Golden Fleece”. This was one of many “Fleece Inns” in the country which catered for wool and cloth merchants in pack-horse days. In former times it was of considerable extent.
There is a record of this Inn In the bodleian Library at Oxford, which runs: “ Parcels of the possessions of the commondary of the St John's Knights hospitallers at Newlands cross Preceptory Howden”. Compiled between the years 1450 to 1500.
Among the items is the following: “ Churwell. John Burnell, holds there a croftt and an acre of land, by copy of the court. Rent 12d per an”. The iron cross fixed on an outside wall shewed that the house belonged to the order of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, and possessed special priviledges.
Standing within the bypass round the “Green '' which occurs here on the Old Roman Road, both the Inn and the adjoining houses suggest the above description. The ornate oakhen door on the South east side of the house was the front of the house and let out to fields, known for generations as the “Jackies”. An ancient mound of shale in one of the fields suggests that coal was mined here long before the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century.
A substantial rambling house at the entrance to these fields which tradition says was the private dwelling of the chaplain, or leader of the order. The order of St. John of Jerusalem took its use from a hospital built in Jerusalem in 1042. The dress was black with a white cross in front. After the dissolution of the monasteries in 1539, the hospital became a tavern or Inn, with the emblem of the “Golden Fleece”, a place of refreshment and centre of the local wool and clothing industry. It is believed another ancient Inn from which the “Golden Fleece” took its name stood, on the other side of the green. One feature of the Inn was the great “spit” in the cornered of chimney piece. Set to rotate over an open fire, great quantities of meat could be roasted at one and the same time”.
In 1853 William Smith commented in his book:
“ One of the old “Fleece” Inns used by wool and cloth merchants. Originally owned by the St John’s Hospitallers and of considerable extent in former days comprising hospital, dormitory, stabling etc. The order dates from 1042. One John Burnell lived here in 1450”.
Bains Directory for 1822 shows the licensee as J. Haigh.
The pub was not named on the 1854 6” O.S map but a building is shown.
In 1970 the pub was owned by the brewery, Tetley’s.
Details from The Borough of Morley’s Register of Justices Licenses for the sale of intoxicating liquor, Publicans No 14 detailing transfer of licences at the Old Golden Fleece since 1893:
Holder of Licence for time being Date Transferred to Registered owners
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