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Woodman

 









NameWoodman
AddressDewsbury Road
BuiltRebuilt in the 1930s
Closed26 August 2013
DemolishedYes in 2013
NotesF: Baines 1822. Licensee 1905 – William E Scott. Marked as an inn, not named, on the 1854 6” O.S. map. Brewery owner 1970 – Tetley’s. The inn was also known as the Mary McCree and a sign outside proclaimed the jingle: “This is the Woodman Inn as you can see but some know it best as the Mary McCree. Light refreshments we always keep here, also good spirits and glass of good beer” (R.Dennis). Site is now occupied by Starbucks Coffee and a Petrol Station

Woodman Inn, Dewsbury Road, Churwell 

The pub closed on 26 August 2013, was demolished, redeveloped and now occupied by Starbucks Cafe and a Petrol station


According to R. Dennis: 

The Woodman Inn on Dewsbury Road was also known as the Mary McCree, a sign outside proclaimed the jingle:-


This is the Woodman Inn as you can see

But some know it best as Mary McCree

Light refreshments we always keep here

Also good spirits and glass of good beer


As the name implies, this inn would be frequented by forest workers, woodcutters and the like.  Extensive forests of oak, beech and birch covered much of Yorkshire in older times.


The premises were rebuilt in the late 1930’s


Reference to the pub appears in F:Baines 1822


Rod Kaye, a pub historian, has provided the following information with reference  to Photocopy of Woodman estate and Deed Vol 81 page 1104 year 1924 as the sources:


To let Woodman Inn, Dewsbury Road by Morley Corporation August 1902


Alderman James Marsden on behalf of the Corporation of Morley asked the Bench to pass the plans of alterations to the Woodman Inn - passed August 1902


The Woodman Inn was put up for sale at the Queen Hotel Morley on Monday Eve 23 October 1922.  The Woodman took takings of £100 per week in the summer months - the pub was sold for £5,075.


The English Concertina band gave a concert on Sunday Eve 11 July 1926


In the Morley Corporation Minutes Volume 28, November 1922 to November 1923 on page 20 under The Sewage Purification Committee minutes of 23 November 1922 the following entry was recorded:-


It was reported that the sale of the Woodman Inn has now been completed and that the Corporation have received the purchase money from John Henry East, the new landlord of the Woodman.  The committee had an interview with him and resolved that the plot of land which formerly formed part of the Woodman Inn estate, containing about 600 sq Yards be sold to him at  3 shillings a yard ------there would be no right or claim for damage arising in connection with the sewage disposal works or smallpox hospital.


The land in front of the inn to be let to Mr Ernest Stones of the Bar House, Dewsbury Road at a rental of £2 per acre and a condition that the land to be ploughed up and is not to be used for rhubarb or as a market garden.


Rod Kaye, a pub historian, has provided the following information about the owners of the pub:


1822 to 18?? J. Whittaker

18?? to 1847 Alice Hemmingway

18?? to 1853 Samuel Marsh

1857 to 1866 William Buckle

1871 to 187? Robert Dyson

187? to 1875 John Minikin

187? to 1877 John Dixon


Rod Kaye, a pub historian, has provided the following information about the licensees of the pub:


1881 to 188?   Joseph Lister

1886 to 1898 James Moore (Father)

1898 to 1901 William Henry Moore (Son)

1901 to 1902   John Howard Roystone

1902 to 1905 William Edward Scott

1905 to 1906 Alfred Jeffries

1906 to 1913 James Topham

1913 to 1922   John William Briggs (Had White Horse Morley)

1922 to 1923 Doris W. Briggs

1923 to 1924 John Henry East

1924 to 1930 John Percival Bretherick

1930 to 1966   Claude Pocklington

1966 to 1970 Edna Pocklington (Widow)

1970 to 1975/77/79/80/83/86 Bernard Stringer

1988 to 1974 Edward Moxon

199? to 1997 Deborah & Kevin Lancaster

1999 to 199? Andrew G. Pearson

199? to 2000/01 Kevin & Karen Kingswell


Details from The Borough of Morley’s kRegister of Justices Licences for the sale of intoxicating liquor, Publicans No 23 detailing transfer of licences at the Commercial Inn since 1893:  



Holder of Licence     Date       Transferred to    Name and Addresses of Registered Owner

James Moore

14.2.98

W.H. Moore

Messrs Joshua Tetley and son Ltd

William Henry Moore

11.3.01

J. H. Roystone

The Brewery, Leeds 10

John Howard Roystone

1.9.02

W.E. Scott


Wm. Edward Scott

15.5.05

A. Jeffries


Alfred Jeffries

3.12.06

J. Topham


John William Briggs

28.8.22

D. Briggs


Doris Briggs

8.1.23

J. H. East


John Henry East

819.24 **

J. P. Bretherick


John Percival Bretherick

13.10.30

C. Pocklington


Claude Pocklington





** Please note the date for the transfer from John Henry East  to J. P. Bretherick is how it appears in the register 



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