Today’s speaker was Pam Cooksey, a member of the Holmfirth History Group, who took us
on a tour around the “Old Pubs of Holmfirth”.
The talk was based around a now out-of-print book published by the group, but now only
available to read online.
All the establishments involved can be found on the Holmfirth Blue Plaques Trail, and
situated on the 3 main roads running into the town, one from Huddersfield, one from
Sheffield, and one disappearing over the tops into Lancashire.
18 pubs were originally identified, but only 6 now remain open. All pubs, from their
establishment in 1760, have been found to be at the centre of local lives, providing
entertainment, sport, and of course, liquid refreshment.
Pam gave us details of all the pubs, some of which are worthy of further comment; “The
Crown” specialised in cricket, but became more famous from the connection to Bamford makers of films and postcards.
Indeed the name of the pub was changed to “The Postcard”
in 1975, but now boasts another sign outside, “To Let”!
The Victoria Hotel, built next to the railway station, was intended to rival “The George
Hotel” in Huddersfield, and boasted sumptuous, splendid and magnificent dinners, but after
the railway closed in 1971, it was demolished.
“The Friendship” was renowned for providing makeshift prison facilities for a poacher who
pleaded with a local constable not to lock him up in the Towser, a very small cell located
next to Holmfirth Church. The poacher managed to escape, twice, and guess who had to pay
his lodging bill 0f £12!
There was, apparently, a very active dog fighting fraternity in the area, as evidenced by a
stuffed animal named Old Turk, exhibited in the Victoria Inn. His daring deeds were
chronicled in a poem by a Sandy Mellor, printed and sold by him at 1 penny per copy, to
supplement his meagre income.
Widows of deceased landlords were allowed to continue their husband’s licence; they
obviously adapted well to the responsibilities, and many gained formidable reputations in
the town.
What seems to be in no doubt; the pubs, inns and hotels in Holmfirth became places where
lively groups could be found entertaining themselves in one form or another. Nothing has
changed; people in Holmfirth knew how to enjoy themselves!