Pateley Nostalgia - By Eileen Burgess
WE do not know how long there has been a pub on this site, but an earlier building was owned by Christopher Benson, who died in 1765, and as well as running the inn, he established a large butter factor's business, whereby he collected butter from farms and took it to sell at York.
His great-grandson, Edward White Benson, became the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Two years after Christopher's death, the premises was rebuilt.
It was the post inn and excise office. The post box was on the left wall just through the arch. A small window at the side allowed a watch to be kept for coaches coming over the bridge.
In 1822, Alexander Dunn was the licensee. After his death about 1840, his wife Elizabeth continued, to be followed by their daughter, another Elizabeth, with her husband William Newbould, formerly a tallow chandler, who continued certainly until 1861. Mrs Elizabeth Newbould was still there on her own six years later, but she retired before 1870 when Luke Blackburn took over.
From 1855 he is listed as a house painter and sign writer, and continued with this trade alongside his publican's work. At the time he took over, George Metcalfe of the brewery bought the premises, and again rebuilt them. There was a large function room, the Assembly Room, in the yard behind. The following year it was used for an auction sale of drapery goods and footwear.
In 1873, there was a celebratory dinner in the Assembly Room when George Metcalfe handed over the Scotgate Quarry to a public company. All the shareholders, local worthies and workmen were invited (the apprentices had their own meal the following day). Unfortunately, after the meal, one of the men, named Knowles, was coming back up the outdoor steps when he bumped into others coming out. He fell backwards and injured his spine, dying the following day.
Joseph King took over later in the decade. He provided an excellent dinner for the Court Leet in 1878, and provided a waggonette for the Pateley Bridge Primitive Chapel choir outing five years later. But he had other sidelines; by 1889 he was described as "flag merchant, quarry owner, farmer and cattle dealer" as well as having the inn. He had King's Quarry at Blazefield, and built the houses in Station Square, one of which was occupied by his grandson, another Joseph, a century later.
In 1896, Anthony Bland was there for a brief time before moving across the river to the Royal Oak.
Four years later, it became the headquarters of the Pateley Bridge Cycling Club followed after the First World War by the Motor Cycle Club.
In 1912, W S Broader was the landlord and in the 1930s Miss F Pickersgill was the manageress.
In the late 1950s, the local dramatic society used the Assembly Room for rehearsals, set building and storage in preparation for its performances in the Cinema. It was evicted in August, 1962, and the building was turned into a bookie's office for a few years.
Now, The Crown is the only remaining pub in Pateley High Street.
For more nostalgia from the Pateley Bridge area, see the Nidderdale Herald.
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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