£3.00
The Beehive was formed out of three old cottages set in a row of back-to-back working class terraced houses which In all probability a row of workers cottages built by Josiah Spode at the end of the 18th or early 19th century for his workers. The location is shown on Hargreaves’ map of 1832.
Viewing the census of 1841 provides little to indicate there being any Inn at the site. By 1851 the census however does list a Thomas Howell as a greengrocer and beer seller. In simple terms, he would have had a little greengrocer’s shop, and at the same time, probably had a couple of hand pumps, one for Mild and the other for Bitter beers, both for consumption off the premises. It is from here that the residents of the nearby houses would fetch the beer in a jug after a day’s work to have with their evening meal. The owner would be unable to sell spirits only beer or ale. Thomas was born in Eccleshall, and was married to Hannah, who was recorded in 1851, aged 62, and came from Oldham. They both probably came to Stoke to find work and met locally. They employed a servant, Elizabeth Cook, a local girl, aged 21.
Under the Poor Law of 1834 there were no benefits it was simply if you had no money, no home, no job you would apply to be admitted into a workhouse. The objective was to enforce the worst conditions they could in the hope that those desperate would do anything to remain out of the workhouse. Here families were separated by gender and a minimum age necessary for the maintenance of ‘decency’ whereby children were segregated from adults in order to dissuade them from a life of indolence and mendicancy and kept from what was considered ‘sluggish sensual indolence’.
Vagrants or casuals were travellers from town to town, perhaps we could call tramps. The 1834 Act was designed to stem the drain of resources as a deterrent, but vagrants dominated the flow of poor inmates. In 1837 workhouses became obliged to provide temporary overnight shelter for any destitute person, forcing guardians to arrange special accommodation for this category. Initially, vagrants were housed in infectious wards, stables and outhouses anywhere until purpose built vagrant wards were built at the edge of the main workhouse site, frequently having its own access from the highway to avoid contamination with other inmates.
Vagrants would arrive late in the afternoon waiting for admission and their personal belongings removed. The number of beds available for vagrants was frequently limited and late-comers found themselves turned away. In better-regulated wards, they were stripped, bathed and their clothes disinfected, and a bread and water supper were served.
This was the way in which people were treated if they became a burden upon the parish and in turn taxed the local residents based upon the value of their home. Many think the of survival today with increasing costs everywhere, but in reality, nearly two hundred years ago life then was beyond imagination. Read more about times then for those who had nothing except the clothes they stood up in. Yes, the poor law did make some difference to those who came knocking but inside you were treated less than human.
This final folder under the heading of Manorial Records in many cases is the most important as without which manorial court rolls in many cases would just be a number of words in a foreign language.
If the Domesday Book had not been compiled a detailed insight into many hamlets, villages and towns would be denied to us. Domesday records the first documented evidence we have for many places in the UK as well as Penkhull and its importance with regard to its higher recorded monetary value than that of many other villages in North Staffordshire during that period. Penkhull, as we know it today, is a small rural suburb overlooking the town of Stoke, whereas for hundreds of years Penkhull comprised a huge slice of Stoke-on-Trent stretching from Parliament Row, Hanley to Hanford, and incorporated around half of what is today considered the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Without the necessary tools it would be totally impossible to understand just what the entry on 1086 meant. This also applies to all of the manorial court rolls listed on this site. They all use standard terms, that in time become familiar and easier to read and understand t exactly what was meant in the original documents.
Containing five sheets the documents give first illustrations of various documents you could well come across with examples there illustrating the importance of this fundamental tool.
From the outset for those readers who are not familiar with the term Manorial Court, its functions, and responsibilities it is necessary to first refer to its function as not to confuse any reader with the functions of a Crown or Magistrates court. I know that even some local amateur historians have failed to grasp the basic difference and as ‘fools rush in’ they have gone into print only to prove just how little they know of the subject. The manor court was the lowest court of law in England, feudal law and governed those areas over which the lord of the manor had jurisdiction
These courts dealt with copyhold land transfers, managing the open fields, settling disputes between individuals and manorial offences. There was, in addition, a twice-yearly court leet, held after Michaelmas and after Easter, which all residents of the manor were obliged to attend. Business included a view of frankpledge, at which all men over the age of twelve were bound to appear and make their “pledge” to keep the king’s peace.
I hope that this fraction of what is found within the transactions is sufficient to stimulate interest and like myself have gained an invaluable knowledge of the area. A great subject to study.
The time of George 11, the court rolls become far more interesting and importantly in many cases recognizable to their location.
This record for the first time mentions Josiah Spode, the potter who was purchasing copyhold land in the centre of Stoke town with full descriptions of buildings and layout etc.
This applies to many other entries in this ten-page document and is a value for those who not only wish to trace the origins of the pottery industry, the development of the town of Stoke but also follow the lines in families.
This is certainly a worthy document which brings study right up the mid-8th century.
This archive of Elizabeth 1 extends over 77 pages of court records. It covers a wide area, Seabridge and Clayton, Penkhull and Boothen. Hanclurch Fenton and Botteslow. In addition there are a wide range of cases that appear in the courts: Assault, recording of deaths of copyholders, surrender and admission of lands for a large part of the records and many others cases are brought to the courts. A good account of what was happening at the time of Elizabeth 1st. and a good read and for study purposes.
This is probably the most researched article written within this archive consisting of twenty-six pages, 17,000 words with loads of photographs in support. It is a unique record of the war years of a small village called Penkhull in the Potteries and diligently records all the coming, goings and changes that occurred in the village during the second world war and frequently with the names of people involved at the time.
All the material, meticulously researched some fifty odd years ago by personal recorded interviews of residents, former members of the home guard, local pub licensee and notes taken from a running description of how the war affected the lives of those who lost loved ones as well as all the restrictions on a familiar way of life over six years from a few notes of the time written by the vicar Rev. V G Aston in the parish magazine. It’s an intimate and accurate record of the time when bombs were dropping on the village and the nearby hospital, the antics of the home guard from their lookout from the church tower in the centre of the village.
It records sad times as the first boy from the village who was killed in the war returned and his coffin brought into church in the middle of Evensong, a heart rendering experience repeated so many times, each with the pain of loved ones evident. Occasionally news arrived from soldiers from the village who sent cards home to say that they were OK or had now become prisoners of war. In many cases the news of events was difficult to put into words. The study looks at the almost daily how life changed following the announcement that we were at war which was listened too in a packed church that very morning at 11 a.m.
The effects of food rationing, street lighting, distribution of gas masks and all other restrictions on schools, football matches, and cinema opening and loads more. This short history is true reflection, probably the only major contribution to the history of the war as seen through the eyes of local people and now compiled directly from my original studies held over for eighty years. Now it could be the last ‘VE Day’ event for all to share and so bring to life my studies of yesteryear for all to read and understand just how the effects of war changed life and priorities is now a read for everyone.
Situated in Honeywall, the Beehive Inn (possibly named following the name of Honeywall)
Life started as a small conershop sell most of the day-today items that were required for the local residents. In addition it was also an out-door beer seller, just Ale direct from a pump. Customers in the eatrly days would take along their own jug or even a pint glass to carry it home. The history includes a full account of the publicans and changes over the decades.
This old established Inn has proved the most difficult to research its early history. I was always of the belief that the original Inn would date from the medieval period on the basis that Penkhull was situated on the main highway from the south to the north of Stoke-on-Trent before the current London Road, Stoke was laid. Here in Penkhull, an Inn was listed in the 15th century under the sign of Lord Wagstaff. The court rolls list a Thomas Bagnall, victualler of Penkhull in 1587. A Thomas Tittensor was licensed to sell spirits in 1606; James Bourne was named a victualler of Penkhull in 1775. Sadly, none of these identify the Inn by name.
In 1861, Charles Simpson, aged 34, and his wife Mary, aged 36, both from Hanley were running the Inn and by 1891 George Salt, aged 45, and Sarah his wife, aged 42, were in charge. They had two children, Florence, aged 15, and Eleanor, age 7. Apart from Charles’ mother and his sister-in-law living there, they had two male servants John Harris, aged 29, and Alfred Thomas, aged 23.
Throughout the decades, the Marquis had rather a fast number of landlords.
The property remained in the hands of Mary Ann Lees, until her death at Southport. She was buried at Hanford on the 19th of November 1894. By the terms of her Will dated, the 16th of May 1873, The Marquis of Granby was left in trust to her daughter Annie Crewe Lees and Mr William Challinor of Leek, earthenware manufacturer, until it should be deemed advisable to convert it into cash but should not be sold during the lives of her three daughters unless a major part of them should consent to such a sale. After her death it remained in the hands of the trustees.
On the 17th of May 1886, the trustees entered into an agreement to lease out the premises to Mr Henry Elshaw for a period of ten years at an annual rent of £82. It was recorded that the property had been in the occupation of Mr George Furnival for some time. The same document refers for the first time to the addition of a bowling green adjacent to the pub. On the same date Mr Elshaw assigned the lease by way of mortgage for security of £306 from Mr John Robinson.
The name The Marquis of Granby is interesting so many pubs of that name. John Manners, the eldest son of the 3rd Duke of Rutland, and known by his father’s subsidiary title of the Marquis of Granby, was a highly distinguished soldier and later a politician. He was known by his generosity as when his soldiers retired, John Manners helped many of his soldiers financially to set up public houses who all subsequently called new Inns or re-named existing Inns – The Marquis of Granby, out of respect and admiration of the former Major General. When he died in 1771 the Marquis left £60,000 of debts with assets of around £23,000 which could imply that he was most generous during his lifetime.
Here in Penkhull, an Inn was listed in the 15th century under the sign of Lord Wagstaff. The court rolls list a Thomas Bagnall, victualler of Penkhull in 1587. A Thomas Tittensor was licensed to sell spirits in 1606; James Bourne was named a victualler of Penkhull in 1775. Sadly, none of these identify the Inn by name.
The property remained in the hands of Mary Ann Lees, until her death at Southport. She was buried at Hanford on the 19th of November 1894. By the terms of her Will dated, the 16th of May 1873, The Marquis of Granby was left in trust to her daughter Annie Crewe Lees and Mr William Challinor of Leek, earthenware manufacturer, until it should be deemed advisable to convert it into cash but should not be sold during the lives of her three daughters unless a major part of them should consent to such a sale. After her death it remained in the hands of the trustees.
On the 17th of May 1886, the trustees entered into an agreement to lease out the premises to Mr Henry Elshaw for a period of ten years at an annual rent of £82. It was recorded that the property had been in the occupation of Mr George Furnival for some time. The same document refers for the first time to the addition of a bowling green adjacent to the pub. On the same date Mr Elshaw assigned the lease by way of mortgage for security of £306 from Mr John Robinson.
This is an article compiled regarding the Penkhull Home Guard having nowhere to store their issued equipment and ammunition and subsequently it was stored in an unused bedroom at the Greyhound Inn. Great both factual and amusing account as one would expect with Dads Army. A great read with genuine people of the time.
During the Commonwealth period 1649-1660 Cromwell was designated the Lord Protector and appointed Harrison as the head of the former Royal Manor thereby receiving all rents and court dues. He is frequently mentioned as attending as head of the manor in the court rolls. After the Restitution of Charles II, Thomas Harrison was executed on Saturday 13th October 1660. He was dragged on a hurdle through the streets of London from Over the last thirty years I have acquired and transcribed what has become the only and largest collection in the world of the Manor Court Rolls of Manor of Newcastle-under-Lyme which included what is two thirds of Stoke-on-Trent from 1347 – 1927. It is from this extensive archive that an account appears of King Charles II visit to Penkhull.
Following the demise at the castle at Newcastle all manorial courts were held once every three weeks from c1530 in a large farmhouse in Penkhull and what is now known as the Greyhound Inn. No doubt many readers will know that Major General Thomas Harrison, the second in command under Oliver Cromwell was the son of a butcher and born in High Street Newcastle, the site of which is now occupied by the HSBC Bank. There is a brass plaque on the wall to this fact. It was Harrison with others who also signed the death warrant of Charles I.
During the Commonwealth period 1649-1660 Cromwell was designated the Lord Protector and appointed Harrison as the head of the former Royal Manor thereby receiving all rents and court dues. He is frequently mentioned as attending as head of the manor in the court rolls.
After the Restitution of Charles II, Thomas Harrison was executed on Saturday 13th October 1660. He was dragged on a hurdle through the streets of London from Newgate Prison to Charing Cross and executed by the most horrifying method of the time – hung, drawn and quartered
At the corner of Manor Court Street and Newcastle Lane stood for many years, The Royal Oak Inn. The premises were surrendered as a mortgagee was in default to William Bridgwood in 1860 who converted two cottages out of a row of eight into a beer house. At a copyhold court held on the 13th day of September 1866 the properties were sold to John Royal.
The 1861 census lists the property as The Royal Oak, but then recorded not in Church Street, but at the top of Newcastle Street, numbered 1 and 3. It was occupied by a direct ancestor of mine George Henry Underwood, aged thirty-six, beer seller and potter, born Penkhull. He was married to Eliza, aged thirty-eight, of Stoke. They had four children, Henry, aged sixteen, John, aged twelve, and both working as potters’ boys, followed by Frank, aged nine and James, aged two. James was my great grandfather. His daughter Eliza Ann was my grandmother who married Thomas Talbot in 1908.
The 1871 census shows that Benbow, then aged thirty-six, also worked as a potters colour maker as well as running the beer house in the evening alongside his wife. a practice not uncommon for the period. Benbow was born at Coalbrookdale and married to Jane, aged thirty-seven a widow Her son, George Willott, aged thirteen, was working as a turner. Three other children were also living at the house but also took in lodgers to make ends meet making a total of nine people living there.
Ten years later in 1881, The Royal Oak was held by Mr David Shenton, aged forty-0five, and his wife Mary, aged forty-two, together with their seven children ranging from Albert, aged twenty, to Blanch, aged one. Three years later, in May 1884, his wife Mary died and is buried in Penkhull churchyard. Her gravestone reads In Loving Memory of Mary Ann, the beloved wife of David Shenton of the Royal Oak Inn.
By 1891, David Shenton had remarried to Emma, aged thirty-four, eleven years his junior. At the time there remained four children living at home, together with Jane Bryan, a domestic servant. Shenton died on the 15th of March 1900, aged seventy-two. He is buried alongside his first wife Mary.
Shenton had already sold The Royal Oak in 1890 to Parkers Brewery although he continued to run the establishment at least until 1891 on their behalf. The court minute commences by stating that Shenton was formerly of The Royal Oak, licensed victualler but afterwards of No. 14 Church Street, grocer but at the time of the court record living at No. 191 Campbell Road Stoke.
The present Greyhound Inn, formerly known as Penkhull Hall then previously by the name of Greenhead House, (simply – head of the green) stands opposite to what is now the west door of the parish church, but before the church was built here was a large open space of common manorial waste where the village pinfold was situated. In the first place the Greyhound was an old building, originally a farmhouse, would be constructed of timber, wattle and daub with one large room – the large parlour, which was used for the Customary Court Baron and Court Leet. This section of the building now forms the public bar section of the Inn. The building still retains its original form, although largely reconstructed in 1936.
Beneath the floor was The Penkhull Lock-up often used for the confinement of drunks who were usually released the next day, or to hold people being brought before the local magistrate the following morning. A typical village lock-up is a small structure with a single door and a narrow-slit window or opening. Lock-ups were not a gaol; they were only a temporary place to secure prisoners.
A precise history is told with the aid of court rolls, Hearth Tax Record, surveys of the manor and parish records, all meticulously recorded to provide an accurate unique account of its history from the 14th century. The essay is 21 pages x A4 with many photographs which will no doubt give great pleasure to the reader, and even more help with late night conversations in the pub debating its history.
The route from ancient times to the town of Stoke and the Potteries was via Hanford along what is the A34 to a point where the present Rookery Lane turns off. From there the road continued up Brisley Hill, now called Trent Valley Road, through the village of Penkhull and down Honeywall – an arduous road especially for packhorses taking the products of Stokes’ potworks to the south.
In the late 1780s it was decided to create a turnpike road with toll gates from what is now the Black Lion at Trent Vale to Campbell Place in Stoke and was opened in 1791 creating new opportunities for traders. In all probability to exploit this new development probably the owner of Black Lion Farm which stood on the opposite side of the A34 to Rookery Lane built the Inn, the Black Lion on a prestigious corner of the important London to Carlisle Road, the A34, and the new Turnpike Road, London Road and subsequently erected the Black Lion c1792/3.
As soon as the Inn was established it was a location that identified other nearby properties for adverts for land and houses whereby all included the Black Lion on the Turnpike Road. As the name Trent Vale had not become established, the Black Lion was frequently advertised as near to Newcastle or Hanford or near the town of Stoke and soon became the only inn and social venue of the district.
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