Huthwaites Past Public Houses

The White Lion Inn

Following countless licensed reopenings the White Lion finally closed its Huthwaite pub doors in 2006.

Addressed at the far north or Top End of Main Street, was how the pub gained alternative local reference. It does however face the bottom corner of Barker Street and could well have been opened, if not specifically built alongside, to begin serving that early 1900's housing development as their most local public house.

The White Lion Inn is firstly found listed on Barker Street in Kelly's 1912 directory. That dates it at least one of, if not the newest opened pub in Huthwaite when serving less than a century. Usual design offered small separate coal hearthed rooms, fondly retained with few interior changes throughout its more popular years. Modernisation had simply demanded replacing fronting outdoor toilets with internal facilities, while central heating piped around bench lined walls comforted the dwindling number of neighbouring loyal patrons.

Shamefully the pubs own historic photo disappeared shortly after poorly capturing the above framed image just prior the first boarded closure comparably shown from 2004. A frontal extension had added kitchens and table seating during a major 1990s revamp. Reopened with one large front dining area helped turn the Free House pub into another once popular carvery, who's owners then sold off at its peak in 2002.

A Mrs R M Forster recalled this photo when her family first kept The White Lion Inn, with bachelor uncle James Hallam licensee for 18 years. Silly Billies

The occasion was one of the outings from the Inn by members of a club named the Judge and Jury and meetings were held every Tuesday. There was a huge gent named Frank Pickering with a black gown and wig (The Judge), who had been a Sgt. Major in the Boar War. He had a bristling mustache and steel spectacles and he would sit at the top table with his wooden mallet and hammer calling for order in a voice like thunder. He would order fines for any misdemeanour however trivial, even on a member swearing in his own back garden, if heard by another of the all male club. Meetings were hilarious at times, then down would come the hammer and quiet would reign for a few minutes. The beer would be served through a small hatch at the back of the bar in large copper one gallon cans.

A bobby named Benny Adams, another burly bloke, complete with black coat with silver buttons and real policemans helmet was at the door. Woe betide anyone trying to get in other than members - and definitely no women. They often tried but couldn't bridge that gap. Those women nicknamed the club, "The Silly Billies Club". I being a child was allowed in to take "Wills Whiffs", Wills Wild Woodbines (packets of five) and matches, twist and tobacco.
One sponsor of this lot was a gents outfitter and pawnbroker, a Mr John Green. He donated the hats always worn on their joyrides. One year it was straw boaters, another bowlers, another flat caps and definitely no-one could go if he would not wear one. On that year it was "billycock and trilby".

This front cover shows one sobering usage for many a village pub. Found bound into the roof of his Staffordshire farmhouse, Alan Chamberlain exposes this record of the White Lion Inn hosting an officially titled Huthwaite "Sick and Dividing Society". These groups were commonly formed in rural and small industrial communities, helping workers cover costs of burial and sickness. A simple form of insurance which placed great trust onto those collecting and in keep of small but hard earned premiums. In this case the two named gentlemen are - Treasurer J G Wright and Secretary R Bostock.

The 1918 Free Press recorded a few more local names when reporting this football match between a TOP END X1 v HUTHWAITE NIGHT SCHOOL.The above fixture proved very interesting, seeing that Top End were chiefly middle aged men and the Night School team consisted of young, robust youths. It was contested on Good Friday morning, and to the call of Mr. J. R. Clarke the following teams lined up:-
TOP END = Goal, M. Allsop; backs, J. Walters and J Flowers; half-backs, L. Allsop, J. Strickland and T. Simmons; forwards, O. Allsop, M. Allsop, Hayes, O. Walters and R. Bonsor.
NIGHT SCHOOL - Goal, G. Stringfellow; backs, S. Herrod and F. Miller; half-backs, H. Wilmott, H. Walters and J. Hill; forwards, W. Simmons, J. Stopps, G. Harrison, J. Severns and J. Pickaver.

After its 2002 sale, a number of managers made various attempts at reclaiming past restaurant business March 2004 or attracting back a few regular bar room characters still willing to loudly voice claims of wealth. But their deepest pockets could never afford halting this pubs decline, lastly seen inside 2004 facing another inevitable future Huthwaite closure.

The Top Ends 2006 closure ended all past licensee hopes to make a 19th hole entrancing the adjacent Brierley golf course. Rumours considering flat conversions or its demolition for new housing then persisted, while the vacated premises decayed its years into 2009.

Sharing our local interest, Mr Jamie O'Hagan informed me of his business intentions when purchasing the property. Structural Fireproofing Systems Ltd are well established in Eckington, but did seek a larger central office base. Major renovation work here seen progressing through April 2010 also aims to provide spare rentable office space in which to attract other Huthwaite companies.

Huthwaite Online thanks again all those named for contributing material helping compile this brief background. Hopefully others can further add recorded evidence or family memorabilia, especially delving into dated keepers of our White Lion Inn.