The Story of the Two “Old Grindstone” Inns

Peter Spooner was a “gentleman of fortune” the son of William Spooner a local landowner. Peter seems to have been full of his own importance, but mellowed with the years. In 1853 he married “the beautiful and accomplished” Miss Speedy, in the Isle of Man.

On 18th May 1839 Spooner was a witness against George Hoyle of the South Sea Hotel, in a licensing hearing alleging nuisance and opening out of hours. In 1842 Mr Spooner was a special constable for Crookes Moor and in 1843 was a juror at the Spring Quarter Sessions (described as “gentleman”). At the court sessions in January 1849 he complains that he has been put on the petit (traverse) jury and not the grand jury when his income is £600 a year and lesser men than him are on the Grand Jury. In November 1849 Peter Spooner offered to pay to Frith the court clerk, 2s out of a 4s bill of his fathers (the cost of a summons) and said he is poor so can only pay 2 shillings. In court, “Mr Frith intimated a desire to have no further intercourse with Mr Spooner”. To his credit Spooner did later donate land for a chapel.

In 1841 Sarah Stead (45) originally from Wath, made a living as a farmers wife with her husband George at Hallam Gate. George died in 1844.In 1850 Sarah was a farmer at Crookes and had a number of geese and fowls stolen. In December of that year her daughter Sarah married William Loxley of Crookes at Eldon Street Church. In the 1851 census Sarah Stead was recorded as a 57 year old widow and publican/farmer at the Grindstone Inn (this would have been the first inn), with her 26 year old son Thomas and 22 year old son Henry.

A dispute had arisen because Mr Spooner who owned the first Grindstone thought that his tenants, the Steads, who had run the pub for many years, ran a disorderly house, holding dog fights and rabbit hunting. Spooner had a violent dispute with one of the Steads’ sons and tried to eject the family, who refused to be moved. Spooner had to resort to an ejectment action in the York Nisi Prius Court on July 18 1852. This was agreed by the court but the ejectment was deferred until November of that year.

In June 1852 Sarah, noted as being the licensee of the “Grindlecoke” inn had been in court regarding the alleged missing cover of a well in her field allowing a horse to fall in. A Grindlecoke was an old worn out grindstone, often used for domestic purposes such as a foot-stool, seat or trivet – so the “Old” in the pub’s name did not refer to the inn itself being old but to an “old grindstone”.

The Steads built and occupied a rival Grindstone across the road from the first, and a few yards further towards Crookes. In September 1853 an application for a licence for the new “Old Original Grindstone” was disputed. Sarah’s application received many recommendations from locals including the overseers of Ecclesall and Nether Hallam, and the only opposition was from Peter Spooner and the Don Brewery. There were no reports of bad behaviour, there had been much housing built locally of late, and so the licence for the new Old Original Grindstone was granted.

After the ejectment, Spooner put in place as licensee William Machin, commencing in December 1853 and Machin had about £50 to start up with, including fitting out the inn. Spooner advanced him loans totalling £30 and Machin eventually owed Spooner an additional £50 in rent.

In April 1854 some bagatelle balls were stolen from the first “Grindstone Tavern”, the licensee William Machin was a witness in court.On June 7 1856, William Machin, labourer and publican of the Old Grindstone was having his first examination for bankruptcy. His petition was opposed by Messrs. Smith and Redfern of the Don Brewery and also by Messrs. Carter and Smith, brewers. Machins debts were £162 and he had no assets. Spooner had advanced him loans totalling £30 and Machin eventually owed Spooner an additional £50 in rent. Business was poor and Machin did not sell an eighteen gallon barrel a fortnight ( ie less than 10 pints a day). He wished “he had been flogged along the streets with a cat-o’-nine-tails instead of ever going near the place”. After examination of his financial transactions the petition was dismissed.

On May 10 1856 James Hoole placed an advert to let pasture next to his Old Grindstone Tavern (i.e. the first). In June he advertised for cricketers for his team as he had laid new turf.

On May 13 1859 a licence for the “Old Grindstone” (presumably the second one, ie the Old Original Grindstone) was transferred from Sarah Stead to her son-in-law William Loxley.At the 1861 census Sarah was living at “East Side of Crookes” as a proprietoress of houses. The adjacent entry was William Loxley (43) and his wife Sarah (39) – occupation “shop & Public House”.

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On Jan 9 1863 Charles Lawton, victualler and quarryman of the (first) Grindstone was in the bankruptcy court for examination. On May 16 1863 the transfer of licence took place from the assignees of Charles Lawton to James Morton a farm labourer from Bradfield.

On May 4 1877 Sarah Loxley of the Old Original Grindstone was fined 20s for serving after closing time, and had been previously been in trouble for offences against the Licensing Act.

In November 1878 the Old Original Grindstone was in the hands of Mr Gomersall, who advertised a Pigeon Shooting Leger.

No doubt this type of story explains why there are public houses with the same name within yards of each other.

1890 Map

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The Old Original Grindstone

The Old Original Grindstone after demolition has begun 20th May 1968

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