A short history of a well loved drinking establishment. By Casey Watson, 2022.
This is a long and convoluted version of the story necessary to try and clarify the facts. I hope to a produce a more concise version later that will be easier to digest.
The Lincolnshire Poacher public House on Mansfield Road is a bastion of real ale and is one of the Castle Rock breweries earliest acquisitions as it grew from humble beginnings, the brain child of Chris Holmes, to the successful independent enterprise it is today . It has had live music since it opened it’s doors in 1989 and four of the musicians still playing there as of 2022 have band roots going back into the late sixties so it has proved a great place for me to find out some Nottingham music stories as well as enjoy a pint, good company and hear great music. This has prompted me to look into the history of this pub and try and unearth a few stories that might give a window into its past.
It is well known that it had been called the “Old Grey Nags Head” before it was decided to change its name and find a new identity and in one of the front windows you can still see the name decorated in the glass of the window next to the front door.
This is not to be confused with the “Nags Head” which is on the other side of the road only a matter of yards away. The Nags Head also has a long history reputedly going back to 1752 and is particularly known as the last drink stop before a prisoner was to be hanged at Gallows Hill, where the cemetery is now on Forest Road East. The Nags Head is no longer a pub, being turned into student accommodation, but the building has had its exterior preserved. However this building, as nice as it looks, was only built in 1912 on the site of the original Nags Head.
When the Lincolnshire Poacher opened in 1989 it was in the premises of the “Old Grey Nags Head”. The press of 1989 remarked that the “Old Grey Nags Head” had roots going back to the 1830’s and that is starting point for this plotted history of a well liked watering hole. It has also been said that the pub was known at various times as “Grey Nags Head” & “Old Nags Head” and I hope to unpick that conundrum too.
In 1744, a map of Nottingham shows, what we know as Parliament Street today, was called “Back Side”. There was Mansfield Road (an ancient roadway) but no Milton Street or Melbourne Street. Where Victoria Centre is today was still fields. By 1820 Milton Street was in place. There may not have been any numbering system for the dwellings on the stretch of Mansfield Road we are interested in when they were built around the 1820’s.
When the numbering of houses and properties on Mansfield Road started it gets confused by a number of factors before settling on the numbers we know today. One is the illusive Melbourne Street which existed at some point around 1860 to 1902. A part of what we now know as Mansfield Road was called Melbourne Street named, it seems, after Lord Melbourne (Prime Minister). Melbourne Street was positioned between Milton St and Mansfield Road between the junctions of Blue Cote St and Shakespeare St. It is now just part of Mansfield Road. The building of Victoria Railway Station in late Victorian times would have affected the numbering too, if only on that side of the road. New buildings squeezed in and other building partitioned can also have a bearing.
The history of Mansfield Road itself goes back to Norman and Viking times, as it would have constituted part of the then important London to York roadway. A lot of that roadway probably had roots as far off as Roman times as well and it is said that it is the oldest continuously used road in Nottinghamshire. Because of numbering changes the building that houses the Lincolnshire Poacher has been 101 and 163, and maybe some early schedule numbers when building was taking place. As of 2022 it is 161-163.
1825
In Glover’s Nottingham Directory of 1825 the Publicans and Victuallers section lists the following pubs on Mansfield Road.
Carpenters Arms, James Wilson
Coach and Horses, William Jackson
Philo Du Puta. James Wilson (Portuguese for “Son of a bitch”)
Plough and Harrow, ? Adigo
Three Salmons, Francis Middleton
These pubs are long gone in name and memory. Maybe one of them was situated where the Poacher is today, but probably not. I guess we will never know. They were probably all close to the town end of Mansfield Road.
There is no mention of Old Grey Nags Head or any variation there of. There isn’t even a mention of the Nag’s Head on the other side of Mansfield Road although we know that there was a drinking establishment there, from various records and sources, and this is something you have to bear in mind when looking through directories, newspapers and the census. Some places and people don’t appear when we know they should. Some things conflict too, one source saying one thing and another source saying another.
That said, in a different section of the same directory is:
John Smith, Nags Head and Malster, Mansfield Road.
At first sight this would seem to be the “Nags Head” across the road from where the “Poacher” is now. Or is it? Because John Smith’s name will appear later in this story it is my assertion that this is the first proof of beer making or beer selling at the building we now know as the Lincolnshire Poacher. John Smith being described as a Malster (Maltster) also adds to the theory as the building where the Poacher is now is recorded as a “Malthouse” later in the century. John Smith’s name also appears under another section which I hope will also support my theory later. I stand to be corrected but will pursue the argument that John Smith is our first beer seller, maltster, licensee if you like.
I think this is the same John Smith mentioned as a Malster at the Nags Head up above. I suppose Samuel Smith may be John’s father.
Another Malster on Mansfield Road is Thomas James. Whether this is at the same establishment I’m not sure. Above Thomas is Joseph James recorded as a Malster and Bricklayer. It could be that the Smith’s and James’s where in business together. Or could they be at the Nags Head across the road.
1831
From the map of 1831 by Staveley and Wood we can see a spike of buildings alongside Mansfield Road.
You can look at the whole map in better detail at the Notts History Resources Maps There is little way of knowing what was going on at these properties when this map was produced, other than directories, but at least we know the buildings were there and can assume they were there from the 1820’s at the very least. .
1840
This is the first year I have evidence of beer being sold from two establishments called the “Nags Head” on Mansfield Road. There was also another “Nags Head” in town but we can discount that. In the Nottingham Annual Register 1840 two separate entries for Mansfield Road are recorded.
John Smith appears again at the “Nags Head”, Mansfield Road. Under the section “Beersellers, Licensed retail”.
This “Nags Head” is the one across the road from the “Poacher”. Joseph Stacey and his family name can be followed later at that Nags Head.
So, it seems our “Old Grey Nags Head / Lincolnshire Poacher” started out as just the “Nags Head”. Why John Smith would choose the same name as an pre existing establishment across the road, I don’t know.
1841
The 1841 census is the first place to throw some light on John Smith’s family.
1841 Census
John Smith – 1790 – 50 – Occupation – Brick ?? (Probably Brickmaker which concurs with the 1825 trade directories)
Mary Smith – 1811 – 30
William Smith – 1826 – 15
Alice Smith – 1841 – 0
Hannah Asley – 1826 – 15 – Nottinghamshire
————–
In the census of 1841 there is also a family living on Mansfield Road with the head of family named as “John Upton”. John Upton will be a big part of the story too. The dwellings aren’t numbered and may well not have had a number yet. Here is the family in full.
1841: Mansfield Road, Parish: St Mary, City: Nottingham
John Upton – 1811 – 30 – Occupation: Joiner
Ann Upton – 1816 – 25 – John’s wife
John Upton – 1837 – 4 – Son
Ann Upton – 1838 – 3 – Daughter
Frances Upton – 1841 – 6 Months – Daughter
John Martin – 1826 – 15 – Occupation: Joiners mate (Something like that).
Other occupations mentioned nearby are baker and labourer but predominantly to do with lace. Lace workers may have been working from their own dwelling or the Lace Factory near the corner of Blue Cote Street. As I know a John Upton was seeking a license for the “Old Grey Nags Head later in 1862 on Mansfield Road, and from later census takings, I’m sure that this is the same person and he will become an important part of the story later..
1848
John Upton’s number is 71. It’s hard to say where that is on Mansfield Road as this is the first numbering I’ve found for it.
1851
It seems likely that John Smith (Our first beer seller) died sometime in the 1840’s and his wife Mary Ann Smith took over the role. I’m going to guess that she might have changed the name from “Nags Head” to “Old Nags Head” to avoid confusion with the “Nags Head” across the road. Here is her census taking for 1851.
Mary Ann Smith – 1814 – 37 – Victular – Born in Hucknall (A Victualler is someone who is licensed to sell alcohol)
M A – 1844 – 7 – Daughter – School
Alice – 1841 – 10 – Daughter – School
Elizabeth – 1843 – 8 – Daughter – School
Hannah – 1846 – 5 – Daughter – School
Augustus – 1849 – 2 – Son – Home
Jane Greenwood – Servant
Samuel Thornton – Servant
James Taylor – Servant
Mary is head of household so we can presume her husband had died. Having three servants suggests she is doing well for herself.
John Upton’s family are living next door.
By 1851 the census shows that John and Ann’s family had grown considerably. Their dwelling was now numbered too, as 147 (but this may be a census “Number of schedule”). How that relates to the building the “Poacher” now sits in, I’m not sure, as I have mentioned earlier that the numbering system have changed on a few occasions. Nearby is a Baker and Grocer. Here is the family in full.
147 (This is probably a census schedule number) Mansfield Road, Parish: St Mary, City: Nottingham
John Upton – 1808 – 43 – Occupation: Joiner & Imp (2 M) (John’s birth year and age have changed by 3 years from his 1841 census). His birth place looks to be East Bridgford, Notts.
Ann Upton – 1816 – 35 – John’s wife – Birth place recorded as Carlton.
All their children are born in Nottingham and we can presume at the dwelling itself.
John Upton – 1837 – 14 – Son – Joiner & C
Ann (M A) Upton – 1839 – Age 12 – Daughter – House Maid (Ann is probably Mary Ann and her birth date is different by a year from the 1841 census)
Frances Upton – 1841 – 10 – Daughter – Home
William Upton – 1843 – 8 – Son – School
Emma Upton – 1845 – 6 – Daughter – School
Edward W. Upton – 1847 – 4 – Son – School
Sarah A S Upton – 1850 – 1 – Daughter – Home
Thomas A W Upton – 1850 – 1 – Son – Home
John Wallis – 1820 – 31 – Assistant / Carpenter & C – Born in Cheshire
It is very likely that the children went to school at Blue Cote which is where the YMCA / ICA is now.
Interestingly, next door at 148 is Mary Ann Smith. She has the occupation of Victualar (Lincense to sell beer). I’m not sure about the numbering system. In early census reports sometimes the number was “Number of Schedule” which may or may not be the same as the building number if indeed it has one. In the 1830’s to 1840’s I think only the left hand side of the road had numbers. John Upton is at 147 yet only a few years earlier the property is numbered 71. It was the same place I think so it can get confusing.
Anyway, Mary Ann Smith seems to have carried on as a beer seller. She is definitely recorded as a victualler in 1851. John Upton has been established as a Joiner for a long time and is a neighbour in what is effectively the same building block.
In 1852 John Upton’s profession is recorded again.
Among the other people mentioned in the list are
Thomas James, Publican
Joseph Stacey, Publican
Horatio James, Maltster
Family names I have seen earlier connected with Mansfield Road and (I think) the Nags Head across the road.
1855
In 1855 one of John and Ann Upton’s children died.
1858
In 1858 John Upton’s profession is recorded again.
1861
By 1861 a lot of the streets we now know had been built.
John Upton must have taken over the beer selling business from Mary Ann Smith because he is now described as a “Beer House Keeper” in the 1861 census.
John Upton is now a “Beer House Keeper” as recorded in the 1861 census.
John Upton – 1807 – 54 – Beer House Keeper
Ann Upton – 1816 – 45 – Wife
John Upton – 1837 – 24 – Son – Joiner
Emma Upton – 1845 – 16 – Daughter – School
Edward Upton – 1847 – 14 – Son – School
Alfred D Upton – 1850 – 11 – School
William Upton – 1843 – 8 – Son – School
George Upton – 1857 – 4 – School
1862 – 64
In 1862 we have the first mention of the “Old Grey Nags Head”.
We can see that John Upton was seeking a license for the Old Grey Nags Head at a Brewster session. Brewster Sessions were often reported in the newspapers. These were for the renewal of a victualler licence, application for a new one, application for a music licence and other matters connected with alcohol. There are plenty of references a victualler (pronounced Vitler) in Victorian times. This was a term for someone who was licensed to sell alcohol, not only in public houses but often would mean a beer off or corner shop, as we know it, that sells alcohol. In 1863 another reference is made.
The “Old Grey Nags Head” is one of those applications that was refused. The article suggests that all those establishments were in existence so maybe the Old Grey Nags Head was operating under a different license or as I now think it was there under the name of the “Old Nags Head” and part of the license application was for a name change. There was probably distinctions between an Inn, a Beer house, a Malthouse, a publican, a victualler and that may also be reason for this wanted change. Whatever was the case, the pub seems to have been in existence for a while in some form or other.
Again the license has been applied for which suggests, as I said previously, that it was operating in some form or other. When we look in a directory of 1862 we can unearth the probable reason for this repeated application.
In Wright’s Nottingham Directory of 1862: we have listed “Old Nags Head”, A. Hancock, Mansfield Road, Beer seller. This is a different Old Nags Head to the one we are interested in. It isn’t numbered but when mentioned in later directories that do it has the number 5. That is next to the Lace factory next to Blue Cote School. Here is the building today.
Up the road past the “Golden Fleece” on the corner of Babbington Street (now part of Peel St.) we find the second place called the “Old Nags Head”. This is in the right position for our present day Lincolnshire Poacher. Across the road is the “Nags Head” although Frogmore Street doesn’t seem to exist yet or at least hasn’t been named yet.
So with the “Nags Head” across the road and two establishments called the “Old Nags Head” and John Upton running the “Old Nags Head” we are interested in he decided on a name change to differentiate his place from the other. Here are two pages from the directory that help to support my theory.
The stretch of road the “Nags Head” across the road, was on, was called Mansfield Terrace at that time.
1868
By 1868 John Upton must have been successful in his name change because we can find a reference to the “Old Grey Nags Head” being used for an inquest. A sad tale of drinking excess I’m afraid.
1871
John Upton Jnr has married Sophia and moved out but just up the road at 159.
John Upton and his wife Ann Upton are still at the Beer House at 101 Mansfield Road, “Old Grey Nags Head / Poacher”, but it now seems to be run by both John Upton and James Cutts who is now head of the household on the census. He married Emma Upton (daughter of John and Ann Upton) and started a family. His family and John Upton’s family are all living in the same building. The Cutts family were from Sherwood Street (now North Sherwood Street). The number 101 is the one most associated with the “Old Grey Nags Head” until 1902 when Melbourne Street was appropriated by Mansfield Road and we get the house numbers we are used to today.
Here are the census details
James Cutts – 1843 – 28 – Head of household – Draughtsman and Publican
Emma Cutts (nee Upton) – 1845 – 26 – Wife
John M. Cutts – 1867 – 4 – Home
Albert B Cutts – 1871 – 0 – Home
John Upton – 1807 – 64 – Father-in-law – Retired Joiner & Publican
Ann Upton – 1815 – 56 – Mother-in-law – Dressmaker
George Upton – 1857 – 14 – Brother-in-law – Draughtsman
Edward Gibson – 1852 – 19 – Servant – Born Lincolnshire
Ann Hickling – 1850 – 21 – Servant – Born Yorkshire
1876
In 1876 another inquest is held at the Old Grey Nags Head. Another sad tale.
In 1876 there is the only mention I can find of the pub being referred to just as “Grey Nags Head”. The licensee was then David Witham.
- The other “Old Nags Head” run by Thomas Hancock I referred to earlier now with the number 5.
- The “Grey Nags Head” at 101 Mansfield Road. This is the “Old Grey Nags Head”. This is the only time I can find it be called by this shortened name and it maybe some confusion on behalf of the makers of the directory that gives it this name.
1881
By 1881 the Old Grey Nags Head is referred to as a Malthouse. A Malthouse is where cereal grain converted into malt. The malt is used in brewing beer.
1885
In the 1885 History, Gazetteer & Directory of Nottinghamshire the two “Old Nags Heads” are referred to but not by name. The other Old Nags Head (2.) at 5 Mansfield Road near the Blue Cote school is recorded as William Atherton, Beer House. Our “Old Nags Head” (1.) at number 101 is recorded as William Guyler, Victualler.
1888
Yet another sad tale and inquest in 1888. The name is back to the “Old Grey Nags Head”.
In 1888 an application for a licence or renewal was made by Alfred Blanksby.
1889
In 1889 a photograph was taken of Alfred Blanksby stood outside the Old Grey Nags Head. It must have been taken by one of the newspaper journalists of the day because it was later used by the Nottingham Evening Post in 1952 as a “Picture quiz”. It is a grainy picture but we can make out some detail.
This is the same building as today. Alfred can be seen standing next to the front door on Mansfield Road. In between the upper windows you can just make out the picture of a horse’s head. “Good Stabling” is written on the front as it was also being used as a stable at that time.
When this picture was printed in 1952 it got at least two responses. The first was from the daughter of Alfred, Mrs Ada Marshall who was born there.
Alfred Blanksby has been spelt wrong as Blanksley. The numbering changes are mentioned and the fact that the pub had different names at different times as well. Because I can show that the pub was known as the Old Grey Nags Head in 1868 then they are probably wrong in their assumption that the name change happened between 1885 and 1887. If it ever had been known as the “Grey Nags Head” then that was probably for a short time between when John Upton was trying to get a license in 1864 and the inquest of 1868 when by then it had its full name. This knowledge had probably been lost in time and the fact that there were once two “Old Nags Head”s also forgotten too. The number 163 is correct as that is the number of the Poacher today. As Ada remembers, beer was brewed on the premises and cost one and half old penny’s.
Alfred Blanksby died the following year. His death appeared in the notices of the Evening Post.
His wife Mary Jane Blanksby (I assume it to be her) took over the running of the pub and in 1892 applied for a wine license.
By 1899 the pub was up to let.
By 1889 it looks as though Mary Jane had remarried as she is referred to as Mary Jane Jennings in a transfer of license hearing. The music license was not renewed meaning it had one before so it’s nice to know that there was music being played there all those years ago. The transfer of license was to Thomas A. Wallace.
Thomas Wallace also applied for a wine license.
Mentioned again in the Notts Guardian.
Thomas Wallace wasn’t long in his position dying in 1901. It was passed on to his son Zilla Wallace.
Almost immediately Zilla passed the license on to William Hames. His name is spelt wrong as Hawes. In other notices he is named as Hames.
William Hames was to have a long run at the pub, almost twenty years. In the second reply to the Evening Post picture quiz of 1952 his daughter remembers more detail. She said he worked there for 25 years. If he retired in 1920 he would have only had a license for 19 years but it is likely he was working there before he took over.
Beer was still being brewed on the premises while William was there and Mrs M. Peeks remembers the front door being used as the entrance to the stabling. So, as the twentieth century dawned William Hames was in charge. He had an unopposed license hearing in 1908.
William often advertised for help.
Around 1920 William Hames passed on the pub to Albert Eite. It seems he decided to stop brewing on site as he advertised a grain sale.
By June, he decided to sell all the equipment.
Albert also advertised some “Eite’s Fettled Porter”. Maybe this was the last of his own brew.
Albert was also caught out by a conman.
The same story is repeated in the Nottm Journal.
In 1923 the pub was transferred from Albert Eite to J. Ferrill.
Just after the transfer a post for a missing dog was issued. Nell must have been the pub dog. The address is recorded as 163, the number it has today.
In 1924 the pub advertised for a pianist for Saturday evenings.
By 1933 there were some structural changes to the building.
In 1938 a presentation is made at the pub.
In 1939 the Old Grey Nags Head was part of another tale of woe.
In 1943 the pub was passed on from Vincent Staveley to Gertrude Staveley.
In 1966 the Old Grey Nags Head is robbed.
By 1970 Jack and Sylvia O’Grady were running the pub and in a tradition of those days, like many pubs and clubs, advertised Christmas greetings to their customers.
The pub carried on through the 1970’s and into the 1980’s when it finally closed down around 1987. I, myself, would have had the odd drink there when on a Mansfield road pub crawl but I have no memory of it.
It was this old pub that was targeted by Chris Holmes of Castle Rock Brewery to be a flagship establishment for the up and coming new wave of real ale drinkers.
List of some of the licensee’s for the Old Grey Nags Head
John Smith: 1825 – Nags Head – (Probably not a publican but the first beer seller around there)
Mary Ann Smith: 1851ish – Old Nags Head – (Took over when her husband died)
John Upton: 1860 – Old Grey Nags Head -1868ish (Probably took over Mary Ann Smith’s business)
James Cutts: 1871ish – Old Grey Nags Head
David Witham: 1876ish – Grey Nags Head (Possibly a mistake in directories or just operating under that name for a short time)
William Guyler: 1885ish. Possibly. Named as a victualler at that address (101).
Alfred Blanksby: 1888 – 1890
Mary Jane Blanksby (later Mary Jane Jennings): 1890 – 1899
Thomas A. Wallace: 1899 – 1901
Zilla B. Wallace: 1901
William Hames: 1901 – 1920
Albert Eite: 1920 – 1923
J. Ferrill: 1923 – ?
Vincent Rushton Staveley: 1928 – 1943
Gertrude Staveley: 1943 – 1956
Jack & Sylvia O’Grady: 1969 – 1974
1989 and the birth of the Lincolnshire Poacher.
In 1987 the “Old Grey Nags Head” was advertised for sale by Robert Clarke Commercial and Industrial.
In March 1989 an article appeared in the Evening Post that announced the proposed reopening of the “Old Grey Nags Head”. It was going to be given a new name but this hadn’t been decided yet. Chris Holmes (CAMRA) and Licensee Neil Kelso were going to be running it and Batemans beers were going to be sold there. Here it is mentioned that the Old Grey Nags Head had roots back in the 1830’s. The name change was to avoid confusion with the “Nags Head” across the road. Neil Kelso asked for help in deciding the name but added “not bar names like Dingleburys, Bilburys or Pilchards”. Now, there’s a name “Pilchards”.
A letter appeared in response to this article by a relative of a past licensee regretting there was to be a name change. While I agree about the history of the Old Grey Nags Head and there is always a sadness to the passing of time and events there comes a time when new history has to be written.
On June 9th 1989 an article in the Newark Advertiser declares the opening of “The Lincolnshire Poacher”. Dusty Hare (famed Rugby player) was to be the guest at the opening.
Another guest was Sylvia O’Grady who ran the pub from 1969 for fifteen years.
Even though the two articles above have different dates I presume the Poacher opened on Friday June 9th, 1989 as the Newark Advertiser article suggests. The steady rise of the Lincolnshire Poacher as a traditional drinking establishment without piped music and gambling machines, offering good beer, food and occasional live music, started from this day and over thirty years later is still thriving. Long may it do so.
More coming later……….
Two other pages about the Lincolnshire Poacher pub.