Round the history of town’s pubs
Saturday December 15, 2018
about their place in Leek.” Broken down into themed chapters, Neil’s book takes its time to focus on those pub artefacts we know so well, but perhaps don’t know the origins of.
He said: “Names and emblems on signs have always been a big part the identity of pubs. The need for these signs came mostly out of the fact that centuries ago many people could not read, and so required a way of identifying the pubs which were important meeting places.
“Many of the images used come from heraldry of noble deeds and the images associated with them. Hence the reason for names like the Golden Lion or Whiteheart.
“The other source is, of course, royalty, which is where the most popular pub name, the Red Lion, comes from. It was the badge of King James I (and VI of Scotland) who insisted on it being included in many pub signs.”
While some topics covered in the book are based on tangible items, there are others which cover darker themes that mirror issues still occuring today, namely excessive drinking and anti-social behaviour.
Neil said: “The way we drink today has been governed by legislation introduced almost 200 years ago.
“In 1830, as a result of the issues which came out of people drinking gin (which at that time meant any spirit made with grain), the government introduced the Beer House Act.
“This law meant the sale of gin was forbidden and people could brew at home, which led to many people opening up their houses to the public and eventually saw the number of pubs in places like Leek rocket.”
With about 24,000 new beerhouse licences being granted in just a few months following the introduction of the 1830 act, over the following decades many of these public houses, known as either small beer or Tom and Jerry shops, disintegrated into hangouts for criminals and, in some cases, brothels.
“With anti-social behaviour out of control, in 1869 the government introduced the Wine and Beer House Act which brought licensing back under the control of the local justices,” Neil said.
The book goes into great depth to discover the origins of pubs, but Neil also finds time to focus on more recent times around the pubs of Leek and issues the which have and continue to affect them. There is a chapter on pub collectibles, such as beer mats and bottles, and another in which he looks at the future of pubs.
Neil said: “People today think the pub industry is in decline simply because of the smoking ban and breathalysing, but it is more complex than that and still has much to do with the 1869 act.”
For those who read the book, Neil thinks there may be many surprises, even for those people who think they know about Leek pubs.
He said: “Leek’s most famous licensee, who rode in the Charge of Light Brigade on October 25, 1854 – Sergeant Major Allen – kept two pubs in Leek at different times, as well as being the drill instructor for the local yeomanry.
“Many people know about and have seen photographs of the Lord Raglan pub on the corner of Brook Street and Compton.
“Lord Raglan was the man who gave the order that resulted in Sergeant Major Allen and the rest of the 600 riding into the ‘Valley of Death’ (the Charge of the Light Brigade), but few probably know that there was a second Lord Raglan in Leek, or a second Roebuck.”
The book has been self-published and costs £15. It is only available direct from the author, who asks that people do not bother bookshops by asking for it at what is undoubtedly the busiest time of the year.
There will be plenty of opportunities, either before or after Christmas, to obtain copies at signing events, or alternatively by e-mail at neilcollingwood56@gmail.com