Roebuck Inn

Roebuck Inn

Address	Northgate
Postcode	BD17 6JZ
Building Date
Early Licence
Last Licence	Expired 16 June 1927
Brewery	Wm Whitaker & Co Ltd.
Photo
Open Street Map
Other Links	Google Maps

Between The Angel and The Malt Shovel and to the right of Lynton House (the building now - 2018 - occupied by Baildon Communication) there used to be The Roebuck Inn.

In the 19th century the Roebuck was kept by a family named Habisha and later one of the Hardaker family who lived at Bank Walk Farm. Even though there were large arched cellars under the Roebuck there was nothing to give a good indication of the date of the building.

Several licencees and owners are listed below. The Inn closed in 1927 though there is a little confusion as to the exact date. The Licence Register mentions a Notice of objection and the licence being refused in 1926, followed by it expiring on 16 June 1927.

Shipley Times and Express - Friday 12 March 1926

THREE LICENCES REFERRED.

BAILDON, GUISELEY AND YEADON INNS. 

Three licensed houses in the Wharfedale district were referred to the compensating authority by the Otley Licensing Justices at the adjourned Brewster Sessions at Otley last Friday. They were the Roebuck Inn, a fully licensed house at Baildon; the Cross Inn, beerhouse at Guiseley; and the New Inn, beerhouse ut Yeadon. In each case Police Superintendent Hodgson said that objection was taken on the grounds that the premised were structurally unsuitable and that the house was not necessary for the requirements the district. Roebuck Inn, Baildon. With regard to the Roebuck Inn at Baildou. Police-sergeant Taylor said it was old house fairly good structural condition, but windows were small and the place was not very well lig&ted. had visited the house numerous occasions, and found very few people there. The consumption was about one barrel beer per week and bottles of spirits. There were several other houses and clubs in the vicinity. The house was in the North Ward, where there was one licence for every 275 the inhabitants. Licensed houses in that locality were more numerous than in any other part of the township. The witness was cross-examined Mr. H. M. Dawson, on behalf Messrs. Whitaker's Brewery Company, and the licence was referred.

The building was then used as The Midland Bank. This has been demolished and business premises built called Airedale House, 15-17 Northgate. For a while this was offices for British Oxygen Company (BOC) but in 2017 it houses the Carpet Company, Baildon Travel and finesse a gift and card shop. In the photo the building that is just visible on the left is Lynton House, Baildon Communication, 19 Northgate. On the right is Pickles Deli in the Towngate Rooms/Liberal Club. And to the right of that the sign for The Angel is visible. We are then on to more recent buildings from the 1960s.

The Brewery History website lists Roebuck Inn as one of the pubs of William Brown & William Grisdale Barker with a date of 1889; this will be the Brown & Barker that is crossed out in the licence register. In the same section of the register Alfred Goldsborough, Baildon is also crossed out. Wm Whitaker & Co Ltd. is listed as the owner in this entry of the register, they merged with Brown & Barker in 1890. Alfred Goldsborough is listed as the owner in the earlier section.

There seems to be a dirth of photos of the Roebuck. Given that it closed in 1927 perhaps this is not surprising.

In 1959 Wm Whitaker & Co Ltd., Bradford were acquired by Joshua Tetley & Son Ltd with 119 houses of which the Roebuck Inn is listed as one. This probably means that the list of Whitaker Pubs was not updated following the closure of The Roebuck Inn.

If anyone has a photo of The Roebuck with suitable copyright that can go on here please let me know.

Licencees

Please read the page Licencees, sources for information about where a lot of the licencee names and owner names have come from.

Baines 1822 Directory lists Mary Kendall as victualler of The Roebuck Inn.

The 1841 Baildon Census lists Robert Kendall as living at the Roebuck. Robert also gets a mention in the Allotment of Pews, 1848.

The 1857 Post Office Directory for Yorkshire lists Wm. Habbeshaw at the Roebuck.

1870 - White's Directory 1870 lists Isaac H. Denby at the Roebuck Inn.

The Licence Register lists that on August 8 1879 Alfred Goldsborough was fined £1 with 15/- costs for permitting drunkenness on 29 July. This text is repeated in the next 3 sections for the Roebuck which covers up to 1899. Kelly's Directory has William Ravel, Roebuck Inn P.H., Northgate.

Shipley Times and Express - Friday 22 December 1905
BAILDON INNKEEPER CHARGED WITH DRUNKENNESS.

Thomas Hawke, the landlord of the Roebuck Inn, Baildon, was summoned for drunkenness, and was defended Mr. Alex. Neill, solicitor, Bradford.

Thomas Murphy, labourer, Shipley, stated that on the 6th inst., at 6 p.m.. he found defendant lying insensibly drunk in roadway at Baildon Green. Along with a man named Wm. Hollis, moulder. Bridge Street, Shipley, he took the defendant home. On the way defendant said: "I'm as drunk as pig." In answer to Mr. Neill, witness admitted that defendant also stated that he was ill.

P.C. Hall said he saw defendant at his home when he was lying across the kitchen floor helplessly drunk. Mr. Neill said this was case in which there was every appearance of drunkenness, but as a matter of fact the defendant had suffered from an attack of acute lumbago.

Defendant, in the witness-box, said he had previously been subject to attacks of similar character. He had only had two bottles beer on the day in question, and when arrived home had to go to bed and remain in bed for a week.

Joseph Moulson, landlord of the Cricketers' Arms. Baildon Green, said that in his house defendant had complained of illness.

Dr. Macvie, Baildon, said defendant was suffering from lumbago or muscular rheumatism  when he saw him on the 8th inst. Such an illness might attack a man without warning and render him incapable.

The case was dismissed, but the Chairman remarked that was very proper case for the police to have brought.

1872 to 1955

Summary of Register of Alehouse Licences granted in Otley for Angel Inn.
1872-1955.

Licencee	Date	Owner
Alfred Goldsborough	1872 Aug 30	Alfred Goldsborough, Northgate, Baildon
Joseph Mann	1881 Jan 28
Frederick Waller	1883 April 13
Charles Platts	1889 Nov 8	Brown & Barker
Wm. Revill	1892 Jan 8	Wm Whitaker & Co Ltd., Old Brewery, Bradford.
Alfred Pink(?) Perkins	1894 Aug 24
Joseph Mills	1895 Nov 1
Charlotte Mills	1900 Dec 7
Thomas Hawker	1903 Nov 6
Timothy Wilson	1907 Nov 1
Notice of objection given & License referred 5/3/26 License refused by Compensation Auty. 8/6/26 Compensation money paid 11th June 1927 and License expired 16 June 1927

fice Directory for Yorkshire lists Wm. Habbeshaw at the Roebuck.

The Licence Register lists that on August 8 1879 Alfred Goldsborough was fined £1 with 15/- costs for permitting drunkenness on 29 July. This text is repeated in the next 3 sections for the Roebuck which covers up to 1899. Kelly's Directory has William Ravel, Roebuck Inn P.H., Northgate.

Census Data

1841 Census, Roe Buck Inn, Northgate
Baildon District 7

Name	Age Male	Age Female	County born	Occupation
Robert Kendall	50		Yorkshire	Innkeeper
Alice Kendall		40	Yorkshire
John Kendall	21		Yorkshire	Barber
Mary Kendall		13	Yorkshire
Ann Kendall		10	Yorkshire

References