Pub – Crown Inn, Whitfield

Location: 142 Victoria Street, Whitfield

Opened: 1846

The Crown Inn is still open.

Text from ‘History in a Pint Pot’ by David Field. Published by Glossop & District Historical Society in May 1999.

Built in 1846 by John Hampson who applied for an alehouse licence the same year but was refused. Two years later his son George successfully applied remaining licensee for another 15 years. In the 1851 Census he was described as aged 29, an innkeeper with a wife, two children and a servant. In 1860 the Crown Perpetual Money Society was based there, two years later Mrs. Hannah Hampson was the licensee. She was followed by Samuel Pickford who was there in September 1863 when it was advertised “to let the Crown Inn, stable, coach house, brew house plus a few acres of land” apply to Hannah Hampson, John Hampson or Samuel Pickford. In the event William Nelson took over in December 1863 but it was back on the market in August 1865 when it was advertised “to let, apply William Nelson, Tintwistle” although he is mentioned in the local papers as still at the Crown Inn.

In 1869 the licensee Abel Harrison was host to a Flower and Vegetable Show run by the Horticulture Society of which he was treasurer. Five years later he left and went to the Station Hotel. He was followed by Richard Russell, who presented a Silver Cup valued at £20, to be shot for on Wakes Saturday by the Glossop Rifle Corp. He bought the Crown in 1876 from the Exhors. of John Hampson selling it two years later to the licensee George Farley who sold it on 22nd June 1890 to Chesters Brewery Company Ltd., the same year a Music and Dancing Licence was obtained although it was not till 1948 that this was allowed on a Sunday evening. In 1906 the Grand United Order of the Oddfellows Manor Lodge held meetings there with the landlord Fred Adshead as treasurer, there were 243 members. He was also treasurer of the Royal Ancient Order of Buffaloes Commercial Lodge who met there with 95 members.

Attempts were made again in 1928 to reduce the number of public houses in Glossop and the Crown was one of three who had their licence renewal deferred, all was well however and the licence was renewed.

One of the pubs longest serving landlords was Eric Redfern who came from the Oddfellows in Hyde, apart from War Service in the Marines when his wife Betsy took over he was licensee from 1939 to 1956.

As with other Chesters pubs it eventually passed to Whitbread who remained owners until 22nd April 1977 when it was sold to Samuel Smith’s Brewery the only Samuel Smith’s house in the Borough.

Post 1999 – The Crown Inn is still open. It has been designated as a pub of outstanding national historic importance by CAMRA, more information on their website.