Holmfirth pubs - Princess Royal (Rotcher Road) and Druid’s Hotel

[libby9]

An enumerator travelling from the bottom of Dunford Road and into Rotcher would surely pass, and therefore be responsible for collecting census forms from The Rose and Crown (as known today, or 'Nook'), the Nook is an old building which would definitely have been there in 1881. I cannot see how The Rose and Crown could have been in the book of another enumerator.

[bykerlads]

Yes, that was my thought, Libby ie that the Rose/Nook would have been recorded between the Shoulder and the bottom of Rotcher. So I was puzzled as to where is was on 1881 census.
I did ask my mum if she recalled a pub called the Princess Royal in the 1930's but she did not- she only remembered that as children they never ventured into the area around the current Nook, as it was dark, dirty and full of "rough, drunk" types.

[NNR]

With regards to the rose & Crown, Holmfirth street directories have it in its current location as early as 1847. My ancestor lived above it in 1861.

[libby9]

With regards to the rose & Crown, Holmfirth street directories have it in its current location as early as 1847. My ancestor lived above it in 1861.

Well how odd!  The 1901 census has 'Princess Royal' Victoria Square, RG13 piece 4096 folio 41 page 1

NO other pub there!?!?

The following census names the Pub 'Rose and Crown.

Perhaps the establishment changed it's name backwards and forwards over the decades?!?!

Whatever, I'm absolutely convinced that the Princess Royal and Rose and Crown are one and the same place, all available evidence suggests this.

[libby9]

the Princess Royal on Rotcher Road (1880s-1890s)

#1

So, the Princess Royal wasn't on Rotcher Road exactly by address, but in Victoria Square.  Has to be the Rose and Crown, maybe your ancestor changed it's name and later another Innkeeper changed it back to it's original name? 

by 1891, is working as a beer seller at the Princess Royal beerhouse at the bottom end of Rotcher Road  opposite Victoria Square

  From where did you glean this exact location?  The 1901 census states address as Victoria Square, as opposed to opposite Victoria Square.

[libby9]

My only other explanation is: the 'Princess Royal wasn't an Inn, but a beer seller's establishment - of which there were many in the 19th century - BUT if that's the case where was the Rose and Crown on census 1891 and 1901?  Seems odd don't you agree that the 'Princess Royal' can be found in 1891 and 1901, cannot be found in later census, but the Rose and Crown IS on the 1911 census, however the Princess Royal isn't!

Your call Stephen, we can merely help with evidence found, up to you to evaluate the evidence - but I know how I'd interpret it.

[bykerlads]

It seems odd that the Rose & Crown and the Princess Royal are never to be seen on the same census return - when one is recorded the other is not.
Nowadays the R&C is also called the Nook. I wonder if the tradition of dual names/name swopping for that pub started much earlier ?
If it ever stops raining here, I'll pop over to Holmfirth and have a look around and refresh my memory of what that little area looks like.

[NNR]

Hi! Am fairly sure I took the 1891 info about the Royal being on Rotcher Road from the census page. Happy to be corrected tho!

I think we need someone with access to Huddersfield area street directories to take a few years between 1850 and 1920 and see which pubs are in Victoria Sq. and which on Rotcher Rd (if any!)

[josey]

Would the archived street directories be at Huddersfield Library?

ADDED: There is a list of those held at
http://www.calderdale.gov.uk/leisure/localhistory/local-studies/directories.html