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

[NNR]

Comparing the photos with the street map link I see that not only did James' pub survive, but it is incorporated into the main (cental) part of the Masonic Hall! They've even still kept the lantern above the door!

[bykerlads]

Just had a quick glance at the slides. My family are Holmfirthers (and Underbankers) going back hundreds of years, so many would have been around the village in the heyday of Bamforths. I wonder if any are pictured on the slides. Sadly, I've no way of knowing.
Regarding the pub at the bottom of Rotcher- could it have been what is now called the Nook?

[josey]

Isn't that pub's official name The Rose & Crown? I should think it's address is Towngate. I think the Princess Royal is more likely to be Rotcher cafe now.

Josey [a modern incomer sorry comer-in Holmfirther]

[bykerlads]

When I was  child, 1950's, the Rotcher Cafe was a painter&decorators shop, Hogleys ( Mr & Mrs Hogley were also teachers at Holmfirth Methodist Sunday School).
I'll ask my mum, born late 1920's at nearby New Fold, if she knows where the Princess Mary pub was.
I have gained the impression that there were a huge number of beerhouses, pubs, inns in the locality in the 1800's/ earlt 20thC. Often set up as a bit of a sideline in folks' houses and positioned to provide refreshment to workers who often had to walk several miles to and from the textile mills in the valleys.Hence the habit that wives had of waiting at the mill gates on payday to collect housekeeping money from their menfolk...

[bykerlads]

PS- the small separate building on the left of the photo of the bottom of Rotcher, now evidently a Cobblers, used to be a tripe shop - as kids we would never go anywhere near it, with its array of entrails, stomach-linings and dubious-looking tubes!

[bykerlads]

Have had a look  at the 1881 & 1891 census- you have James at the Princess Royal Beerhouse followed by 3 dwellings at Rotcher, then it goes down onto Hollowgate.
On the previous page there is the Shoulder of Mutton and the the Ring o' Bells(landlord 1881 John Bray) Ribbleden - any pub or building which could have been the Nook/Rose&Crown seems absent.
The Shoulder is still there today. Nook being between Rotcher and Shoulder.
 There are only 3 old dwellings at the bottom of Rotcher ( see photo on Stephen's link), so I'm wondering where the PR beerhouse was exactly? Could have been the Nook/R&C but I've no idea about the history of this pub but the building is very old.

[NNR]

Bykerlads - I agree with Josey that the Princess Royal was on the site that's now the Rotcher cafe. The Nook (aka R&C) has been on that site since at least the 1861 census as far as I'm aware.

Interesting about the Ring O'Bells (landlord John Bray). There was a John who was James' brother. I know he did own pubs at one time. I wonder if the R O'B was one of his?

[bykerlads]

Stephen- I can't seem to find the Rose and Crown on the 1881 census. Can you point me in the right direction please? I'd expect to find it somewhere between Rotcher and Shoulder of Mutton, Ribbleden but am unsure of exactly what order the census takers did their recording.

[libby9]

I was raised in Holmfirth AND lived in a pub, not the one being discussed here, but I do agree with bykerlads post, e.g. it could have been what is affectionately now known as 'The Nook'

On the previous page there is the Shoulder of Mutton and the the Ring o' Bells(landlord 1881 John Bray) Ribbleden - any pub or building which could have been the Nook/Rose&Crown seems absent.
The Shoulder is still there today. Nook being between Rotcher and Shoulder.