The Story of the Two Old Grindstone Inns

Peter Spooner was a gentleman of fortune the son of William Spooner a local landowner. Peter seems
to have been full of his own importance, but mellowed with the years. In 1853 he married the beautiful
and accomplished Miss Speedy, in the Isle of Man.
On 18th May 1839 Spooner was a witness against George Hoyle of the South Sea Hotel, in a licensing
hearing alleging nuisance and opening out of hours. In 1842 Mr Spooner was a special constable for
Crookes Moor and in 1843 was a juror at the Spring Quarter Sessions (described as gentleman). At the
court sessions in January 1849 he complains that he has been put on the petit (traverse) jury and not the
grand jury when his income is 600 a year and lesser men than him are on the Grand Jury. In November
1849 Peter Spooner offered to pay to Frith the court clerk, 2s out of a 4s bill of his fathers (the cost of a
summons) and said he is poor so can only pay 2 shillings. In court, Mr Frith intimated a desire to have no
further intercourse with Mr Spooner. To his credit Spooner did later donate land for a chapel.
In 1841 Sarah Stead (45) originally from Wath, made a living as a farmers wife with her husband George
at Hallam Gate. George died in 1844.
In 1850 Sarah was a farmer at Crookes and had a number of geese and fowls stolen. In December of
that year her daughter Sarah married William Loxley of Crookes at Eldon Street Church. In the 1851
census Sarah Stead was recorded as a 57 year old widow and publican/farmer at the Grindstone Inn (this
would have been the first inn), with her 26 year old son Thomas and 22 year old son Henry.
A dispute had arisen because Mr Spooner who owned the first Grindstone thought that his tenants, the
Steads, who had run the pub for many years, ran a disorderly house, holding dog fights and rabbit
hunting. Spooner had a violent dispute with one of the Steads sons and tried to eject the family, who
refused to be moved. Spooner had to resort to an ejectment action in the York Nisi Prius Court on July 18
1852. This was agreed by the court but the ejectment was deferred until November of that year.
In June 1852 Sarah, noted as being the licensee of the Grindlecoke inn had been in court regarding the
alleged missing cover of a well in her field allowing a horse to fall in. A Grindlecoke was an old worn out
grindstone, often used for domestic purposes such as a foot-stool, seat or trivet so the Old in the pubs
name did not refer to the inn itself being old but to an old grindstone.
The Steads built and occupied a rival Grindstone across the road from the first, and a few yards further
towards Crookes. In September 1853 an application for a licence for the new Old Original Grindstone
was disputed. Sarahs application received many recommendations from locals including the overseers of
Ecclesall and Nether Hallam, and the only opposition was from Peter Spooner and the Don Brewery.
There were no reports of bad behaviour, there had been much housing built locally of late, and so the
licence for the new Old Original Grindstone was granted.
After the ejectment, Spooner put in place as licensee William Machin, commencing in December 1853
and Machin had about 50 to start up with, including fitting out the inn. Spooner advanced him loans
totalling 30 and Machin eventually owed Spooner an additional 50 in rent.
In April 1854 some bagatelle balls were stolen from the first Grindstone Tavern, the licensee William
Machin was a witness in court.
On June 7 1856, William Machin, labourer and publican of the Old Grindstone was having his first
examination for bankruptcy. His petition was opposed by Messrs. Smith and Redfern of the Don Brewery
and also by Messrs. Carter and Smith, brewers. Machins debts were 162 and he had no assets.
Spooner had advanced him loans totalling 30 and Machin eventually owed Spooner an additional 50 in
rent. Business was poor and Machin did not sell an eighteen gallon barrel a fortnight ( ie less than 10
pints a day). He wished he had been flogged along the streets with a cat-o-nine-tails instead of ever
going near the place. After examination of his financial transactions the petition was dismissed.
On May 10 1856 James Hoole placed an advert to let pasture next to his Old Grindstone Tavern (i.e. the
first). In June he advertised for cricketers for his team as he had laid new turf.
On May 13 1859 a licence for the Old Grindstone (presumably the second one, ie the Old Original
Grindstone) was transferred from Sarah Stead to her son-in-law William Loxley.
At the 1861 census Sarah was living at East Side of Crookes as a proprietoress of houses. The
adjacent entry was William Loxley (43) and his wife Sarah (39) occupation shop & Public House.

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On Jan 9 1863 Charles Lawton, victualler and quarryman of the (first) Grindstone was in the bankruptcy
court for examination. On May 16 1863 the transfer of licence took place from the assignees of Charles
Lawton to James Morton a farm labourer from Bradfield.
On May 4 1877 Sarah Loxley of the Old Original Grindstone was fined 20s for serving after closing time,
and had been previously been in trouble for offences against the Licensing Act.
In November 1878 the Old Original Grindstone was in the hands of Mr Gomersall, who advertised a
Pigeon Shooting Leger.
No doubt this type of story explains why there are public houses with the same name within yards of each
other.

1890 Map

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The Old Original Grindstone

The Old Original Grindstone after demolition has begun 20 th May 1968

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