Commercial Inn

The premises do not seem to appear in any newspaper articles prior to 1840, but it might well have previously been named The Spotted Cow! There is no hard evidence to prove this, but the reasoning behind this being that are a couple of references to the Spotted Cow that can be seen below:

19 Jan 1833 - Inquest - Held at the Spotted Cow, Cleckheaton (no other details).

1834 - Pigot's Trade Directory - Spotted Cow, Cleckheaton. Landlord recorded as Thomas Fawthrop.

Frank Peel also mentions Thomas "Fawthorp" in his book Spen Valley Past & Present, as being the landlord of the Commercial, which adds some clout to the theory.  

The name Thomas Fawthrop could be quite significant, as in the 1841 Census, the Commercial Inn has an address known as "Fawthorp's Yard" adjacent to it. Also see the article dated 1845 below regarding Thomas Fawthrop and his "party" at the Commercial. Coincidence? ...You decide!

The Commercial Inn is still going strong today. 

3 Dec 1840 - Licence Transfer - From Thomas Pickles of the Commercial Inn, Cleckheaton to Edward Stead, cardmaker.

1841 - Trade Directory - Pigot & Co., National & Commercial Directory records Edward Stead at the Commercial

6 Jun 1841 - Census entry - Town End, Cleckheaton. Premises not named but evidence suggests it was here.
Edward STEAD  55  Publican (all born in Yorkshire)

Martha STEAD  50

Eliza STEAD  20

Ann STEAD  20
Henry CHASTER  20  Currier 

Nov 1845 - Party time! - A Cleckheaton road surveyor called Thomas Fawthrop stumbles on a much needed fresh water supply for the town (not known where). As a result, the townsfolk held a tea party at The Commercial Inn and pulled him around the town in a carriage with music and fireworks to honour his find.

5 Jul 1847 - Property Auction - Landlord recorded as Edward Stead

30 Mar 1851 - Census entry - Main Street, Cleckheaton. Premises not named but evidence suggests it was here.
Edward STEAD  Head  Wid  64  Innkeeper  York

Samuel STEAD  Son  U  26  Druggist  Liversedge

Ann STEAD  Dau  U  28  Barmaid (erased)  Clifton

Thomas HUGHSON  Lodger  M  59  Musician  Detroit

John BATESON  Lodger  M  25  Comedian  Glasgow

Henry  WILLIAMS  Lodger  U  19  Labourer  Bermuda
Selina GLARES?  Serv  16  House servant  Sheffield 

20 Apr 1854 - Death Notice - Mr. Edward Stead, aged 68, of the Commercial Inn, Cleckheaton.

31 Jul 1854 - Newspaper Article - Anniversary celebrations by the Village Pride Lodge were held at the Commercial Inn. John Morton recorded as the landlord.

1857 - Kelly's Post Office Directory lists John Morton at the Commercial Inn, Market Place.

2 Dec 1858 - Licence Transfer - From Mrs Fawthrop, Commercial Inn, Cleckheaton to Benjamin Robinson.

7 Apr 1861 - Census entry - Main Street, Cleckheaton. Premises not named but evidence suggests it was here.
Benjamin ROBINSON  Head  M  31  Licensed victualler  Brighouse

Elizabeth ROBINSON  Wife  M  28  Rochdale

Phillip ROBINSON  Son  6  Scholar  Cleckheaton

Edward ROBINSON  Son  4  Scholar

William ROBINSON  Son  2  Scholar

Benjamin ROBINSON  Son  1

Emma SELLARS  Serv  U  24
Annis MIDGLEY  Serv  11 

2 Apr 1871 - Census entry - Commercial Inn, Cleckheaton.
Benjn ROBINSON  Head  M  41  Innkeeper  Brighouse

Elizabeth ROBINSON  Wife  M  33  Rochdale

Philip ROBINSON  Son  16  Solicitor's general clerk  Cleckheaton

Edward ROBINSON  Son  14  Printer

William ROBINSON  Son  12  Compositor

Benjamin ROBINSON  Son  10  Scholar

Alice ROBINSON  Dau  9  Scholar

Leonard ROBINSON  Son  7  Scholar

Mary ROBINSON  Dau  5  Scholar

Sam ROBINSON  Son  3  Scholar

David ROBINSON  Son  2

Ellen ROBINSON  Dau  3m

Mary RILEY  Serv  28  Domestic  Huddersfield
Henrietta TURNER  Boarder  23  Professional  Manchester 

14 May 1879 - Property Auction - Held at the Royal Hotel, Cleckheaton. One of the Lots is the Commercial Inn which is described as having a basement with brewhouse and spacious cellaring. On the first floor; a commercial room, sitting bar, tap room and Kitchen. On the second floor; a large lodge room with sitting or ante-room adjoining, bedroom and spacious landing. On the third floor; large lodge room, capable of accommodating 200 persons, and three bedrooms.

Oct 1880 - Brewery - Acquired by Thomas Ramsden & Son.

3 Apr 1881 - Census entry - Commercial Inn, Commercial Street.
Arthur E SHEPHERD  Head  M  38  Licensed victular  Luton
Mary SHEPHERD  Wife  M  32  Heckmondwike
Clara ROBINSON  Dau  13  Scholar
William ROBINSON  Son  10  Scholar
David ROBINSON  Son  8  Scholar
Charles WARMSLEY  Serv  U  21  Potman  Cleckheaton
Eliza HULLER  Serv  U  20  General servant  Wibsey

5 Apr 1891 - Census entry - Commercial Hotel, Bradford Road.
Priestley A BENTLEY  Head  M  31  Licensed victualler  Birstall
Ada BENTLEY  Wife  M  31  Batley
George BENTLEY  Son  10  Scholar  Birstall
Benjamin BENTLEY  Son  8  Scholar
Frederick BENTLEY  Son  5  Scholar
Harry BENTLEY  Son  4  Scholar
Annie M COLLEY  Serv  U  20  General servant  Glasshoughton
Kate CANNON  Serv  U  20  General servant  Pottrington
Hannah FAWCETT  Serv  Wid  52  Monthly nurse  Gomersal

31 Mar 1901 - Census entry - Commercial Hotel, Bradford Road.
Priestley A BENTLEY  Head  M  41  Licensed victualler  Birstal
Ada BENTLEY  Wife  M  41  Batley
Geo BENTLEY  Son  U  20  Post Office clerk  Birstal
Benjn BENTLEY  Son  U  18  Plumber
Fred H BENTLEY  Son  16  Electric engineer
Harry BENTLEY  Son  14
Annie CANNON  23  Domestic servant  Kingston on Hull
Sarah ATKINSON  21  Domestic servant  Goole

2 Apr 1911 - Census entry - Commercial Inn, Bradford Road.
Joseph BARRON  Head  M  42  Publican  Halifax
Lily BARRON  Wife  M  43  (9y, 1/1)  Assisting in business
Phyllis May BARRON  Dau  3
Elizabeth FELLS  Serv  U  19  DOmestic service  Rotherham
Florence FELLS  Serv  U  18  DOmestic service

1920 - Electoral Register - Commercial Inn, Bradford Road. Occupants recorded as Joseph & Lily Barron

19 Jun 1921 - Census entry - Commercial Hotel (4 rooms)
Joseph BARRON  Head  M  52y 11m, Stainland, Innkeeper (OA), At home
Lily BARRON  Wife  M  53y 7m, Barkisland, House duties
Phyllis M BARRON  Dau  14y 1m, House duties

1925 - Electoral Register - Commercial Inn, Bradford Road. Occupants recorded as Joseph & Lily Barron

1930 - Electoral Register - Commercial Inn, Bradford Road. Occupants recorded as Joseph, Lily & Phyllis Barron

1935 - Electoral Register - Commercial Hotel, Bradford Road. Occupants recorded as John & Eliza Earls, May Cuttle, Constance May Sutton, Robert Arthur Peel, George Edward Pickersgill & Lennox Broome.

29 Sep 1939 - 1939 Register entry - Commercial Hotel, Bradford Road.
John EARLS  b. 17 Sep 1880  M  Hotel proprietor
Eliza EARLS  b. 17 Apr 1879  M  Unpaid domestic duties
Constance M SUTTON  b. 15 Sep 1917  S  Barmaid
Mary J HIRST  b. 27 Mar 1925  S  Domestic servant (later married names Stead & Wilson)
Emily A HIRST  b. 16 Mar 1924  S  Domestic servant

1940 - Electoral Register - Commercial Hotel, Bradford Road. Occupants recorded as John & Eliza Earls and Constance May Sutton.

1948 - Electoral Register -  Commercial Hotel, Bradford Road. Occupants recorded as Lewis Hoyle, Sarah Kate Kelly, Herbert A F Hammond & Clifford W Sharp.