The George Hotel

One of the oldest pubs in Cleckheaton and steeped in history. Originally started it's life as "The Nag's Head" and is located overlooking "The Green" or nowadays known as the Memorial Park in the centre of the town.  There is no known exact date when the premises came to be, but it can be estimated as being in the latter part of the 1700's. This being based on the birth date of the man who built it, Mr Yates, being 1751. It became known as The George at some point in the late 1830s.

During the Luddite attacks of 1812, soldiers were stationed at the Nag's Head. 

The Nag's Head was also a "stopping station" for coaches from other parts of the county. It was an ideally situated location on the main turnpike roads between Leeds and Elland and also from Dewsbury to Bradford.

7 Jun 1802 - Newspaper Archives - Land enclosure article, landlord recorded as Richard Waite

19 Mar 1804 - Newspaper Archives - Machinery auction - landlord recorded as John Waite

19 Jun 1806 - Auction at the Nag's Head Inn, Cleckheaton, by order of the assignees of Jonas Yates, a bankrupt. Lot 1 is described as follows: Newly erected capital messuage or tenement, now used as a public house known as the Nag's Head, with brewhouse, stables and other convenience now occupied by Mr Waite. Also two parcels of land adjoining containing 2r 7p now in the possession of the said Richard Waite and Jonas Yates.

26 Feb 1814 - Newspaper archives - Auction of St. Peg Mill - landlord recorded as William Ledgard

1822 - Baines Trade Directory - Nag's Head, Cleckheaton. Landlord recorded as William Jackson.

17 Jul 1823 - Newspaper Archives - Property auction - landlord recorded as John Chadwick

1828 - Pigot's Trade Directory - Nag's Head, Cleckheaton. Landlord recorded as John Chadwick

1834 - Pigot's Trade Directory - Nag's Head, Cleckheaton. Landlord recorded as John Chadwick.

10 Dec 1836 - Newspaper Article - To be Let - All that commodious and well-accustomed Inn, known by the sign of "The Nag's Head", with stables, brewhouse, garden, croft and other conveniences adjoining, now in the occupation of John Chadwick.

4 Jun 1838 - Property Auction - Held at the Nag's Head, house of James Grimshaw.

3 Dec 1840 - Licence Transfer - Thomas Pickles of the George Inn, Cleckheaton to James Grimshaw (believed this should be the other way round. See below).

1841 - Trade Directory - Pigot & Co., National & Commercial Directory records Thomas Pickles at the George Inn

30 Jan 1841 - Newspaper Article - Thomas Pickles announces that he has taken and occupied premises known as the Nag's Head but now the George Inn, lately occupied by Mr. Grimshaw. He has completed extensive alterations for the better accommodation of commercial gentlemen and families. The premises have good and extensive stables and lock-up coach and gig house.

6 Jun 1841 - Census entry - The Green, Cleckheaton. Premises not named but evidence suggests it was here.
Thomas PICKLES  75  Innkeeper (all born in Yorkshire)

Mary PICKLES  75

Thomas PICKLES  35

Elizabeth PICKLES  40

Hannah PICKLES  30

Sarah PICKLE  25

Thomas PICKLES  15
Mary PICKLES  11 

1 May 1843 - Property Auction - Part of several lots, the pub itself goes under the hammer and is described as a large and commodious inn or public house, with spacious concert room, coach house, stabling, brewhouse and other out-buildings and conveniences, together with yard, garden and croft adjoining. The concert room is 20 yards by 8 and the whole of the premises are fitted up with fixtures and every convenience for carrying on the business to advantage.

30 Mar 1851 - Census entry - George Hotel, Cleckheaton.
John WILKINSON  Head  M  35  Innkeeper  Wike

Mary WILKINSON  Wife  M  26  Ovenden

Sarah WILKINSON  Dau  4  Scholar  Wike

Martha WILKINSON  Visitor  U  26  Dressmaker

James WILKINSON  Serv  M  38  Labourer

Alice WHITELEY  Serv  U  20  House servant  Clifton

Elizabeth SYKES  Serv  U  18  House servant  Mirfield
John ACKRILL  Visitor  U  27  Officer of Inland Revenue  Beverley 

31 Oct 1853 - Property Auction. Large number of properties for auction under George Booth's Will. Landlord recorded as John Wilkinson.

1857 - Kelly's Post Office Directory lists John Wilkinson at the George Hotel, The Green.

7 Apr 1861 - Census entry - Green, Cleckheaton. Premises not named but evidence suggests it was here.
John WILKINSON  Head  M  46  Innkeeper  Wike

Mary WILKINSON  Wife  M  35  Illingworth

Sarah WILKINSON  Dau  14  Scholar  Wike

Anne WILKINSON  Dau  3  Cleckheaton

Adelaide WILKINSON  Dau  11m

Susannah HAIGH  Visitor  Wid  70  Southowram

George WEBSTER  Serv  U  37  Hostler  Hightown

Maria BALMFORTH  Serv  U  22  Bar maid  Liversedge

Ann CLAPTON  Serv  U  22  Kitchen maid  Horbury

Joseph RAMSDEN  Boarder  U  25  Wheelwright  Liversedge

George BECKWORTH  Lodger  M  47  Wheelwright  Woodhouse
John ABRAMS  Traveller  15  York 

24 Aug 1868 - Property Auction. Sale of various properties in Cleckheaton. Landlord recorded as John Wilkinson.

2 Apr 1871 - Census entry - George Hotel, Westgate.
John WILKINSON  Head  M  55  Licensed victualler  Wyke

Mary WILKINSON  Wife  M  45  Ovenden

Annie WILKINSON  Dau  13  Cleckheaton

Adelaide WILKINSON  Dau  10  Scholar

Edwin BLAMIRES  Serv  U  22  Ostler & brewer's asst  Hartshead

Josephine KIRKALDY  Serv  U  18  General servant domestic  Leeds
T EVEREST  Lodger  35 (other details unknown) 

3 Apr 1881 - Census entry - George Hotel, Green Side, Cleckheaton.
Susannah ALDERSON  Head  Wid  50  Licensed victualler  Cleckheaton
Walter ALDERSON  Son  U  24  Assistant to victualler
Lucy ALDERSON  Dau  U  22  Assistant to victualler
Jane WARD  Serv  Wid  49  Cook domestic servant  Sedburgh
Marion RAE  Serv  U  21  General servant domestic  Scotland
James Henry CROWTHER  Serv  U  17  Ostler domestic  Liversedge
Emil HONNEGGER  Boarder  U  22  Manufacturer  Rute?, Zurich, Switzerland

5 Apr 1891 - Census entry - George Hotel, Cleckheaton.
Susannah ALDERSON  Head  Wid  60  Hotel proprietress  Cleckheaton
Fred ROUSE  Son-in-law  M  33  Stone merchant  Liversedge
Lucy ROUSE  Dau  M  32  Living on means  Cleckheaton
Bertha ROUSE  GrDau  4  Liversedge
Emily ROUSE  GrDau  3
Lilian ROUSE  GrDau  10m  Cleckheaton
Maud POULTER  Serv  U  23  Domestic servant  Sherburn
Minnie SYKES  Serv  U  22  Domestic servant  Leeds
Louisa SYKES  Serv  U  17  Domestic servant  Crofton

9 Mar 1899 - Probate - Robert Tordoff of the George Hotel, Cleckheaton died 17 Jan 1899 and left an estate valued at £729.

31 Mar 1901 - Census entry - George Hotel, Elland Road, Cleckheaton.
Mary TORDOFF  Head  Wid  59  Hotel manageress  Scholes, Holmfirth
Joseph TORDOFF  Son  M  26  Butcher  Pudsey
Sarah CATTERICK  Dau  M  23
Frank CATTERICK  Son-in-law  M  28  Horse collar maker  Catterick Bridge
Mary A TORDOFF  Dau-in-law  M  23  Cleckheaton
Lena TORDOFF  GrDau  7  Horsforth
George T CATTERICK  GrSon  2  Cleckheaton
Albert TORDOFF  GrSon  3  Pudsey
Walter TORDOFF  GrSon  2
Delia McGROUGH  U  21  Burton on Trent, Staffs
Florence A KAYE  U  20  Huddersfield

Oct 1906 - Brewery - Acquired by Richard Whitaker & Sons.

2 Apr 1911 - Census entry - George Hotel, Cleckheaton (16 rooms)
George SCHOFIELD  Head  (M)  40  Hotel keeper  Cleckheaton
Ellen SCHOFIELD  Wife  M  39  (7y, 1/1)  Low Moor
Jack SCHOFIELD  Son  6  School  Cleckheaton
Lucy ROBINSON  Boarder  8  School  Gomersal
Lizzie SMITH  Serv  U  24  General servant  Glasshoughton

1920 - Electoral Register - George Hotel, Market Street. Occupants recorded as Joseph Samuel & Annie Thompson.

19 Jun 1921 - Census entry - George Hotel (20 rooms)
Joseph S THOMPSON  Head  M  40y 10m, Sowerby Bridge, Hotel manager, R Whittaker & Sons Ltd. Brewers, Halifax, George Hotel, Cleck.
Annie THOMPSON  Wife  M  44y 6m, Eggleston, Durham, Hotel manageress, as above
Lena THOMPSON  Dau  14y 9m, Halifax
Martha WHITE  Visitor  U  32y 7m, Egglestone, Durham, Dressmaker, R Needham & Sons drapers, Crown Street, Halifax
John DAGOSTINE  Servant  Wid  63y 9m, Italy, Household duties for head

1925 - Electoral Register - George Hotel, Market Street. Occupants recorded as Joseph Samuel & Annie Thompson (Joseph later takes on the Richardson's Arms).

1930 - Electoral Register - George Hotel, Market Street. Occupants recorded as George & Mary Lindis Reed, Isobel Dalia Smith and James Atherton.

1935 - Electoral Register - George Hotel, Market Street. Occupants recorded as William Henry & Agnes May Batty, John Horsfall, Mary Moisley, Florence Church and William Nicholson.

24 Nov 1938 - Court Case - John William Smith, licensee of the George Hotel, Cleckheaton was found guilty of unlawfully managing a gaming house and was fined £5.

29 Sep 1939 - 1939 Register entry - George Hotel, Market Street.
Thomas BOYNTON  b. 4 Jul 1909  M  Hotel manager
Evelyn BOYNTON  b. 23 May 1914  M  Unpaid domestic duties
<1 closed record>
Glenis A BOYNTON  b. 28 Jun 1936  Under school age
Anne MARTLEY  b. 22 Jan 1916  S  Barmaid (later married name Groom)

1940 - Electoral Register - George Hotel, Market Street. Occupants recorded as John William & Emily Smith, George Edward Nicholson and Ann Hartley.

1945 - Electoral Register - George Hotel, Market Street. Occupants recorded as Ernest & Ada Godwin.

1948 - Electoral Register - George Hotel, Market Street, Cleckheaton - Occupants recorded as Ronald & Annie Smith

1967 - An advert in the local paper gives the proprietors as W & H Hunt, offering luncheons between 12 & 2 and catering for weddings, dinners and special occasions. The phone number at this time was Cleckheaton 3185.