Gomersal

There are records of "Alehouse" licences having been granted as early as 1771, but unfortunately they did not name any of the premises or where they were located. As we research the area in more detail, we can hopefully start to identify these premises and those that have been identified have comments in brackets after their name.

The Gomersal district includes public houses also located in Birkenshaw and Birstall.

According to the register of alehouses of 1771, there were 9 recorded premises for the Gomersal area. Although none of the premises are named the names of the licence holders are as follows:

• William Brook

• Mary Fearnley (wid) - (Connected to The White Horse)

• John Gott

• Joshua Northorp

• John Preston 

• Samuel Stables

• Thomas Thompson

• Joseph Wilbie

• James Wilson

According to the register of alehouses of 1773, there were 9 recorded premises for the Gomersal area. Although none of the premises are named the names of the licence holders are as follows:

• William Brooke

• Thomas Conway

• John Gott

• Ben Lang (White Horse)

• Josephina Northorp

• John Preston

• Samuel Stables

• Thomas Thompson

• Joseph Wilby

According to the register of alehouses of 1778, there were 11 recorded premises for the Gomersal area. Although none of the premises are named the names of the licence holders are as follows:

• William Brooke

• John Gott

• James Holmes

• Benjamin Lang (White Horse)

• Jane Northorp (wid)

• John Ogden

• John Preston

• James Rhodes

• Jacob Sands

• Thomas Thompson

• Thomas Woodcock

According to the register of alehouses of 1781, there were 15 recorded premises for the Gomersal area. Although none of the premises are named the names of the licence holders are as follows:

• William Brooke

• Jeremiah Carter

• Thomas Davison

• John Denton

• Joseph Drake

• Ann Holmes

• Benjamin Lang (White Horse)

• Jane Northrop

• John Ogden

• Betty Preston

• James Rhodes

• Thomas Thompson

• Jacob Sands

• Thomas Warhirst

• Thomas Woodcock

According to the register of alehouses of 1803, there were 12 recorded premises for the Gomersal area. Although none of the premises are named the names of the licence holders are as follows:

• John Brooke

• Martha Carter

• Joseph Davidson

• David Hepworth

• John Kershaw

• Benjamin Lang (White Horse)

• Joseph Marsland

• James Naylor

• John Rhodes (Shoulder of Mutton)

• James Riley

• Benjamin Ross

• Thomas Wray

Various strays not yet identified:

6 Jun 1841 - Census entry - Little Gomersal. Premises not named
Ellen BALMFORTH  55  Publican (all born in Yorkshire)

Thomas BALMFORTH  15
Rachel BALMFORTH  15 

10 Sep 1849 - Court Case - William Woodhead of Little Gomersal was convicted of opening outside of permitted hours and was fined 10s and costs.

30 Mar 1851 - Census entry - Little Gomersal. Premises not named.
William WOODHEAD  Head  Wid  72  Beer house keeper  Birstal
Thomas WOODHEAD  Son  U  45  Clothier

30 Mar 1851 - Census entry - Little Gomersal. Premises not named.
Hannah WATSON  Head  M  43  Beerhouse keeper  Birstal
Walter WATSON  Son  10
Samuel BALMFORTH  Brother  36  Cloth dresser
John WRIGHT  Lodger  U  59  Clothier

30 Mar 1851 - Census entry - Hill Top. Premises not named (possibly Fox & Grapes with the Walker connection?)
Robert PARKINSON  Head  M  61  Innkeeper  Birstal
Hannah PARKINSON  Wife  M  58
Mary Ann WALKER  GrDau  U  17

1857 - Kelly's Post Office Directory lists Mrs Ellen Balmforth as a beer retailer at Little Gomersal. Premises are not named.

23 Aug 1869 - Brewster Sessions - Annual session for the granting and renewal of licences was held at Dewsbury. It being the first session in which the new Wine and Beer Act was put in force. The following were granted in the Gomersal  area:
Thomas Pace, Gomersal (prems not named?)

3 Jul 1871 - Licence Transfer - Beerhouse, Gomersal. Henry Thomas Walker to Joseph Clayton.

5 Apr 1891 - Census - Circular Buildings. Premises not named (is this The Fountain???)
James FOZZARD  Head  M  41  Innkeeper  Knottingley
Emma FOZZARD  Wife  M  41  Newland, Yks
Arthur FOZZARD  Son  13  Scholar  Knottingley
Frank FOZZARD  Son  9  Scholar  Featherstone
Florence FOZZARD  Dau  6