The Old Saw

Dating back to the 18th century and located on what was the main Leeds to Elland turnpike road...now known as Spen Lane. Was allegedly named after one of the occupants who was a sawyer by trade. As can be seen from this map from 1854 the original premises were much lower down Spen Lane than it's present location, which are both arrowed on the image. It is not known, at this stage, when the premises moved further up the road.

6 Jun 1841 - Census entry - Spen, Gomersal. Premises not named but believed to be here. In 1839, Thomas Hardill's daughter, Priscilla, married at Birstall and names her father as Thomas Hardill, Innkeeper. Her address is just given as Gomersal.
Thomas HARDHILL  45  Cloth dresser  (all born in Yorkshire)
Mary HARDHILL  45
Martha HARDHILL  15
Thomas HARDHILL  14  Cloth dresser
Wm HARDHILL  12  Cloth dresser
Mary HARDHILL  9

30 Mar 1851 - Census entry - Saw Inn, Spen.
Thos HARDHILL  Head  M  66  Innkeeper  Birkenshaw
Mary HARDHILL  Wife  M  64  Innkeeper  Huddersfield
Thos HARDHILL  Son  U  26  Joiner J
Mary HARDHILL  Dau  U  18  Dressmaker

4 Apr 1856 - Inquest - Landlord recorded as Thomas Hardill.

1857 - Kelly's Post Office Directory lists Thomas Hardhill at the Saw Inn, Spen.

7 Apr 1861 - Census entry - Spen Lane, Gomersal. Premises not named but evidence suggests it was here.
Thomas HARDILL  Head  Wid  76  Innkeeper  Birkenshaw
Thomas KERSHAW  Son-in-law  M  31  Stone mason  Gomersal
Mary KERSHAW  Dau  M  29  Bradley
William KERSHAW  GrSon  5  Scholar  Gomersal
Ann ROCKIT  Serv  U  19  Kitchen maid  Normington

26 Feb 1866 - Probate Calendar - The Will of Thomas Hardile (sic), late of Spen, innkeeper, was proved at Wakefield. He left effects valued at under £200.

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 licence for Joseph Lang of the Old Saw Inn was granted without any objection.

2 Apr 1871 - Census entry - Old Saw Inn, Spen Lane.
Joseph LANG  Head  M  56  Innkeeper and butcher  Gomersal
Priscilla LANG  Wife  M  55  Bradley
Hannah LANG  Dau  U  21  Stuff weaver  Gomersal
Nancy LANG  Dau  U  18  Stuff weaver
Lydia LANG  Dau  15  Domestic servant
Sarah LANG  Dau  12  Scholar
Mary KERSHAW  Lodger  Wid  38  Annuitant  Bradley
William KERSHAW  Lodger's son  15  Card maker  Spen
Annie KERSHAW  Lodger's dau  11  Scholar
Bessy LANG  Lodger's dau  10  Scholar
(NB - Priscilla Lang & Mary Kershaw being the daughters of the earlier mentioned Thomas Hardill)

26 Jun 1875 - Inquest - Landlord recorded as Joseph Lang.

22 Apr 1880 - Inquest - Landlord recorded as Joseph Lang.

3 Apr 1881 - Census entry - Old Saw, Upper Spen.
Joseph LANG  Head  M  66  Innkeeper  Gomersal
Priscilla LANG  Wife  M  65  Huddersfield
Nancy LANG  Dau  U  27  Worsted weaver  Gomersal
Lydia LANG  Dau  U  25  Stocking weaver
Bessie LANG  Dau  U  20  Milliner

5 Apr 1891 - Census entry - Old Saw Inn, Spen.
Joseph LANG  Head  M  75  Innkeeper  Spen
Priscilla LANG  Wife  M  75  Bradley
Nancy LANG  Dau  U  37  Dressmaker assistant  Gomersal
Lydia LANG  Dau  U  35  Servant in house
Sarah LANG  Dau  U  32  Dressmaker

6 May 1895 - Licensing Register - Transfer of licence from Joseph Lang to Priscilla Lang.

6 Mar 1899 - Licensing Register - Transfer of licence from Priscilla Lang to Nancy Lang.

1 May 1899 - Licensing Register - Transfer of licence from Nancy Lang to David Holdsworth Stott.

31 Mar 1901 - Census entry - Old Saw, Spen.
David H STOTT  Head  M  45  Innkeeper  Hartshead
Hannah STOTT  Wife  M  33  Gomersal
Annie STOTT  Dau  8  Sowerby
Harry STOTT  Son  6

1 Aug 1910 - Licensing Register - Transfer of licence from David Holdsworth Stott to Luther Kemp.

Jul 1910 - Brewery - Acquired by Joshua Tetley & Son.

2 Apr 1911 - Census entry - Spen Lane, Gomersal (6 rooms). Premises not named but evidence suggests it was here.
Luther KEMP  Head  M  37  Publican  Cleckheaton
S H KEMP  Wife  M  39  (13, 2/2)  Ossett
Cecil Squire KEMP  Son  6  School
John E O KEMP  Son  7  School
Ivy LEAF  Serv  16  Servant domestic  York

2 Feb 1914 - Licensing Register - Transfer of licence from Luther Kemp to John William Robert Mitchell.

7 Dec 1914 - Licensing Register - Transfer of licence from John William Robert Mitchell to George Henry Fawthrop.

4 Oct 1915 - Licensing Register - Transfer of licence from George Henry Fawthrop to John Slater Watts.

4 Oct 1916 - Licensing Register - Transfer of licence from John Slater Watts to Fannie Watts. (transferred to his wife due to war service)

5 Feb 1917 - Licensing Register - Transfer of licence from Fannie Watts to Arthur B Drury.

14 Jun 1917 - Licensing Register - Transfer of licence from Arthur B Drury to Minnie Parton Drury. (transferred to his wife due to war service)

19 Jun 1921 - Census entry - 154 Spen, Gomersal (6 rooms). Premises not named but evidence suggests it was here.
Arthur B DRURY  Head  M  43y 4m, Liverpool,  Innkeeper (OA)
Minnie P DRURY  Wife  M  34y 10m, Leeds
Basil DRURY  Son  10y 10m, Leeds,  School whole time
Gerald DRURY  Son  3y 11m, Gomersal

7 Mar 1927 - Licensing Register - Transfer of licence from Minnie Parton Drury to Ben Wilkinson.

1 Jun 1931 - Licensing Register - Transfer of licence from Ben Wilkinson to George Laycock.

4 May 1934 - Licence Extension request at Dewsbury Magistrates. Licensee of the Old Saw Inn, George Laycock applied for extended selling hours for Whit Tuesday, due to the Yorkshire Merit bowling competition played on the Spen ground. Granted.

29 Sep 1939 - 1939 Register entry - Old Saw Inn, Spen Lane
George LAYCOCK  b. 17 Apr 1865  W  Licensee
Edith D JACKSON  b. 18 Feb 1890  M  Unpaid domestic duties
Dorothy E JACKSON  b. 18 Jun 1915  S  Housekeeper
Lillian E JACKSON  b. 30 Nov 1923  At school (later married name Whittles)

26 Oct 1944 - Death Notice - George Laycock, aged 79 years of the Old Saw Inn. To be buried at Batley cemetery.