Cock

[RichardB]

The following edited down from

REMINISCENCES OF SHEFFIELD by R. E. LEADER

CHAPTER 13 - HIGH STREET and OLD INNS.

and concerning only the public house known as the Cock

The position of the “Cock," opposite to which Revel Homfray's Sheffield Weekly Journal was printed, has long been conjectural. We can now say positively that this inn stood on the north side of High Street, alternatively called Prior Row,*

"leading from ye Market Place to ye Parish Church,"

where now (1901) is the West End Clothiers' Company, at the corner of what has been christened High Court.

Its history is this.

The property was, in 1593, sold by Richard Skinner, of the Hill, Hathersage, to William Shemeld, at first described as a yeoman, but afterwards as an "inholder."

In 1603, Shemeld being dead, Francis Barlow, chapman, bought it of his representatives.

Barlow and his family carried it on during the greater part of the seventeenth century, acquiring also, from Joshua Shemeld, the next house on the west.

John Ellison had the "Cock" about 1686.

In 1695 Thomas Barlow, nephew of a later Francis, let it to John Wood, who kept it until his death in 1709. Thomas Barlow was a Town Trustee.

In 1702, it had changed ownership, Thomas Parkin, the elder, ironmonger, steel master (and future Town Trustee and Church Burgess), having bought it from the Barlows.

Wood's widow carried on the "Cock " until 1734, and it is repeatedly mentioned in the Burgery accounts down to 1748, when one Anderton was probably landlord.

Then it ceased to be an inn, and was the residence of Elizabeth Parkin, spinster, daughter or granddaughter of the above Thomas Parkin.

In 1752, Madam Parkin having gone to Ravenfield, her kinsman, Walter Oborne, occupied this and the adjoining house; and when, on her death (in 1766), Mr. Oborne inherited Ravenfield, Thomas Gunning, of the Lead Works, succeeded as occupier.

In 1786, Mr. and Mrs. Oborne being both dead, the property was bought by Mr. Simon Andrew Younge, in whose family it still remains. In that year the upper house was occupied by Younge, Sharrow, and Whitelock, merchants; afterwards by Mr. Charles Frederick Younge, jeweller, silversmith, and hardwareman.

The statements as to Prior Row needs qualification. Prior Gate, it is true, occurs only on Gosling's plan, and the earliest deed (1593) speaks of the “Cock '' as in High street. But in subsequent documents Prior, or Pryor's Row is commonly given as an alternative, and is sometimes so used as to imply less the street itself than the houses on its north side. I have met with no instance of the name Prior Row being applied when houses on the south side are spoken of.

___________ was in recent times the " Star," now (I9OI) the "Carlton." The lower house (the old " Cock ") was at the same time the residence of Mr. Gunning's widow . It ultimately became Rimington and Younge's Bank, and the drapery shop of Messrs. Cowen and Dixon. Next below this was, from I832 to I846, the office of the Sheffield Independent - now Mr. Samuel, jeweller, and the Ceylon Cafe. Here stood, side by side with the "Cock," another notable contemporary tavern, the " Rose and Crown."

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This out of copyright material has been transcribed by Eric Youle, who has provided the transcription on condition that any further copying and distribution of the transcription is allowed only for non-commercial purposes, and includes this statement in its entirety. Any references to, or quotations from, this material should give credit to the original author(s) or editors. * ********************************************************************************