Bell Hagg Inn

[RichardB]

Also once known as "Hodgson's Folly". From Pubs and People around Sheffield - Roy Davey

[syrup]

Also once known as "Hodgson's Folly". From Pubs and People around Sheffield - Roy Davey

Sad Sad News i drove past this week and it was all boarded up looks like its not got long as a public house.

[Bayleaf]

It was put up for sale quite a while ago but doesn't seem to have had any takers.

[sando]

Some one has tried to get planning permission to change it into flats, but I think it was turned down.

[Edmund]

There are numerous stories connected to the Bell Hagg, previously word of mouth and now proliferating over the internet including this site. The core of these are that a gambler called Hodgson offered charity to the Stannington vicar, who refused it. In a huff Hodgson built a public house on the opposite side of the valley (known as Hodgson’s Folly) where it was visible from the Stannington vicarage, so that the vicar would have to look at it constantly and regret his actions. The pub was also used to house prisoners on their way from Sheffield to Manchester for trial.

Should we allow these stories to stand, as interesting anecdotes? Should we allow upstanding citizens of the past to be libelled in this way? Should we just accept and repeat these stories without question? I’ve been looking at some of the facts.

An extract from: “A glossary of words used in the neighbourhood of Sheffield” by Sidney Addy

“In 1637 Bell Hagg was an open common, including Burntstones, and containing about eighty acres. It was one of the moors upon which the owners of toft-steads in the village of Crookes turned their cattle in summer. 'Burnt Stones' and 'Burnt Stanes' are marked on the ordnance survey map as two distinct places adjoining each other. It is strange that the two names should be found together, and the explanation may be that two large fires were kindled, the cattle being driven, according to the ancient rite, between them.

It is, in my opinion, certain that here was the place where bale-fires were formerly made. I do not in any way attempt, as some writers have done, to connect those fires with the worship of Baal, although 'undoubtedly,' says Jacob Grimm, 'Beal must be taken for a divine being, whose worship is likely to have extended beyond the Celtic nations.' (Teut. Myth., i. 614.)

There can be no doubt that the inhabitants of Hallam and Crookes were accustomed to make these mysterious bale-fires in this very place. One of the forms of bale, used in the year 1420, is belle. Moreover, it is easy to understand how in a word of two syllables the old form bæl would be shortened into bell.

I have no doubt that hagg here represents the old Norse hagi, pasturage or common.About a mile to the west is Fox hagg.The village feast of Crookes is still held on the first of May—the day of the triumphal entry of the Summer, and the day on which the festival of Beltein was kept.”

Christ Church Stannington was a “Million Church” built partly with money provided by the Church Building Act of 1824. Architectural plans were drawn up in 1827 and the foundation stone was laid on October 16 1828 by Thomas Richard Ryder, Vicar of Ecclesfield. After the stone laying the party retired to the Peacock Inn for afternoon tea. The church was completed in 1830. Christ Church was in the Chapelry of Bradfield which was in the Bishopric of Ecclesfield. Stannington did not become a separate parish until 1843. Initially Christ Church did not have a vicar but had a curate, Mr. William Gill who lived at "The Yews" in Worrall, where he taught boarders. Mr. Gill conducted a morning service along with his other duties for six years but resigned in 1836 when he was asked to perform an evening service as well. These events led to the building of a much needed vicarage adjacent to the church as well as the provision of a stipend of £100 per annum. In 1843 Stannington became a separate parish with Christ Church as the parish church, William Gill became the first vicar with the stipend increasing to £129 per annum. Mr. Gill was a young man, only marrying in May 1833.

Dr. John Hodgson was a General Practitioner living at Church Street, then Western Bank (which he had built). He was on the Building Committee for the Infirmary. He built Portobello Place in 1821 and had a business in silver manufacture there (Waterhouse, Hodgson & Co). In 1829 he subscribed towards the inclosure of the St Georges burial ground.

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I have not found a precise date for the building of the Bell Hagg, but it seems to have been around 1830, and originally was a Tea-House:

Dr Hodgson died in 1832 after a long illness and his obituary has nothing but praise for him:

In 1874 the Sheffield Independent printed a query about Hodgson's Folly, which was unanswered:

Dr. Hodgson seems to be a respectable and successful GP and businessman. He did have a notorious namesake living at Pea-croft with whom Dr Hodgsons reputation may have become confused with in later years? Mr Gill seems to have been a young (26 when Hodgson died) hard working and tolerant unmarried clergyman. At the time the Bell Hagg was built there was no vicarage at Stannington, and limited services at the new church. There is no evidence of any ill feeling between Hodgson and Gill. The building was known as Hodgson's Folly, possibly due to its unusual construction in a difficult site and Hodgson's subsequent death.

I have found no evidence of prisoners in transit being held at the Bell Hagg. Most prisoners from Sheffield were sent to Wakefield or York, and presumably only errant Lancastrians being returned to their own county for trial would be transported along the route to Manchester. Also Bell Hagg is less than 4 miles from Sheffield – why would they stop at that point?

Details of some of the early landlords have also been turned up:

William Wilson was there sometime before 1835:

Followed by Joseph Greaves in 1836:

Josiah Kay of the Bell Hagg public house gave evidence at the inquest for one of his customers in May 1837, and in July 1838 he gave evidence as landord of the Bell Hagg, at the trial of John Collins (cutlery theft).

James Rogerson was there in 1841:

Ro(d)gerson ceased farming at the Bell Hagg, selling off his stock, horses and implements in 1846 but it's not clear if he also left the pub business at that time.

At the 1851 George Colbridge was there (also farming 20 acres and employing 2 men):

Though by 1854 Colbridge had left the Bell Hagg and gone bankrupt:

[RichardB]

Top quality piece of work. Thank you.

There are numerous stories connected to the Bell Hagg ...

[RichardB]

Included in this somewhat out of date publication.