Three Horse Shoes Inn

Name: The Three Horse Horses Inn

Address: 2, Station Road, Barton-under-Needwood

The Three Horse Shoes started out in life as a Blacksmith's, run by a William Riley and his family from the early 1800's through to the 1860's.  It is located on the corner of Efflinch Lane and Station Road in the village but back in the 1800's these streets were referred to by very different names; Efflinch Lane, the road leading to the hamlet of Efflinch and in the direction of Lichfield was either Walkers Lane or Lichfield Turn or Road whilst Station Road was still called Main Street. 

At some stage in the 1860's it became a beer house, known as the Blacksmith's Arms whilst still in the tenancy of the Riley family. William Riley, a Blacksmith all his life was in his late 70's when he died on 27th March 1867 and it appears his son Charles, who was originally a baker first opened the beer house, which he ran until his death in the late 1860's. Whether Charles worked the Smithy or not is unknown but subsequent landlords worked as both Blacksmith's and Publicans. 

Listed landlords at the Three Horse Shoes were Charles Riley (1868-), George Poole (1871-72), Simeon Spence (1880-88) "Blacksmith's Arms", Isaac H Holdcroft (1891-1908) "Blacksmith's Arms", Charles Bennett (1911-12) "Smith's Arms & Three Horse Shoes" and William Berwick (1916-40).

1841 Census

1851 Census

A view from Efflinch Lane towards Station Road and the Three Horse Shoes 

1861 Census

Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal 14 August 1863

William Riley Probate 1867

1868 Post Office Directory

Charles Riley's time behind the bar was cut extremely short when he died just 18 months after his father, in November 1868.  Charles's wife Sarah can be found on the 1871 census living at Barton Turn where she is listed as a "Retired Publican".

Charles Riley Probate 1868

1871 Census

George Poole was firmly behind the bar by the time of the 1870 census, another Blacksmith by trade, however, by the time of the next census George was widowed and had moved to Burton-on-Trent where he was living on Wetmore Road between the Swann Inn and the Cooper's Arms working as a Blacksmith and no doubt servicing passing trade at both public houses.  

A parade stood with their back to the Three Horse Shoes

The Three Horse Shoes was also known locally by a nickname, "The Drum and Monkey" although I'm not sure of its origin. The two semi-detached cottages pictured centre-right were the home of the Welbournes (see picture below).

...as it is today

1881 Census

1884 Kelly's Directory

During the 1880's future landlord, Isaac Holdcroft worked in a number of occupations including a "Dyers' Agent" and a "Carrier" whilst Simeon Spence was running the Blacksmith's Arms.

1891 Census

From 1891 onwards the Blacksmith's Arms was in the hands of Isaac Holcroft who resided there with his wife Octavia and their children.  The following photo is taken from a family tree that includes Isaac on Ancestry.com and is a group photo on the occasion of his daughter Henrietta's wedding to James Munroe in 1900.

The older Gentleman with mutton-chop whiskers sat third from the
right is believed to be Isaac Holdcroft Sep 1900

 

1900 Kelly's Directory

1901 Census

The 1901 census is particularly interesting as it lists Isaac Holdcroft as the publican living at Lichfield Turn (start of Efflinch Lane) and an Elizabeth Coxon living next door, listed as a publican in her own right and her address is in Main Street. Checks against the 1900 Directory reveal Elizabeth's husband was James Coxon, landlord of the Shoulder of Mutton so not exactly neighbouring properties but for some reason the enumerator went straight from one pub to the other, possibly getting side-tracked by a pub crawl!

Mr Lewis Welbourne with his wife Hannah, adopted son John Shilton (left) and son David (right)
 in front of their family home on Lichfield Road(now Efflinch Lane)which also doubled as his Cobblers Shop c.1911

1911 Census record for the Welbournes

Isaac Holdcroft had retired from the pub trade by the time the 1911 census came along but was still living in Barton, close-by on Station Road aged 84 years. Charles Bennett had taken over by this stage and is listed on the 1911 census below.

Finally, in 1911 the schedule notice and census record  themselves couldn't quite agree on the name of the Inn, the notice recording it as the "Smith's Arms" and the census, as "The Three Horse Shoes".

1911 Census

William Berwick originated from Eckington West in Worcestershire and worked as a Railway Porter, living down at Barton Turnings near Fatholme Farm in the late 1800's. He and his wife Elizabeth moved their family up Main Street to run the Three Horse Shoes around the start of World War 1 as a result of which they were to lose their eldest son, William George Berwick (1896-1918).

William and Elizabeth ran the pub for around 30 years and remained in the village for the rest of their lives.

1950 Probate for William Berwick