Luton History : The buried secrets of "The White Horse Beer House" Stopsley Village, near Luton
Evidence shows The White Horse Public House stood beside Stopsley Village Green (Now Hitchin Road). This small Beer House stirred my curiosity - wanting to find out more and hoping to add some provenance and buried secrets from its past - my search began.
Stopsley was formerly situated in the Parish of East Hyde just on the outskirts of Luton, merging with the Parish of Luton around 1850s. It was difficult to assess exactly where the Beer House was positioned on the 1851 census, but I believe the Landlady was Ann Clarke, her daughter married into the Hucklesby family that had strong connections with the Stopsley area.
On Monday 13th July 1857, at the Cock Inn Luton, two brick studs and thatched cottages were auctioned by order of the late William Allen, apart from the general two up two down interiors, each cottage included a plot of ground bordering the "White Horse Public House" Stopsley Green, near Luton - this appears to be the first printed document referring to the Beer House, -the sale also included the transfer of a liquor licence to a George Bodsworth, to "The White Horse Public House."
The 1861 Census confirms George and Eliza Bodsworth are the Licensees of the White Horse, -in 1866, Eliza Bodsworth (birth name Rachel) and Elizabeth Jackson attended the Crown Court at Bedford Assises as key witnesses providing evidence of an alleged Arson attack at Putteridge, where it was stated, "Thomas Festing" of Hitchin was charged with willfully and maliciously setting fire to a wheat stack valued £150 on the 14th May 1866, the property of G. Sowerby Esq.
Thomas was found guilty and sentenced to 8 years Penal Servitude, serving at Pentonville Prison and eventually transferred to Kent. However, Landlord George Bodsworth wasn't without his own demons. He was fined 70 Shillings for permitting several disorderly, intoxicated persons to enter The White Horse Public House and Yard, for the purpose of letting off fireworks on November 5th 1863.
By 1869, Bodsworth had departed, the Licence was transferred to a John Fatham. There appears to be limited details about this gentleman, but it wasn't long before he was arrested for felony plus 4 other cases of convictions which were not pressed at the time.
In the Petty Sessions of January 1871, a report states, William Mead of Hitchin stole a quantity of Beans, Bran and Chaff from his employer, there was a strong suspicion that the stolen goods were disposed of in Stopsley. A warrant was issued by Police Proceedings to search the White Horse Public House, where they found the stolen property, - John Fathom was arrested and held until he could account for the stolen items. John Latham was convicted. The licence for the "White Horse" was forfeited. However, shortly after Mr Swain applied for the transfer of the licence, this was rejected, believing the Beer House in question was not required any longer by the inhabitants of Stopsley, there being another Public House further along the road.
The White Horse was converted to living accommodation, eventually demolished and replaced with a row of cottages - they also are long gone.
Today, "Stopsley Court" stands upon the buried secrets of the "White Horse Public House," Stopsley Green.
Strange, but my ancestor was a William Allen from Stopsley, and Eliza (aka Rachel) Bodsworth was related to my Dumpleton forbears, - Amy Dumpleton was my Gt. Grandmother.
"Small World."