Shoulder of Mutton Public House

Shoulder of Mutton beerhouse about 1920 [Z50/67/130]

Shoulder of Mutton Beerhouse: Green End Road, Green End, Kempston Rural

Licensing registers state that the Shoulder of Mutton beerhouse|, also sometimes known as the Leg of Mutton, was first licensed in 1836. It was sold by William Boyce to the oddly-named West Lilley in 1840, who mortgaged it to Ebenezer Burr in 1859. The mortgage was redeemed in 1874 when Lilly sold the premises to Bedford brewer Frederick Thomas Young. The Shoulder of Mutton had been leased to Kempston brewer Sir William Long and his company, taken over by his son-in-law Robert Newland on his death in 1846 was sold to Bedford brewer Thomas Jarvis in 1873. Young, in partnership with William Pritzler Newland, grandson of Robert, also owned the Cross Keys in Wood End and the Smith's Arms in what is now Margetts Road, in Up End. He mortgaged them to Charles Mitchell in 1874 and to William George Carter Mitchell in 1875.

Young must have sold out to Newland in 1877 as in that year Newland mortgaged various licensed properties including the Shoulder of Mutton to Charles William Powell. He redeemed the mortgage with Charles Mitchell in 1883 and re-mortgaged with Henry Raynes and George Race, that mortgage being transferred to Susan Milburn Mitchell in 1889. In 1890 Newland merged his business with that of Bedford brewer William Joseph Nash's widow Susan to form Newland & Nash, which became a public limited company in 1897. Newland & Nash was taken over by Biggleswade brewers Wells & Winch in 1924, who were themselves taken over by Suffolk brewers Greene King in 1961.

In 1927 Bedfordshire was valued under the Rating Valuation Act 1925; each piece of land and building was valued to determine the rates to be paid on it. The valuer at "Smart looking place. Rough cast. Fair draw up". accommodation comprised a tap room, cellar, lounge and front room downstairs ["Good rooms. Recently done up"] with three bedrooms above; outside were two earth closets and a barn with a loft over. Weekly trade was good at three barrels and five dozen bottles of beer. This poor trade eventually, though not until as late as 1991, led to the by now fully licensed public house's closure and conversion into a private house.

 
Former Shoulder of Mutton Oct 2007

Sources

- GK132/18: recited conveyance from William Boyce to West Lilley: 1840;
- GK132/18: recited mortgage by West Lilley to Ebenezer Burr: 1859, redeemed 1874;
- GA487: sale catalogue of brewery and licensed premises formerly belonging to Sir William Long: 1873;
- GK132/17: valuation of Shoulder of Mutton, Cross Keys and Smiths Arms by R.B.Stafford: 1874;
- GK132/18: conveyed by West Lilley of Kempston, builder to Frederick Thomas Young of Bedford, brewer and maltster: 1874;
- GK132/20: mortgage of Shoulder of Mutton, Cross Keys and Smiths Arms by Frederick Thomas Young to Charles Mitchell: 1874;
- GK160/1: mortgage of Cross Keys, Shoulder of Mutton and Smith's Arms by Frederick Thomas Young to William George Carter Mitchell: 1875;
- GK160/4: mortgage of various licensed premises and brewery by William Pritzler Newland to Charles William Powell: 1877;
- GK132/20: Shoulder of Mutton, Cross Keys and Smiths Arms reconveyed by Charles Mitchell to William Pritzler Newland: 1883;
- GK132/21: mortgage of Shoulder of Mutton, Cross Keys and Smiths Arms by William Pritzler Newland to Henry Raynes and George Race: 1883;
- GK132/22: transfer of mortgage of Shoulder of Mutton, Cross Keys and Smiths Arms from George race to Susan Milburn Mitchell: 1889;
- GK132/23: Shoulder of Mutton, Cross Keys and Smiths Arms reconveyed by Susan Milburn Mitchell to William Pritzler Newland: 1897
- GK3/1a: conveyance from William Pritzler Newland, Emily Cressy Nash, Florence Mary Nash, Rosa Gertrude Nash and Constance Eveline Nash to Newland & Nash Limited of all properties: 1897;
- Z50/67/130: postcard view of Green End Beer house with Sarah Keech née Giggle outside with two children: c.1914;
- RDBP1/300: plans for alterations: 1914;
- DV1/C/35: rating valuation: 1927;
- BorB/TP/91/0116: change of use from public house to dwelling: 1991 

List of Licensees: note that this is not a complete list. Italics indicate licensees whose beginning and/or end dates are not known:

1840-1873: West Lilley;
1873: James Folkes;
1873: Samuel Sharman;
1876: Amos Keep;
1877-1891: William Lilley;
1894: Ann Ashpole;
1897-1903: James Loft;
1910-1959 Albert Cyril Barker;
1962-1992: Claude James Bygraves Jessop
public house closed 1992.