Leather Bottle Alehouse

Leather Bottle Alehouse: Dropshort, Stagsden

Bedfordshire & Luton Archives & Records Service has very little information on this early alehouse. It was in existence by 1779 as Robert Negus, victualler at Dropshort was buried in that year. The last mention of the establishment is in 1847 when James Walker's will was proved. Incidentally, it was always said by locals that the name Dropshort came from the alehouse because one always got a drop short there! The names Dropshort or Dropshot(t) are relatively common field names but, who knows… The Leather Bottle was presumably somewhere near Dropshort Farm. 

References:

• Bedfordshire Parish Registers Volume 63: Robert Negus, cottager & victualler, ‘Dropshort’ buried 3 Nov 1779;
• ABP/W1780/21: will of Robert Negus: proved 1780;
• WW205: sale catalogue includes "neat public house at Dropshort in Stagsden called the Leathern Bottle with farmyard and 13 acres of land": 1810
• CLP13: register of alehouse licenses: 1822-1828;
• PSB1/1: licenses issued in Bedford Petty Sessional Division minute book: 1829-1834;
•  ABP/W1847/49: will of James Walker: 1847 

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

1779: Robert Negus;
1822-1828: George Allen;
1829: James Walker;
1833-1835 John Walker;
1847: James Walker