The Old Leopard, as photographed by John M and posted on Geograph.
There’s some interesting stuff going on over at Julian Ward-Davies’ Stonnall Local History Group on Facebook. Julian has spotted something also noticed in passing by reader and local history ferret [Howmuch?]: there appear to have been two pubs called The Leopard in the Sandhills area – The Leopard and the Old Leopard. Most locals are familiar with the location of The Old leopard, for it’s existence is recorded on a plaque on the front of the house it used to exist within. The Leopard, however, is somewhat more elusive.
Julian posted this in the group on Thursday:
References to the pubs of Sandhills and Stonnall, early 19th century.
White’s Directory of Staffordshire, 1834
page 1015
Inns and Public Houses
Sandhills
The Leopard – licensee, William Atkins
The Old Leopard – licensee, John Titterton
There we have it. There were two pubs at Sandhills.
Stonnall
The Harp – licensee, John Holmes
The Swan – licensee, Charles Glover
I think one point can be determined from this. The ‘T’ shaped building, mentioned in Gordon’s article and which was known to have been a former pub, must have been the Harp and not the Swan as I had previously thought.
Also, an interesting question arises. Was Charles Glover of the Swan related to the Glover family of 20th century Stonnall?
I’m interested in this, and I think it’s worth throwing out to see what the wider community here think. There seems to be scant evidence for The Leopard – although it clearly did exist, as it was listed above, but it’s location and nature are proving elusive. One of the biggest supporting facts for the existence of The Leopard is that the Old Leopard is called just that, implying a new one coming afterward; the etymology here is quite clear. What find quite curious is the two pubs being so similarly named, and one just seeming to vanish.Does anyone have any more information?
David Evans contributed the following:
A William Adkins aged 50 and wife Elizabeth 50 show living in Brewood in 1841 census.
Not shown in Sandhills or Shenstone. A William Atkins(the same?) transported and 7 years at Stafford Court in 1850. A John Titterton aged 60 in Shenstone (rest blurred!)in1841 census… possibly shopkeeper, with wife Mary aged 70.
Regards David Evans
This sparked the following conversation in reply:
Julian Ward-Davies Thanks David Evans. A very good contribution.
David Evans Atkins= housebreaking and larceny.
Graeme Fisher There’s a William Adkins listed on the tithe map owning a pub in the Shire Oaks area, plot A98, which may well be in Leopard country.
David Evans A102 probably James double front cottage by shape of plot,now only tree remains..Not known as being former pub.Plots across road seem fields by size A96 Brawn also the farmers of fieldsopposite in 1890s
David Evans A98 plot now has Leopard and x2 pairs late Vic cottages..Did these replace building in Tithe map (the Old Leopard) possibly? Their deeds may have reference.
Julian Ward-Davies The A98 Tithe plot was the Leopard. The Old Leopard was not marked. It must have been nearby, but that doesn’t mean that it was in the Parish of Shenstone.
David Evans just stopped to look. The building in the photo has this plaque.The Old Leopard c 1750 – 1911. The cottages adjacent date 1908,1909
Julian Ward-Davies That is interesting.
Julian Ward-Davies Steve’s 1902 map marks it as the Leopard.
Julian Ward-Davies Anyway, the point is there were two pubs and we still don’t seem to know where the other one was.
David Evans present no 138 had a building on the site long time ago..pig farm or small-holding. A possibility?
So, what do we know? If you’ve got anything further to add, comment here, or at the Stonnall Local History Group on Facebook or mail me at BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. It would be nice to crack this one.
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Hello, The Leopard in sandhills is the Leopald and not the Old Leopald, the plaque states its old as in the past!
The Old Leopald was in Shenstone if you look at White`s dir of 1834, there is no key number next to the name Old Leopard, so that means its in Shenstone.
Well thats the way I see it, before my medication!
Hi Bob
please , a thankyou to Howmuch for his observations. I wonder, does the White’s directory show a key number by the ( Lichfield Road, Sandhills) Leopard at all, to show that whilst it is in the Shenstone Parish, it is not in Shenstone village?
Interestingly, the various census records show that different entry criteria have evolved/ improved over the last 170 years or so.
with kind regards
David…………now for a glass of tincture and a quiet lie down !
Hello David, yes the Whites dir 1834 shows the number 13 next to The Leopard, and on the list it shows: 13, Sandhills.
HI Bob
for How much.. please many, many thanks, you are a star. My wife whose family are from a house nearby ( and can date their family back to pre-1800 there) can let go of my left “ear” now, and put it back to its original shape..
regards
David
1841 Census, Shenstone, at Leopard Inn, John Titterton, 60, Victualler. (Class: HO107; Piece 980; Book: 14; Civil Parish: Shenstone; County: Staffordshire; Enumeration District: 18; Folio: 25; Page: 13).
Preceding record is Lawrence a shepherd at Old Stables. Then Shenstone Mill, Shenstone Hall, 3 households, Bulls Head Inn, Charles Wilson, 30, Victualler.
Going the other way there are no obvious landmarks on the next two pages.
This Leopard Inn is obviously nowhere near Sandhills. The decription of the census district (18) ends with “Hence to Lawton Grange Farm, Shorthouses House, and up to Streethay House and thence along the Leopard Lane to Shenstone Mill”. I note there are some Leopard Cottages marked on the 1974 OS map near the mill. Streethay Lane was then known as Leopard Lane?
1851 Census, Shenstone Village, John Titterton, 68, widower, labourer. So not running the inn then. Next door Joseph Titterton (son?) shopkeeper and farmer. No reference to inn or mill, but Stables are listed.
In A Landscape Survey of the Parish of Shenstone Edited by Richard Totty for
The Staffordshire Archaeological and Historical Society Lichfield 2009 “the Old Leopard, no 256 ; just north of Shenstone Mill (owned by John Titterton who also owned a small croft, C179). The Old Leopard was therefore in or part of the buildings where Mill Lane and Streethay Lane meet?
I would do some more, but the Ancestry website is dawdling …
Hope this helps.
Sorry, I meant Mill Lane and Streetway Road.
HI Bob
many thanks, Andy..Ancestry is a dawdle.. and ..it puts years on me! Thanks for your kind research and for clearing this up!
best wishes
David Evans
You must remember boundaries. Stonnall was split into lower Stonnall and Stonnall, Lower Stonnall went into brownhills as we know it today by the the old macdonalds.Stonnall joins onto shenstone today, the question needs to be asked how far did Stonnall boundaries go back in 1830’s.
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Hi all, we live at The Old Leopard inn! It is in fact The Leopard Inn if anyone is interested we have paperwork dating back to the 1800 relating to the Inn (deeds maps etc)
John & Gaynor Flynn
Yes! thanks – the other commentors nailed it at the time.
If you ever fancy scanning them – or taking a pic – the images would be fascinating
Cheers
Bob
Good morning Gaynor
yes please! What a very kind offer !
kind regards,
David
I have been researching my father’s family history. His gt.gt.uncle lived at Leopards cottage, Mill Lne with his family for roughly 100 years. Thanks for the above info, I know know where the name Leopard came from.