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> Pocklington Local History Group
  21st Mar - 18th Century Pocklington

> Pocklington Local History Group
  18th Apr - The AGM and The ER
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> Pocklington Local History Group
  18th Jul - A guided tour of Allerthorpe
  to include Allerthorpe church

> Pocklington Local History Group
  19th Sep - Pocklington's connection
  with the sea

Gallery
Market Place Market Place
Note the new building in the photo on the corner.
Regent Street Regent Street
Note the 'Old Red Lion Hotel'
Chapmangate Chapmangate
Note the independent chapel built in 1807 to the left.
Publications
Woldgate History Woldgate History

"A History of Woldgate School"

* 60 pages
* Fully illustrated
* Only £5.00
epp Exploring Pocklington's Past

* Peter Halkon
* Summary of
Pocklington Archaeology
* Only £5.00
Heritage Trail Heritage Trail

"A Pock History & Heritage Trail"

* 2nd edition
* 27 pages
* Old photos
* Only £4.99

People and Places Thumb Old Pock

"People and Places of Old Pocklington"

* 40 pages
* Old photos
* Only £5.99
Adieu WW1 Book

"Adieu to dear old Pock"

  * ww1 diary
  * 53 profiles
  * Local News
  * 299 soldiers
  * 246 pages
Newsletter

PDLHG Newsletters
#1 Oct 2020
#2 Dec 2020
#3 May 2021

Robin Hood, White Horse, White Swan, Merry Legs Inn, Railway Inn
The 'Robin Hood' was renamed around 1805 to the 'The 'White Horse' inn which later became the 'White Swan', and this in turn was renamed the 'Merry Legs' Inn after the owner of the Manor House, Robert Denison bought a horse called ''Merry Legs' for £630. It became one of the best trotting horses in the North of England, winning many races. After being placed at stud, it went on to sire many of the most successful lines of trotting horses for years to come. After the railways arrived, Finkle Street was renamed Railway Street, probably by William Watson when he drew his 1855 map of Pocklington, as the 1854 OS map has it named Finkle Street. After renaming the street, the 'Merry Legs' Inn was renamed "Railway Tavern", which generally became known as 'The Railway Inn'. It illustrates the huge impact the arrival of the railway had on the town. In 1918 it ceased to be an inn.
 
merrylegs1
The Merry Legs Inn became the Railway Inn.
northernstar
From the "Northern Star and Leeds Advertiser" for 2nd November 1839
1840

From the 'Hull Packet' newspaper for 5th June 1840
The widow Elizabeth Carter remarried to George Weatherill Sep 1841

MerryLegs2
If anyone has a clearer version of this photograph, please contact me.
mwmerry
Poster
merrylegs

From the 'Hull Packet' newspaper for Aug 31 1838

MerryLegs3
This photograph was taken in 1906 when Agnes Johnson was the proprietor, Agnes was the daughter of Ann Johnson who had the Railway Inn in the 1880's & 1890's. Ann was the widow of George Johnson who was landlord in the 1871 census.

   
Landlords of the White Swan, Merry Legs & The Railway Inn
   
1937 Kelly's Directory Not present
1921 Kelly's Directory Not present
1918 ER Archives CCER/12/2/3 Loss of Licence for 'Railway Inn', Pocklington 26 Sep 1918
1913 Kelly's Directory Harriet Creaser (Mrs.), Railway Inn, Railway Street
1909 Kelly's Directory Francis Creaser, Railway inn, Railway Street
1905 Kelly's Directory Agnes Johnson (Miss), Railway Inn, Railway Street
1897 Kelly's Directory Ann Johnson (Mrs.), Railway Inn, Railways Street..
1892 Bulmers Directory Ann Johnson (Mrs.), Railway Inn, Railways Street. .
1889 Kelly's Directory Jane Johnson (Mrs), Railway Tavern, Railway Street.
1881 Census Ann Johnson, Railway Inn, Railway Street
1871 Census George Johnson, Innkeeper, West Green
1861 Census William Chaplin, Railway Tavern
1855 William Watson George Weatherill, Railway Tavern, Railway Street
1851 Census George Weatheril, Age 57, Innkeeper, Finkle Street
1844 Easton's Directory George Weatheril, Merry Legs Inn, Finkle Street
1841 Census Elizabeth Carter, Innkeeper, Beast Fair
1840 White's Directory George Carter, Merry Legs Inn, East Green
1838 Survey & Val. George Carter, Merry Legs Inn, New Pavement
1834 Piggot's Directory Wm. Hodskinson, White Swan, West Green
1829 E.R. Archives Gregory Benson, White Swan (Conviction)
1826 E.R. Archives John Haldenby, White Swan (Alehouse Recogniz.) .
1825 E.R. Archives Robert Hay , White Swan (Alehouse Recogniz.) .
1824 Survey & Val. Robert Hay, White Swan
1823 E.R. Archives Robert Hay , White Swan (Alehouse Recogniz.)
1823 Baines Francis Bell, White Swan, New Pavement
1822 E.R. Archives Francis Bell Jnr. , White Swan (Alehouse Recogniz.)
1805 E.R. Archives DDX1362/1/16 Feoffment of a messuage at Pocklington Date - 25 May 1805 - Description Parties: 1) George Wilson, Pocklington, innholder, and Mary Wilson, his wife 2) Robert Welborn Hotham, York, brewer Property: Dwellinghouse, brewhouse, stable and yard in Finkle Street, Pocklington, formerly known as the 'Robin Hood', now known as the 'White Horse'. Lately occupied by George Wilson, now occupied by Henry Linton. Consideration: £300 Witnesses: George Hotham, R Boulton junior Memorial registered at Beverley, Book CK, Page 311, Number 500
1804 E.R. Archives DDX1362/1/12 Agreement for purchasing the 'White Horse' Inn, Pocklington Date 29 Nov 1804 Description Parties: 1) George Wilson, Pocklington, innkeeper 2) Robert Welborn Hotham, York, brewer Property: Tenement kept as a public house, known as the 'White Horse Inn' with stables, brewhouse, yard and outbuildings in Finkle Street, Pocklington Consideration: £300 Witnesses: Timothy Groves, William Jennings
1771 E.R. Archives DDX1362/1/3 Conveyance of premises in Pocklington Date 21 May 1771 Description Parties: 1) Timothy Overend, South Cave, late of Barmby upon the Moor, gentleman 2) Hugh Ibbetson, Pocklington, bricklayer Property: Tenement at Pocklington lately occupied by William Scaife as an inn, known as the 'Robin Hood' Consideration: £142 Witness: Thomas Plummer, [.] Aike Memorial registered at Beverley, Book AP, Page 191, Number 314
1771 E.R. Archives DDX1362/1/2 Lease for a year of premises at Pocklington Date 20 May 1771 Description Parties: 1) Timothy Overend, South Cave, late of Barmby upon the Moor, gentleman 2) Hugh Ibbetson, Pocklington, bricklayer Property: Tenement at Pocklington, lately occupied by William Scaife as an inn, known as the 'Robin Hood' Consideration: 5 shillings Witness: Thomas Plummer, [.] Aike Memorial registered at Beverley, Book AP, Page 191, Number 314
Various E.R. Archives
1763-1782
Alehouse recognizances for William Scaife


If you wish to add to the story of this Inn, or correct any of the above information, then please contact me.