The Albert Inn - Newcastle-under-Lyme

      (Researched and written by Mervyn Edwards 2003)

The Albert Inn in Liverpool Road opened as a beerhouse in 1861. It was advertised as being for sale in May of that year when the household furniture included a mahogany chest of drawers, two corner cupboards, six rush-seated chairs, two oak stands, a round table, a deal leaf table, an eight-day clock in an oak case, ditto in a mahogany case, an armchair, a rocking chair, three feather beds, bolsters and pillows, two sets of bedsteads, two tea trays, saucepans, iron pots, tea kettles and other articles.

In February1862, landlord William Turner was summoned in connection with a breach of the Beer Act, having been found guilty of allowing two men to drink until 11.40 p.m. Turner was found playing cards with the men, who had a supply of ale on hand. However, relatively few complaints had been made about the running of the beerhouse, and so the Bench inflicted a nominal fine of 5s. with costs. The beerhouse was advertised as being for sale again in May 1862 when it was advertised as being attached to a brewhouse, a yard and other buildings. In February 1873, the local press reported on a case of “the use of obscene and abusive language” by a female customer named Elizabeth Simms, who had used provocative words whilst standing in the entrance to the beerhouse.

At the annual licensing session at Newcastle in 1874, landlord Henry Mansfield applied for a spirit licence, reinforcing his case by telling the justices that he had drawn up plans for additions and improvements to the premises. However, he was refused. Mansfield applied for a full alehouse licence in 1878, enabling him to sell spirits. Supporting Mansfield was C. Smith (instructed by Mr Griffith) who told the justices that his client had kept the beerhouse for the last sixteen years and that the house was cleanly and well-conducted. There was stabling for two horses. It was claimed that there was a customer demand for wines and spirits at the Albert. The brewer, Henry Parker, the owner of the property, testified that he had bought the house for £980 and had spent £554 on improvements. This time, the licence was granted.

In December 1878, there was a gathering of workmen employed at the Cotton Mills in Cross Heath. They met at the Albert to mark the departure from their ranks of James Mayall, who was presented with a silver cruet stand. Mr and Mrs Mansfield laid on a supper for there guests. George Robinson, aged 43, is listed as the licensed victualler in charge of the Albert in the 1881 census, but his tenancy was hardly without incident. In July of that year, he was charge with having been drunk on his own premises and having assaulted police sergeant Swinwood, who had found him “mad drunk”. The officer had been struck on the ear and knocked to the ground. Robinson, using abusive language, had asked him if he “wanted any more”. The magistrates found him £2 in costs, or a month's imprisonment. At this time, the Mayor of Newcastle remarked that “the most disgraceful rows were constantly taking occurring in Liverpool Road on Saturday nights”. In September, at the adjourned licensing meeting at the Guildhall, Robinson, “whose licence was withheld in consequence of his being convicted of various offences during the year preceeding the annual licensing meeting, and he not appearing on the occasion to answer to his name being called, now appeared before the Bench”. He was cautioned re his future conduct, but his licence was renewed.

The grandmother of Hilda Wild (nee Ellerton) worked at the Albert as a cleaner in the 1920s, when the pub was run by the Pickerill family. She remembers charabanc trips from the pub to Chester Races.