Inn-Keeping with Tradition
Welcome to the Little John here in the delightful and historic village of Hathersage. The storey of one of our most famous outlaws is well documented, enough to say that he is reputed to be buried at the village church nearby to where he lived.
The Inn we know today has had various additions, however the date stone at the rear of the building J.H 1863, is the earliest reference we have to a beerhouse here. It was built by Joseph Harrison who had farming interests near Sheffield, but was known in the district as a reputable butcher. Apart from the six public houses in the parish, there were another two beerhouses. It opened as the Butchers Arms and he remained here with his family until 1871, when he let it to Mathew Broomhead.
Joseph Harrison lived in the Butchers Arms outbuildings where he is described as a farmer of 30 acres. He was aged 46, and some years earlier had lost his wife Sarah. His children were Mary, Charles, Ann, Joseph, Clara and Lavinia aged 5.
The building at this period is described as having four rooms on the ground floor, seven bedrooms, garden, yard and stable for a large contingent of horses. The Thatched Tavern beer house at this period became the Hare and Hounds, which later closed in 1871, Mathew Broomhead is described as a hardener of pins at one of the nearby needlework's, as well as a beer house keeper.
He lived here with his wife Martha, and their five children. In 1881, Jane Biggin Slinn is described as a beer house keeper, a widow aged 39, her daughter Mary aged 15, assisted here as a waitress, while young Bernard went to school. Alas; on August 27th 1885, Joseph Harrison died aged 59. His trustees later offered the Butchers Arms beer house for sale. It was purchased by a Sheffield Brewery; Thomas Berry & Co Ltd of the Moorhead Brewery.They were aware of it's potential, with the advent of the Railway coming through in 1894.
Prior to this they had called it the Butchers Arms Inn. But on the arrival of the railway previously mentioned it became known as the Station Hotel in September of that year. There had been additions to the buildings, and it had accommodated labourers on the railway. However the following year on the 5th September, Jane Bagshaw was granted a full-licence, and her stepson Bernard Slinn was the groom here.
In 1901, Mathew Robinson is described as Hotel Keeper here at the Station Hotel, with his wife Hannah and their three daughters, he employed three servants. Another inn that was once in Hathersage was the Bluebell. The Station Hotel would remain a focal of activity in the village, and was once a meeting place of the home guard. It was later sold to Ernest George Wragg Brewers, of Ranmoor and then the Tennant Brothers, of the Exchange Brewery of Sheffield.
On the 21st March 1947, the station Hotel became the Little John. Today we offer superb accommodation, fine food, and traditional ales.
Enjoy your visit..........cheers.
