Anglezarke/Limbrick - Yew Tree Inn

Name: The Yew Tree Inn

Address: Nickleton Brow, Anglezarke, Heath Charnock

c.1880

The Yew Tree Inn is in Heath Charnock situated between Anglezarke and Upper Rivington reservoirs with fabulous rural views over farm land and up to Rivington Pike and Winter Hill.

It started life as a farm and was the home of the Berry family from as far back as the mid-1700s and remained in their hands until the early part of the 20th century. Early maps of the region confirm the property was called, "Dill Cottage", located just yards up Nickleton Brow from Dill Hall.

1845 Map

First records of the family living in the area are from 1761, when Henry Bury (sic. Berry) baptised his son John at nearby Rivington Parish church. Their abode was recorded as "Charnock", which at that time was Charnock Heath, later to become Heath Charnock, as we know it today.

Baptism: 15 Mar 1761 Parish Church, Rivington, Lancashire, England

John Bury - son of Henry Bury

Abode: Charnock

Register: Baptisms 1730 - 1812, Page 23, Entry 6

John and his father Henry before him were farmers. John was married at Rivington in 1784 and the by the time of the birth of their son Henry, some four years later they were living at Anglezarke.

Marriage: 20 May 1784 Parish Church, Rivington, Lancashire, England

John Berry - this Chapelry

Jennet Morris - (X), the Parish of Standish

Witness: Alex Gerrard; John Latham

Married by Banns by: J. Fisher Minister

Register: Marriages 1754 - 1811, Page 26, Entry 103

Baptism: 5 Sep 1788 Parish Church, Rivington, Lancashire, England

Henry Berry - son of John Berry

Abode: Anglezarke

Register: Baptisms 1730 - 1812, Page 39, Entry 14

John Berry died in 1833 and was buried on 17th Dec 1833 at Rivington Church. He was 72 years old and records show he was living at Anglezarke. Just a year later Henry married a local lass, Ann Thorp on 2nd Feb 1834 at Rivington Parish Church and the electoral register of the time confirms they were living at Dill Cottage.

1834 Marriage of Henry Berry and Ann Thorp

1835 Electoral Register Heath Charnock Henry Berry

The census records from 1841 below confirm the family were living at Dill Cottage and Henry was running a shop and farming the land. By this time they had three daughters, Ellen, Jane and Mary.

1841 Henry Berry Shopkeeper and Farmer

Two years later Ann gave birth to a son, John Berry who was later to take over the running of the Inn in the 1860s.

Baptism: 25 Jun 1843 Parish Church, Rivington, Lancashire, England

John Berry - son of Henry Berry & Ann

Abode: Charnock

Occupation: Shop Keeper

Baptised by: J. Jackson

Register: Baptisms 1813 - 1847, Page 188, Entry 1498

1851 Henry Berry - Dill Cottage Grocer and Dealer in Breadstuffs

Over the intervening years they had a further three children; William, Ann and Susanna and by the 1851 census Henry appears to have set up a bakery at the cottage from where he continued to run the grocer's shop. Life seemed to be going well for the family but the next decade proved to be anything but, as both Henry and then his wife, Ann died leaving the eldest daughter, Mary to take responsibility for bringing up the family.

1854 Burial Henry Berry

Burial: 11 May 1854 Rivington Church, Rivington, Lancashire, England

Henry Berry - Age: 65

Abode: Charnock

Buried by: J. Jackson

Register: Burials 1813 - 1873, Page 140, Entry 1118

Despite his death in 1854 he was listed a year later in the trade directory as a grocer in Heath Charnock...I suspect the survey probably started a year or so before publication, thereby explaining this anomaly.

1855 Slater's Directory

1861 Burial Ann Berry nee Thorp

Burial: 13 Feb 1861 Rivington Church, Rivington, Lancashire, England

Ann Berry - Age: 50 years

Abode: Heath Charnock

Buried by: Thos. Sutcliffe

Register: Burials 1813 - 1873, Page 162, Entry 1292

1861 Mary Berry - Grocers Shop

Courtesy of Gordon Small

1865 Marriage of John Berry and Ellen Farnworth

Ten years later Mary had moved on from the Yew Tree with her younger sister Susanna and they were now living at Turner's Smithy at the top of Babylon Lane next to the Bay Horse Inn, Mary working as a dress maker. 

1869 Slater's Directory

Her brother John and his wife Ellen were now running the grocer's shop and it is at this point that we first see reference to the property being used as beerhouse.

1871 John Berry Grocer and Beer Seller

Dutton Brewery's Yew Tree Inn

Baptism: 22 Nov 1874 Rivington Church, Rivington, Lancashire, England

John Berry - [Child] of John Berry & Ellen

Abode: Heath Charnock

Occupation: Grocer & Beer Seller

Baptised by: Thos. Sutcliffe

Register: Baptisms 1847-1876, Page 92, Entry 735

1881 John Berry Grocer Dill Cottage

I'm not aware at what point Dutton's Brewery bought the Yew Tree in, as the pub is not listed on the list of their pubs record on the link below but suspect it may have been once the Berry family moved on.

Dutton's Blackburn Brewery

1891 John Berry - Yew Tree Inn

1892 Yew Tree Inn 25 Inch OS

1895 Kelly's Directory

1901 John Berry Yew Tree Inn

John Berry died in 1906 at the age of 62 years having spent his entire life living at Dill Cottage and the last 40+ years running the Yew Tree Inn.

DAUGHTER’S DISCOVERY. 

HEATH CHARNOCK PUBLICAN’S SUDDEN DEATH. 

John Berry, licensed victualler, of Yew Tree Inn, Heath Charnock, was found dead in his study at 2 p.m. yesterday. 

Published: Tuesday 03 April 1906

Newspaper: Lancashire Evening Post

1906 Probate John Berry

c.1935

1911 Ellen Berry (Widow) Yew Tree Inn

1921 Census Arthur Lowe

I have been unable to trace Ellen after the 1911 census but by 1921 Arthur Lowe and his family had moved in briefly before the next landlord, Leonard Cubberley. He is listed in Kelly's Directory of 1924 and was a living at Turner's Smithy in 1910, over the last decade having worked as a police constable for Lancashire Police. In 1911 he had 15 years service and I suspect he took over at the Yew Tree after retirement from the force. In 1927 he was still running the pub when tragedy hit the family...

MANY COLLISIONS

Albert Cubberley motorcyclist of Yew Tree Inn, Heath Charnock near Preston was admitted a week ago after being in a collision with a car. He died on Sunday in Worcester Infirmary from injuries received in the road accident at Kempsey.  

Published: Friday 23 September 1927

Newspaper: Somerset Guardian and Radstock Observer

1924 Kelly's Directory Leonard Cubberley

It seems Leonard and his family weren't to stay much longer, as by 1934 they were living in Anderton. At the time of the 1939 Register a new landlord, Albert E Wilson was running the Inn.

1939 Register

In 1953 the landlord was a Christopher Riley. These days the Yew Tree Inn is owned by Trust Inns and the landlady is Olivia Henthorn.