Penwortham - Sumpter Horse

Name: The Sumpter Horse Inn

Address: Tardy Gate, Penwortham

The Sumpter Horse Inn dates back to the early 1800s and is currently closed (c.2020) and due to be demolished in the near future to make way for a new housing development on the old Vernon Carus factory site behind (the old Penwortham Textile Mill). The pub's name is an unusual one, "sumpter" being an archaic word for a pack-horse, mule, or other beast of burden [C14: from Old French "sometier" driver of a baggage horse]. On the 1834 directory below it is incorrectly referred to as the Sumptuous Horse...rather wishful thinking or maybe a little artistic licence was applied!

Lease of the Public Inn or Alehouse known by the sign of the Sumpter Horse in Penwortham 1) William Hawkshead of Heskin, gentleman

2a) Thomas Burscough the younger of Walton le Dale, farmer

2b) Thomas Burscough the elder of Walton le Dale, farmer

Term: 5 years Rent: £43 7 Oct 1817

1824 Baines Directory - Oliver Kellet

Listed landlords at the pub were Thomas Burscough (1817-1822), Oliver Kellett (1824-34), William Wilding (1841), William Livesey (1851-55), Cuthbert Birch (1861), George Clitheroe (1867-1881), William Taylor (1891-92), Edwin Harrison (1901-05), John Thompson (1911), William Beardsworth (1917), George Dawson (1921-24) and Peter & Marilyn McDonmnell (2002-2017).

1834 Pigots Directory - Oliver Kellett

Dreadful and revolting outrages with loss of life

John Fitzpatrick, Peter Smith, Robert Robinson, Wm. Cassidy, Pat Smith, Patrick Quin, William Birley, Lawrence Robinson, overseer of Penwortham examined, On Tuesday night last, between nine and ten o'clock, I was standing in the company of twenty or thirty or forty of our people , near the road at Penwortham, a short  distance from house. I saw a great crowd of persons coming towards Smith's house, shouting and huzzaing was one of these persons, and when he came right opposite Smith's house, he shouted 'Put out your lights, now you soft devils stand, and we'll drive the whole of them (meaning the Irish) out of the place or country'. After Robinson and the party along with him had passed Smith's house, about twenty yards, Robinson called out to them 'Fire'. I saw the flash and heard the report of three guns, which were fired in the direction of Smith's house. In about a minute afterwards two other guns were fired, one of them wounded in the arm. Wm. Cassidy was standing with me and other persons near Smith's house. I heard several other shots fired, but I cannot say how many. In about ten minutes after the firing ended, I found two men lying upon the ground, a little above Smith's house was then protecting them, and said that no men should meddle with them. Smith at that time had not any gun with him. None of the Irishmen had any guns with them, but about forty of them had sticks, was examined, but his testimony was nearly a reiteration of that given by the last witness, constable of Penwortham, examined, On Tuesday night last, about nine o'clock, I was standing near Tardy Gate and I saw five or six hundred persons assembled together, and coming towards Penwortham. I think about a dozen of them were armed with guns; one of them had a pitchfork, another a scythe, and many others had bludgeons. and Robert Robinson were amongst the crowd; Lawrence had a short club, and I told him he was well tackled; and he said 'What has thou to do with it ?' some called out 'Damn you, you soft devils, go on'. The crowd then passed on, and I went towards Penwortham, and told the railway people to get out of the way. I then went to Peter Smith's house, and heard the crowd huzzaing; at Smith's request, I went to his house to protect it, and the door was fastened after me; I went upstairs into the front room, but the crowd having then come up with a great noise, I was alarmed, and went into the back room, to be out of the way of danger, and

immediately afterwards I heard the report of a gun, I also heard the smash of windows, and soon after Patrick Smith ask if there was any powder. The crowd passed Smith's house, and I then got out of the house and saw the crowd coming back. I got near to the ditch side, and some one in the crowd cried out to me 'Tell your name, or we'll shoot you' I said it is Birley the constable, and I was then told to pass on. I waited nearly opposite to the Sumpter Horse, while the crowd was returning, and counted the reports of seven guns very near one after another, but it was dark, and I could not see which way they were shooting, after the crowd had gone, I saw two men lying upon the ground, who were wounded, but not dead; they were about eight or ten yards asunder. The name of one is Robinson, and the other Baxendale, they lay at a distance of about thirty or forty yards from Smith's house. I got a lantern, and found the deceased lying partly upon his back near to the road side, he was at a distance of about ninety to a hundred yards from Smith's house, he appeared to be dead, and was soon afterwards removed to the Sumpter Horse.

The Coroner then made enquiries, in order to ascertain whether there were any other witnesses who wished to give evidence. No one however appeared, and the jury were also asked if whether they could suggest any further evidence; an answer being returned in the negative, the learned coroner read over and lucidly summed up the evidence. He carefully pointed out to the jury the different points requiring notice, and stated the law on respective questions which presented themselves during examination. The jury having consulted together for about ten minutes, returned a verdict of 'Manslaughter against some person or persons unknown'. They also acquitted Smith of being at all implicated in the death of the deceased. The inquisition occupied nearly eight hours.

A man named Lawrence Wilkinson, who was wounded in the affray at Penwortham, died yesterday. We understand that as a matter of precaution it has been thought prudent to appoint a number of special constables, to be ready in case of emergency to assist in keeping the peace in this neighbourhood. It is however, no less proper to make known, that at the present time the best possible feelings prevails between the Irish railway labourers and the English families in the district, and there does not appear any probable grounds for apprehension that this good understanding will not be uninterruptedly preserved. Now this is a really satisfactory state of things, and we hope and trust that no discordant circumstance may be allowed to take place, which may have the least tendency to disturb the harmony now happily existing in the neighbourhood.

Preston Pilot. Preston Chronicle May 26, 1838.

1841 Census - William Wilding

1848 Slater's Directory - William Wilding

1851 Census - William Livesey

1854 Mannex Directory - William Livesey

Death from Starvation

On Wednesday afternoon an inquest was held at the Sumpter Horse 

public-house, in Penwortham, near Preston, before Mr. Myres, coroner, 

upon the body of a farmer, named William Livesey.

22 December 1855 - Huddersfield Chronicle - Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England

1861 Census - Cuthbert Birch

FOUND, a SCOTCH TERRIER

If not claimed, will be sold to defray expenses.

—Apply to Edward Livesey, near Sumpter Horse Inn, Penwortham.

20 October 1866 - Preston Herald - Preston, Lancashire, England

Advertisements & Notices

 TIMBER SALE AT THE SUMPTER HORSE, IN PENWORTHAM

TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION, BY MR. HENRY SNAPE, on Monday, the 18th day of February, 1867, at two o'clock in the afternoon, at the house of Mr. Geo. Clitheroe, innkeeper, Sumpter Horse Inn, in Penwortham 

09 February 1867 - Preston Chronicle - Preston, Lancashire, England

1869 Slater's Directory

1871 Census - George Clitheroe

PRESTON POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
 John Woods and Martin Conner were charged on suspicion of theft from the public-house, the Sumpter Horse, Penwortham - occupied by George Clitheroe, and sterling there from £l6. The home had been broken into through...
27 May 1874 - Preston Herald - Preston, Lancashire, England

1881 Census - George Clitheroe

1891 Census - George Clitheroe Retired Publican

1891 Census William Taylor

STABLE NOTES

 Match played on the bowling green attached to the Golden Ball Inn, Longton, between Joseph Hall’s team and W. Taylor’s team, Sumpter Horse, Penwortham. After a most enjoyable afternoon the same ended in favour of Hall’s team 102 points to 70.

20 August 1892 - Preston Herald - Preston, Lancashire, England

1895 Kelly's Directory Edwin Harrison

1901 Census- Edwin Harrison

1905 Kelly's Directory - Edwin Harrison

1909 Map

1911 Census - John Thompson

1911 Census Summary

1917 Directory - William Beardsworth

At Leyland today, the Bench sanctioned structural alterations being made to the Sumpter Horse Inn, Penwortham. Mr. T. D. Booth, Preston, made the application on behalf of the owners, the Whittle Springs Brewery Co., Ltd. 

08 March 1920 - Lancashire Evening Post - Preston, Lancashire, England

Whittle Springs Brewery

BENCH CONVICT IN PROHIBITED HOURS CASE

 Yesterday, George William Dawson, licensee of the Sumpter Horse Inn, Penwortham,

 was charged with selling, supplying, and permitting to be consumed intoxicating 

liquor during prohibited hours.

10 October 1921 - Lancashire Evening Post - Preston, Lancashire, England

1924 Kelly's Directory

Lancashire Telegraph 20th March 1998

Shotgun killing: Man, 25, charged

A MAN was due to appear in court today charged with the murder of heroin addict Paul Rothwell. Kenneth Hartley, 25, was due to appear at Blackburn magistrates court less than two weeks after Paul was shot twice on the back doorstep of his Bank Top home.

Hartley, from Denville Road, Bank Top, Blackburn, was arrested on Tuesday after armed police swooped on a car park of the Sumpter Horse pub in Penwortham, near Preston. Two other men were also expected to appear after being charged with assisting an offender. Michael Clarke, 33, of Melville Drive, Blackburn, and Karl Hart, 24, of Briar Road, Blackburn, were arrested at the same time as Hartley. More than 40 officers were called in after Paul was found fatally wounded on the back door of his home in Whitehead Street in the early hours of Saturday morning. Police have carried out detailed forensic searches at the murder scene and door to door inquires in the surrounding streets. Paul Rothwell told a court six months ago he was trying to kick his £200-a-week drugs habit and the shooting has left family and friends living in the Bank Top area shocked.Close relatives described the 24-year-old father of one as a loving man with a heart of gold who was struggling to overcome his heroin addiction.

Tuesday, 15 October, 2002

Man 'convinced himself' he was killer

A man who confessed to murdering a Lancashire law student convinced himself he was the killer, a court has been told.Andrew Greenwood told Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday he wanted to escape society and punish himself for the person he was.The defendant, now 28, confessed to killing Janet Murgatroyd three years after the University of Central Lancashire student died.The part-time police clerk's stripped and battered body was found floating in the River Ribble at Preston in June 1996.

Mr Greenwood now denies killing her.

I felt that I wanted to persecute myself. I wanted to feel like a bad person.Defendant Andrew Greenwood. The jury has heard how the 20-year-old was attacked as she walked home alone to her mother's house after a drunken night out in Preston. No-one had been charged with the murder until Mr Greenwood, formerly of Sephton Street, Lostock Hall, confessed to the killing on 2 August, 1999. The defendant told the court he spent the evening of the murder drinking heavily in the Sumpter Horse pub in Penwortham.

He said he remembered saying goodbye to a friend but then "had a blackout" and did not recall arriving home at his flat. Miss Murgatroyd was walking home alone.

Questioned by defence barrister Andrew Edis QC, Mr Greenwood said he learned of the murder two days later in a local newspaper.The court heard how he then saw a reconstruction of the murder on the BBC's Crimewatch and soon wanted to believe he had "done this crime"."I got to the stage where I convinced myself I had probably done this crime because I had a blackout," said Mr Greenwood. "I felt that I wanted to persecute myself. I wanted to get out of society. I wanted to feel like a bad person." But while on remand in Preston Prison, having been charged with murder, he "started to feel there was something wrong with the police confession" and withdrew it.

Photo Neil Cross Landlady Marilyn McDonell of the Sumpter Horse, Penwortham, faces being made homeless (Lancashire Evening Post 2017)

South Ribble Council approved a Bovis Homes application for 385 homes on the former Vernon Carus factory site in August 2015, but turned down access via a new roundabout and T junction off Leyland Road, which would require the demolition of the Sumpter Horse pub...“The council refused permission for two alternative access arrangements onto Leyland Road and the Inspector effectively allowed the removal of the restrictive condition and the granting of permission for the development of one of the two access arrangements.” Marilyn McDonell, landlady of the Sumpter Horse, which is owned by Bovis, said: “I feel sick. I knew it was going to happen, but nobody from Bovis, Lancashire County Council or South Ribble Council has been in touch, and I’m the one losing my home and my job.” Bovis Homes hope to start work on the first stage later this year and this will include 189 homes. This will be followed by a second and third phase comprising of 204 dwellings, with the provision of associated infrastructure, including roads, footpath, cycleways and open space. The development will also secure the future of the Vernon Carus Sports Club, as Bovis will provide the club with a financial contribution towards capital projects at the facility - February 2017 Lancashire Evening Post

c.2020

Back in February it was announced that the Sumpter Horse Inn, located on Leyland Road, would be torn down to build an access route to a new £46m housing development.Now Marilyn McDonnell, landlady of the pub for the last 15 years, has revealed to The Post that she has until August 31 to vacate the property.To celebrate the pub’s 200-year-old rich history, Marilyn is today, Saturday August 19, throwing her annual Christmas party four months early.Marilyn said: “We needed to give the pub one last send off. It’s been very hard for me to come to terms with what is happening.“I have lost the battle but in the end won the war, as it has brought everyone together in the community.” Marilyn has pulled out all the stops decorating the pub, so much so that even Father Christmas himself might be tempted to make a premature visit. Marilyn said: “There will never be a pub like this again. It is one of a kind.Saying goodbye to the place will break my heart.” Marilyn is being relocated into a one-bedroom flat in Penwortham alongside her dog, Tammy, after fighting the plans for almost a decade. She used to run the pub with husband Peter before he passed away. She added: “There’s nothing I can do anymore. The fight has gone out of me." Bovis Homes, who are behind the housing development were approached for a comment but declined - 18th August 2017 Lancashire Evening Post